Role: Special Teams Coordinator
Previous Role: Assistant Head Coach & Special Teams Coordinator
Previous Team: South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA)
Age: 60
Early on Sunday morning, it was announced that the Raiders will be hiring veteran special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis as their next special teams coordinator. The nearly 35 year NFL veteran hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2022, but did see multiple top 10 units during his time with a variety of NFL franchises, including three top five finishes in his final five seasons. DeCamillis served with Gary Kubiak in Denver, bringing a good connection to the Kubiak family.
*I won’t be touching on experience more than a decade old, for any of these breakdowns unless it’s a very key thing to note. Per Rick Gosselin, his units ranked top 12 in all but 3 seasons prior to 2015*
Experience
DeCamillis, a Colorado native, got his start coaching with the Broncos in 199 as their assistant special teams coordinator till 1992. From 1993-1996 he was with the Giants as their special teams coordinator, the Falcons from 1997-2006, and Jaguars from 2007-2008. He continued as a special teams coordinator with the Cowboys from 2009-2012, the Bears from 2013-2014 while also adding the title of assistant head coach. In 2015 he joined the Broncos till 2016 winning Super Bowl 50. After that time, he spent 2017-2020 with the Jaguars and 2021-2022 with the Rams winning Super Bowl LVI. After parting with the Rams in 2022, he joined the college ranks with Texas during 2023 as their assistant head coach, before then rejoining “unretiring” from coaching and joining South Carolina as their special teams coordinator for 2024 and 2025.
Denver Broncos (2015-2016)
In his first season with the Broncos, and Gary Kubiak, Decamillis saw his unit rank 8th overall, and 7th in EPA. Additionally, the team logged 29 punt returns for 283 yards, and a touchdown. Additionally, the Broncos posted 27 kick returns for 588 yards. Decamillis unit logged 26 missed tackles and 75 total tackles, the Broncos also forced 3 FF on special teams and logged an NFL leading 124 punt return yards during three playoff games. Kicker Brandon McManus was 30/35 on FG including 5/7 on 50+, while punter Britton Colquitt averaged 43.6 yards per punt on 84 attempts for 3663 yards. In 2016, DeCamillis’ unit ranked 17th overall, 11th in EPA, and 9th in DVOA while logging 71 tackles and a steep drop to 18 missed tackles. Kicker Brandon McManus was 29/34 on field goals including 3/6 on 50+ and punter Riley Dixon averaged 45.7 yards per punt on 89 attempts for 4068 yards and just 6 touchbacks. The Broncos logged 37 punt returns for 316 yards, and 21 kick returns for 481 yards with receiver Kalif Raymond leading the charge on both. The Broncos also blocked 4 kicks. In 2015 and 2016,
Jacksonville Jaguars (2017-2020)
In his first season with the Jaguars, the Jacksonville special teams unit ranked 15th overall, 11th in EPA, and 12th in DVOA. The Jaguars logged 84 tackles and 24 missed tackles. The return team saw a team 34 punt returns, 325 yards, and a touchdown with Jaydon Mickens logging 27 attempts for 287 yards, and a touchdown. Additionally the team logged 551 kick return yards on just 25 attempts with Corey Grant leading the way on 19 attempts for 473 yards. The team moved back and forth between kickers going a total 30/35 including 2/5 on 50+ and 37/41 on PAT. Punter Brad Nortman saw a 44.1 average on 87 attempts (3835 yards) while having nine touchbacks (10.3%) and a 33.3% in20 rate, with one blocked punt. The 2018 Jaguars ranked 5th overall, 5th in EPA, and 6th in DVOA with just 12 missed tackles and 63 total tackles with another 2 forced fumbles and a blocked kick. The team posted 334 kick return yards and a touchdown on 34 attempts led mainly by receiver DeDe Westbrook. Additionally, the posted 26 kick returns for 532 yards. The Jaguars rotated two kickers going a combined 23/26 (4/6 50+), and 22/23 on PAT. Additionally, punter Logan Cooke logged a 45 average on 86 attempts for 3872 yards, 8.1% touchback rate, and 43.0% In20 rate.
2019 saw Jacksonville rank 5th overall, 4th in DVOA, and 6th in EPA. The Jaguars missed 21 tackles but posted 72 with safety Andrew Wingard leading the NFL with 11 tackles and a FF. They logged just 154 punt return yards and a 5.0 average, but also recorded 26 kick returns for 628 yards, and a 24.2 average. The Jaguars also added a blocked kick, and 2 blocked punts with kicker Josh Lambo leading the NFL with a 97.1% field goal rate (33/34) including a perfect 4/4 on 50+, and making 2nd team All-Pro. Punter Logan Cooke averaged 47 yards per punt on 75 attempts for 3500 yards, an NFL leading 2.7% touchback rate, and 35% In20 rate. 2020 saw the Jaguars rank 14th overall, 12th in DVOA, and 13th in EPA. The unit missed 17 tackles and recorded 70 including safety Andrew Wingard leading the NFL again with 10. The Jaguars suffered punter injuries but Logan Cooke logged a 48 average on 56 attempts for 2700 yards, 8.9% touchback rate, and 34% In20 rate. Additionally, Jacksonville had 5 players attempt a field goal, going a combined 18/25 (6/9 on 50+), and 24/28 on PATs. The team saw Keelan Cole lead the NFL with a 92 yard punt return touchdown, and logged 614 kick return yards on 30 attempts led by cornerback Chris Claybrooks.
