Devin Fitzsimmons

Devin Fitzsimmons

Assistant Special Teams

College: Bucknell

Biography

Devin Fitzsimmons comes to Carolina in 2023 as special teams assistant after holding the same role with the Cardinals in 2021-22. He was special teams coordinator at Vanderbilt from 2019-20 and previously with the Detroit Lions from 2014-18. He got his start in the NFL with the Colts in 2011.

Devin Fitzsimmons comes to Carolina in 2023 as special teams assistant after serving in the same role with the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 and 2022. This marks his ninth season in the NFL after getting his start in the league as an offensive quality control coach with the Indianapolis Colts in 2011. He was the special teams coordinator/tight ends coach at Vanderbilt from 2019-20 and served as assistant special teams coach with the Detroit Lions from 2014-18.

In 2021 with Arizona, both kicker Matt Prater and punter Andy Lee posted record-breaking seasons. Prater finished with 137 points, the second-highest total in Arizona history and tied for the fourth-highest total in the NFL. Lee finished third in the NFL and established a franchise single-season record with a 49.0-yard gross punting average in 2021.

Prior to two seasons at Vanderbilt as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach, Fitzsimmons served as special teams assistant with the Detroit Lions from 2014-18.

During his five seasons with the Lions, Prater, then with Detroit, converted 86.3 percent of his kicks (132- of-153) and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2016, while punter Sam Martin averaged at least 43.0 yards per punt each year during Fitzsimmons tenure.

In 2018, the Lions' kickoff coverage tied for second in the league in average drive start (22.4), while long snapper Don Muhlbach earned Pro Bowl honors. Returner man Jamal Agnew earned first-team All-Pro recognition in 2017 after posting a league leading 15.4-yard punt return average and leading the NFL with two punt return touchdowns.

Prater scored 130 points for the Lions in 2017 after connecting on 30 field goals, including seven from 50+ yards. He became just the second player in Lions history (Jason Hanson) to score 130+ points in a season and the first player in team history to connect on 30+ field goals in back-to-back seasons.

Prior to joining the Lions, Fitzsimmons was the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at Delaware in 2013.

Following his playing days at Bucknell, Fitzsimmons started his coaching career at Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C., in 2005. He served as the wide receivers coach at his alma mater, Bucknell, in 2006 before working on the collegiate level at Kansas State (2007-08), Virginia (2009), Richmond (2010) and Rutgers (2012).

A Folsom, La. native, Fitzsimmons played quarterback and wide receiver at Bucknell and earned a bachelor's degree in History in 2005. Fitzsimmons and his wife, Katie have a son, Liam, and daughter, Nora.

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