Jamar Cain enters his third season with the Denver Broncos and second as the defensive line coach in 2025. He was hired by the club on March 25, 2023.
Cain's first two seasons with Denver showcased a defensive line that helped the Broncos reach 105 total sacks, which was the second most among all NFL teams in that span. The team's three safeties while Cain has been on staff were also tied for the most in the league.
In his first season as defensive line coach in 2024, Cain helped oversee the development of a pass rush that totaled a league-high 63 sacks, which also set a new franchise record. The Broncos also ranked Top-10 in yards per play (2nd, 4.9), yards per rush (2nd, 3.9), rushing yards per game (3rd, 96.4), passing yards per play (3rd, 6.2) and yards per game (7th, 317.1) that year.
Under his coaching, defensive lineman Zach Allen was named an Associated Press All-Pro for the first time in his career, earning second team recognition after totaling 61 tackles (32 solo) and a career-high 8.5 sacks (35.5 yds.). With the assistance of Cain, Denver also posted its first winning season in eight years in 2024 as well as its first playoff appearance since the 2015 season.
As a pass rush specialist in 2023, Cain was a part of a staff that helped the Broncos finish the year 8-9, their best record since 2016. With Cain helping the pass rush, Denver finished the season with 42 sacks, the most by the club since 2020. Outside linebackers Jonathon Cooper (8.5) and Nik Bonitto (8.0) also recorded career highs with Cain's assistance while Allen (5.0) posted his second-straight season with at least five sacks.
Having accrued 20 seasons of coaching experience at the high school and collegiate levels, Cain joined the NFL after spending the previous season as defensive line coach and run game coordinator for Louisiana State University. He was a part of a coaching staff that guided the Tigers to a 10-4 record and an appearance in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship Game against Georgia.
In 2022, Cain coached third-team All-American defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo and first-team All-SEC defensive end BJ Ojulari. Wingo totaled 47 tackles (25 solo), three sacks, four passes defensed and one forced fumble in 14 games played (13 starts) while Ojulari started all 11 games he appeared and recorded 58 tackles (34 solo), 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
Prior to his arrival in Baton Rouge, Cain spent two seasons at the University of Oklahoma (2020-21), where he oversaw outside linebackers and defensive ends. In Cain's two seasons in Norman, Okla., the Sooners recorded a 20-4 record, a 2020 Big 12 Conference title and wins in the Cotton (2020) and Alamo (2021) bowls.
As a member of the Oklahoma coaching staff, Cain coached Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, who was voted second-team All-American by the Associated Press following his senior campaign in 2021. That season, Bonitto accumulated 39 tackles (23 solo), seven sacks, 15 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hurries and three fumble recoveries.
Preceding his time at Oklahoma, Cain served as defensive line coach for Arizona State for one season (2019), helping the Sun Devils to an 8-5 record and a Sun Bowl victory over Florida State. In 2019, Arizona State ranked 24th in the country in yards per rush (3.5) and 26th in rush defense (125.1 ypg).
From 2017-18, Cain worked as defensive line coach for Fresno State, helping the Bulldogs compile a 22-6 record, two bowl wins and a Mountain West title (2018). Before Fresno State, Cain served as defensive line coach for North Dakota State for three years (2014-16).
During Cain's three-year stint at NDSU, the Bison won two FCS National Championships (2014, '15) while winning 12 or more games each season. In 2014, Cain coached defensive end Kyle Emanuel, who was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fifth round (153rd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Before North Dakota State, Cain coached one year at the University of Wyoming (2013) as defensive line coach before being named interim defensive coordinator midseason. He also coached the defensive line for Cal Poly (2009-12) after receiving his first full-time coaching opportunity at the FCS level, where he oversaw defensive ends for three seasons (2006-08) at Missouri State.
Cain began his coaching career at John F. Kennedy High School (2003) in Sacramento before jumping to the collegiate ranks. He worked as an assistant coach for his alma mater, Sacramento City College, in 2004 and Ohio University in 2005.
Cain, who was a first-team All-California defensive lineman for Sacramento City College (1999-2000), played the final two seasons of his collegiate career at New Mexico State (2001-02), where he earned second-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors as a senior.
A native of Sacramento, Calif., Cain and his wife, DeCarla, have two children, Cosby and Cali.
ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-PRO PLAYERS COACHED (1): DL Zach Allen (2024)
Pass Rush Specialist 2023
Louisiana State University
Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator 2022
Outside Linebackers/Defensive Ends 2020-21
North Dakota State University
California Polytechnic State University
Missouri State University
John F. Kennedy High School
