Juan Castillo Named Offensive Line Coach
12/18/2025 1:18:00 PM | Football
Veteran offensive line coach Juan Castillo, who has over 40 years of experience at both the NFL and collegiate levels, has joined Fran Brown's staff as Syracuse's offensive line coach.
Castillo comes to Syracuse after previously spending 28 years in the NFL, coaching for the Philadelphia Eagles (1995-2012), Baltimore Ravens (2013-16), Buffalo Bills (2017-18), Chicago Bears (2020-21) and Washington Commanders (2022-23). He also has coached collegiately at Michigan (2019, 2025), UCLA (2024) and his alma mater Texas A&M-Kingsville (1982-85, 1990-94).
"I'm thrilled to join this incredible University and work alongside Coach Fran and this great group of staff and student-athletes," Castillo said. "Syracuse has always had a special place in my heart because of George DeLeone, who was one of my mentors. I'm looking forward to developing great young men."
In the NFL, Castillo was a winner at ever stop, helping teams reach the NFL Playoffs in 14 seasons, five conference championship game appearances and one trip to the Super Bowl, working alongside four current NFL coaches – Andy Reid, Sean McDermott, Jim Harbaugh and John Harbaugh.
"Juan is a pro," said head coach Fran Brown. "He's a professional at everything he does. He's a tireless worker and I'm honored to work with him. I feel as though this is one of the best hires I've been able to make since becoming the coach here at Syracuse.
"All the guys in the NFL still rave about him and Dion Dawkins told me he's the reason he's become the player he is in the NFL. Dion and I are like family, so if Dion felt that way, our guys need Juan so we can make them feel the same way."
In his 18 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, Castillo mentored some of the best offensive linemen in franchise history. Three of the five offensive linemen on the Philadelphia Eagles' 75th anniversary team spent their entire careers being coached by Castillo: Tra Thomas, Jon Runyan and Shawn Andrews.
He joined the franchise as an offensive assistant, where he spent the 1995 and 1996 seasons, moving to tight ends coach in 1997, and taking over the offensive line from 1998-2010. He also spent his final two years with the organization as defensive coordinator. The Eagles won six NFC East Championships and reached the postseason 11 times in his Philadelphia tenure, including a trip to Super Bowl XXXIX.
Andrews, Thomas, Jason Peters and Jermain Mayberry all earned All-Pro honors on the offensive line under his coaching in Philadelphia, and five different players combined for nine Pro Bowls under his direction. Running backs Duce Staley, Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy combined for six 1,000-yard rushing seasons behind his lines.
When he shifted to the defensive side of the ball in 2011, the Eagles tied for the NFL lead with 50 sacks, and he had the league's eighth-ranked total defense (324.9) and 10th-ranked scoring defense (20.5 points per game). His defense helped the Eagles go 5-1 in the NFC East.
He would then join the Baltimore Ravens as a consultant in the lead up to their Super Bowl XLVII victory, and spend the next-four seasons coaching the Ravens offensive line. He added another All-Pro to his resume in offensive guard Marshal Yanda, who also reached the Pro Bowl in all-four of Castillo's seasons with the organization. Running back Ray Rice and fullback Vonta Leach also made Pro Bowl appearances during his time with the organization, which included a trip to the Divisional Round of the playoffs in 2014.
Castillo then helped the Buffalo Bills end the NFL's longest active playoff drought in 2017, his first of two seasons as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach. Castillo worked with a trio of Pro Bowlers in center Eric Wood, guard Richie Incognito and McCoy. The Bills ranked in the top-six of the NFL in rushing offense in both of his seasons in Buffalo.
In 2019, Castillo returned to college for the first time since 1994, serving as an offensive analyst at Michigan. The Wolverines ran for over 200 yards per game and scored 35.2 points per game that season.
He returned to the NFL in 2020, coaching the Bears' offensive line. Castillo guided a group that helped David Montgomery rank fifth in the NFL with 1,070 rushing yards in 2020. Chicago was seventh in the league in rushing in 2021.
His most recent NFL stop was with the Commanders from 2022-23. He coached tight ends in 2022, helping Cole Kmet lead the team in receptions and receiving yards, before transitioning to run game coordinator in 2023.
He then joined UCLA as the offensive line coach for 2024, before returning to Michigan as an offensive analyst for the 2025 season.
Castillo began his coaching career with two stints at his alma mater, Texas A&M-Kingsville, sandwiched around a four-year tenure at H.M. King High School in Kingsville, Texas. From 1982-85, he coached defensive line and linebackers at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Castillo was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at King High School from 1986-1989. He returned to Texas A&M-Kingsville from 1990-1994 as offensive line coach before getting his first NFL opportunity. Castillo developed four future NFL starters during his time with the Javelinas: Jermane Mayberry (first-round draft pick of Philadelphia in 1996), Earl Dotson (third-round pick of Green Bay in 1993), Jorge Diaz and Kevin Dogins. Texas A&M-Kingsville won four Lone Star Conference (LSC) championships during his time on staff (1985, 1992-94) and made an appearance in the 1994 NCAA Division II national championship game.
Castillo played linebacker at Texas A&M-Kingsville (then Texas A&I University) and moved on to the United States Football League's San Antonio Gunslingers before embarking on his coaching career. He attended Port Isabel High School, earning all-state recognition as a linebacker on the gridiron. On July 4, 2009, Port Isabel, Texas celebrated "Juan Castillo Day," presenting Castillo a key to the city. In 2015, he was inducted into the LSC Hall of Honor.
