Devin Fitzsimmons

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
10 65-90-0 41.94% 0-3 0.00%

Biography

Career Summary

Devin Fitzsimmons is a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) and has been the special teams coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks since 2024. Prior to this season, he coached for the Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, and Carolina Panthers for nine seasons. His most recent position was with the Panthers as their assistant special teams coach.

Table of Contents

Playing Career

College Career

Bucknell University
Devin Fitzsimmons played college football at Bucknell University from 2001-2005, beginning his career at quarterback.  After two seasons he moved to wide receiver, but lasted only one season after sustaining a career ending injury in spring practice of his senior year.  After the injury Fitzsimmons began his coaching career, staying with the program as a student assistant coach through what would have been his senior year.

Coaching Career

College Coaching

Shaw University

After finishing his college career, Fitzsimmons was hired as the quarterbacks coach for Shaw University in 2005 for a single season.

Bucknell University

After his season with Shaw, Fitzsimmons was hired by his former head coach Tim Landis at Bucknell to coach wide receivers for the 2006 season.

Kansas State University

After his alma mater, Fitzsimmons was hired by Kansas State under head coach Ron Prince for 2007 and 2008. In his first season with the Wildcats, he helped coach the offense as a graduate assistant and in 2008 was the director of operations. The team finished 5-7 both seasons, and after the season Prince was fired.

University of Virginia

In 2009, Fitzsimmons was hired by Virginia head coach Al Groh to work as a graduate assistant for the team. However, the team finished the season a disappointing 3-9 for the season.

University of Richmond

In 2010, Fitzsimmons accepted his final college coaching position; this time with the Richmond Spiders. He coached the tight ends as the Spiders finished the season 6-5.

First Stint in the NFL

Indianapolis Colts

After his six seasons coaching college, Fitzsimmons entered the NFL as a coaching assistant for the Indianapolis Colts. However, All-Pro Quarterback sat out the 2011 season with a neck injury and the Colts finished the season 2-14, leading to the firing of head coach Jim Caldwell.

Return to College

Rutgers University

After his single season in the NFL, Fitzsimmons returned to college football as an offensive assistant coach for Rutgers University in 2012. In head coach Kyle Flood's first season at the helm, the Scarlet Knights finished the season 9-4, good enough to tie for first in the Big East.

University of Delaware

Following his season at Rutgers, Fitzsimmons was hired by Delaware as their special teams coordinator and tight ends coach for the 2013 season. Delaware has success with Fitzsimmons running the special teams unit. The team had the second highest net punting average, 9th in the league in blocked kicks, and return man Rob Jones was named to the all-conference first team as a returner. Tight end Nick Boyle was also named to the all-conference second team under Fitzsimmons' coaching.

Second Stint in the NFL

Detroit Lions

After a successful 2013 season with Delaware, Fitzsimmons was hired by the Detroit Lions as their assistant special teams coach. The Lions made the playoffs in the first season under the new head coach Jim Caldwell with a 11-5 finish. During Fitzsimmons’ five seasons with the Lions, the teams made the playoffs twice and had a winning record in one more season. The Lions had two special team pro bowlers during Fitzsimmons’ time in Detroit: long snapper Don Muhlbach and punt returner Jamal Agnew.

Third Stint In College

Vanderbilt Commodores

Fitzsimmons returned to college football in 2019 as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach for Vanderbilt. The team finished the season 3-9.

History

Year Position Record Playoff record
2024 Seattle Seahawks Special Teams Coordinator 4-4-0 0-0
2023 Carolina Panthers Assistant Special Teams Coach 2-15-0 0-0
2022 Arizona Cardinals Assistant Special Teams Coach 4-13-0 0-0
2021 Arizona Cardinals Assistant Special Teams Coach 11-6-0 0-1
2018 Detroit Lions Assistant Special Teams Coach 6-10-0 0-0
2017 Detroit Lions Assistant Special Teams Coach 9-7-0 0-0
2016 Detroit Lions Special Teams Assistant Coach 9-7-0 0-1
2015 Detroit Lions Interim Tight Ends Coach 6-3-0 0-0
2015 Detroit Lions Assistant Special Teams Coach 1-6-0 0-0
2014 Detroit Lions Assistant Special Teams Coach 11-5-0 0-1
2011 Indianapolis Colts Coaching Assistant 2-14-0 0-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts

Named the 2004 winner of Bucknell's Moxie Award, awarded based on special contributions to the program