Under DeCamillis, punter Logan Cooke recorded the 2nd best touchback rate of his career, 2nd and 3rd most yards, and 3rd best average. Kicker Josh Lambo earned his sole All-Pro honor with a his three best field goal rates, four longest field goals, and was a combined 12/13 on 50+ attempts. Additionally, the Jaguars never once saw a blocked punt or kick under DeCamillis coaching.
Los Angeles Rams (2021-2022)
In his first season with the Rams, DeCamillis saw his unit rank 14th, 11th in EPA, and 10th in DVOA with 60 tackles, and just 14 missed tackles. Los Angeles logged 215 punt return yards, including a touchdown, on 19 attempts with an NFL leading 11.3 average. They also logged 686 kick returns on 34 attempts. Kicker Mattt Gay earned pro bowl honors after going 32/34 (4/5 50+) and 48/49 on PAT’s. It was the highest FG rate of Gay’s career and his only Pro Bowl honor. Punter Johnny Hecker recorded a 2% touchback rate, the lowest of his career, and 45.1% In20 rate, the highest of his career. Additionally, Hecker logged a 44.2 average. 2022 saw the Rams special teams rank 26th overall, 24th in DVOA, and 30th in EPA the worst of his career in every metric. Los Angeles missed 28 tackles and logged just 57. The Rams allowed a kick return touchdown, the first time since 2017 a team returned a kick or punt on DeCamillis, and just the 4th time since 2012 that happened to his unit. The team recorded 183 punt return yards on 25 attempts, and 663 kick return yards on 33 attempts led by receiver Brandon Powell’s 605 yards on 30 attempts. Kicker Matt Gay was 28/30 on field goals and 31/32 on PAT with a 7/9 rate on 50+ attempts. Punter Riley Dixon logged a 48.4 average, the highest of his career, 5.6% touchback rate, and 26.8% In20 rate while having 2 blocked punts, the first time since 2015 that happened to DeCamillis special teams unit.
South Carolina (2024-2025)
After rejoining the coaching ranks, DeCamillis was hired by the Gamecocks in 2024 where his unit ranked 24th overall in the FBS. The team logged 308 kick return yards and 109 punt return yards, while kicker Alex Herrera was a perfect 45/45 on PAT’s and 15/21 on field goals with punter Kai Kroeger averaging an SEC leading 47.8 yards per punt. South Carolina blocked 3 punts, 2 kicks, and saw multiple fake punts. The team missed just 14 tackles and recorded 49. In 2025, his unit ranked 27th overall in the FBS logging just 1 blocked punt and 3 blocked kicks, with 17 missed tackles and 45 total tackles. However, cornerback Vicari Swain led FBS with 3 punt return touchdowns on 19 attempts with 302 yards. Additionally, the team recorded 19 kick returns for 402 yards. Freshman punter Mason Love saw a 45.1 average on 53 punts and kicker William Joyce went 31/31 on PAT and 13/15 on field goals. South Carolina did not have a kick or punt blocked under DeCamillis.
Philosophy:
DeCamillis preaches intensity and limiting mistakes on special teams, additionally the veteran coach is focused on fake punts and has traditionally had at least 2 each season in the NFL with creative designs to target gunners, blockers, and upmen. The veteran coach limits mistakes, and while he doesn’t have experience with new kick off rules, does have similar experience with helping coordinate kick units as an advisor during the 2024 Jaguars training camp. DeCamillis is a veteran coach, and while his units may not return to the top 10 form they were pre 2020, he’ll limit blocked kicks and punts, and likely increase the Raiders return game.
Players to Watch, Connections:
South Carolina linebacker, Colin Bryant logged just 10 defensive snaps during his time with the Gamecocks, but has posted 11 tackles, 2 FF, and a blocked punt and could get looks for his special teams value. Las Vegas could look to improve their special teams unit this off-season with a key special teams player and improved kicking game with kicker Eddy Pineiro the top option slated to hit the market, along with Zane Gonzalez and Joey Slye. Wide receiver Ben Skowronek is under contract with the Steelers, but with a coaching turnover could be on his way out. The former Rams receiver has a career 44 special teams tackles including 19 in 2025 and could reunite with DeCamillis. Additional top special teams performers set to hit the market in 2025 include Chargers LB De’Shawn Phillips (18 tackles, All Pro honor) and Giants DB Dane Belton (16 tackles). Additionally, Raiders LB Tommy Eichenberg who posted the 6th most ST tackles with 15 and a FF could see a large role for LV on special teams in 2026.
Veteran returners Devin Duvernay (40 KR, 1069 yards | 21 PR, 231 yards), Skyy Moore (33 KR, 907 yards | 25 PR, 291 yards), Seahawks WR Dareke Young (10 KR, 322 yards), and Kene Nwangwu (18 KR, 604 yards, TD) could be targets. Though Raiders RB Dylan Laube logged 33 kick returns for 855 yards, which was 9th in the NFL in 2025 and has a career 1019 kick return yards on 39 attempts.