Â
Castillo comes to Syracuse after previously spending 28 years in the NFL, coaching for the Philadelphia Eagles (1995-2012), Baltimore Ravens (2013-16), Buffalo Bills (2017-18), Chicago Bears (2020-21) and Washington Commanders (2022-23). He also has coached collegiately at Michigan (2019, 2025), UCLA (2024) and his alma mater Texas A&M-Kingsville (1982-85, 1990-94).
"I'm thrilled to join this incredible University and work alongside Coach Fran and this great group of staff and student-athletes," Castillo said. "Syracuse has always had a special place in my heart because of George DeLeone, who was one of my mentors. I'm looking forward to developing great young men."
In the NFL, Castillo was a winner at ever stop, helping teams reach the NFL Playoffs in 14 seasons, five conference championship game appearances and one trip to the Super Bowl, working alongside four current NFL coaches – Andy Reid, Sean McDermott, Jim Harbaugh and John Harbaugh.
"Juan is a pro," said head coach Fran Brown. "He's a professional at everything he does. He's a tireless worker and I'm honored to work with him. I feel as though this is one of the best hires I've been able to make since becoming the coach here at Syracuse.
"All the guys in the NFL still rave about him and Dion Dawkins told me he's the reason he's become the player he is in the NFL. Dion and I are like family, so if Dion felt that way, our guys need Juan so we can make them feel the same way."
In his 18 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, Castillo mentored some of the best offensive linemen in franchise history. Three of the five offensive linemen on the Philadelphia Eagles' 75th anniversary team spent their entire careers being coached by Castillo: Tra Thomas, Jon Runyan and Shawn Andrews.
He joined the franchise as an offensive assistant, where he spent the 1995 and 1996 seasons, moving to tight ends coach in 1997, and taking over the offensive line from 1998-2010. He also spent his final two years with the organization as defensive coordinator. The Eagles won six NFC East Championships and reached the postseason 11 times in his Philadelphia tenure, including a trip to Super Bowl XXXIX.
Andrews, Thomas, Jason Peters and Jermain Mayberry all earned All-Pro honors on the offensive line under his coaching in Philadelphia, and five different players combined for nine Pro Bowls under his direction. Running backs Duce Staley, Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy combined for six 1,000-yard rushing seasons behind his lines.
When he shifted to the defensive side of the ball in 2011, the Eagles tied for the NFL lead with 50 sacks, and he had the league's eighth-ranked total defense (324.9) and 10th-ranked scoring defense (20.5 points per game). His defense helped the Eagles go 5-1 in the NFC East.
He would then join the Baltimore Ravens as a consultant in the lead up to their Super Bowl XLVII victory, and spend the next-four seasons coaching the Ravens offensive line. He added another All-Pro to his resume in offensive guard Marshal Yanda, who also reached the Pro Bowl in all-four of Castillo's seasons with the organization. Running back Ray Rice and fullback Vonta Leach also made Pro Bowl appearances during his time with the organization, which included a trip to the Divisional Round of the playoffs in 2014.
Castillo then helped the Buffalo Bills end the NFL's longest active playoff drought in 2017, his first of two seasons as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach. Castillo worked with a trio of Pro Bowlers in center Eric Wood, guard Richie Incognito and McCoy. The Bills ranked in the top-six of the NFL in rushing offense in both of his seasons in Buffalo.
In 2019, Castillo returned to college for the first time since 1994, serving as an offensive analyst at Michigan. The Wolverines ran for over 200 yards per game and scored 35.2 points per game that season.
He returned to the NFL in 2020, coaching the Bears' offensive line. Castillo guided a group that helped David Montgomery rank fifth in the NFL with 1,070 rushing yards in 2020. Chicago was seventh in the league in rushing in 2021.
His most recent NFL stop was with the Commanders from 2022-23. He coached tight ends in 2022, helping Cole Kmet lead the team in receptions and receiving yards, before transitioning to run game coordinator in 2023.
He then joined UCLA as the offensive line coach for 2024, before returning to Michigan as an offensive analyst for the 2025 season.
Castillo began his coaching career with two stints at his alma mater, Texas A&M-Kingsville, sandwiched around a four-year tenure at H.M. King High School in Kingsville, Texas. From 1982-85, he coached defensive line and linebackers at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Castillo was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at King High School from 1986-1989. He returned to Texas A&M-Kingsville from 1990-1994 as offensive line coach before getting his first NFL opportunity. Castillo developed four future NFL starters during his time with the Javelinas: Jermane Mayberry (first-round draft pick of Philadelphia in 1996), Earl Dotson (third-round pick of Green Bay in 1993), Jorge Diaz and Kevin Dogins. Texas A&M-Kingsville won four Lone Star Conference (LSC) championships during his time on staff (1985, 1992-94) and made an appearance in the 1994 NCAA Division II national championship game.
Castillo played linebacker at Texas A&M-Kingsville (then Texas A&I University) and moved on to the United States Football League's San Antonio Gunslingers before embarking on his coaching career. He attended Port Isabel High School, earning all-state recognition as a linebacker on the gridiron. On July 4, 2009, Port Isabel, Texas celebrated "Juan Castillo Day," presenting Castillo a key to the city. In 2015, he was inducted into the LSC Hall of Honor.
Â
Fran Brown Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, December 03
Syracuse Football - Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, December 03
Syracuse Football Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, November 29
Players Postgame vs. Boston College
Saturday, November 29
