James Casey is in his eighth season as Cincinnati's tight ends coach in 2025, and his first with the additional title of run game coordinator. He joined the Bengals' coaching staff in 2019.
In 2025, Casey worked with a versatile tight ends group which featured five players who started a combined 29 games. The unit contributed to a Bengals offense that ranked fifth in the NFL in third-down percentage (43.4), sixth in net passing yards per game (235.6) and 10th in sacks allowed per pass attempt (5.63 percent). Casey helped free agent acquisition Noah Fant quickly assimilate to the offense, as the seventh-year pro led the position group with 34 receptions for 288 yards and three TDs.
In 2024, Casey coached free agent signee Mike Gesicki to a noteworthy statistical year which included the second-most receptions by a TE in Bengals history (65) and the third-most receiving yards (665). Casey also helped fourth-round draft pick Erick All Jr. post 158 receiving yards while emerging as a valuable blocker before his rookie season was cut short by a knee injury.
In 2023, four Bengals TEs started at least one game under Casey. Fourth-year pro Tanner Hudson, who began the year on the team's practice squad, became a dependable pass-catching option in the second half of the season and led the position group in receptions (39) and receiving yards (352).
In 2022, Casey coached offseason free agent signee Hayden Hurst, who in his lone season with Cincinnati caught 52 passes for 414 yards despite missing three games.
In 2021, Casey helped C.J. Uzomah log career highs in catches (49), receiving yards (493) and receiving TDs (five), ranking in the top 10 among AFC tight ends in each category. Uzomah then had 146 receiving yards in the postseason as Cincinnati advanced to Super Bowl LVI.
In 2020, Casey oversaw TE Drew Sample's transition into a prominent role after Uzomah's season-ending injury in Week 2. Sample totaled career highs in receptions (40) and receiving yards (349).
In 2019, Casey's first season in Cincinnati, the Bengals' tight ends accounted for six of the team's 18 receiving TDs. The group also helped Cincinnati allow 10 fewer sacks in the second half of the season compared to the first.
Prior to joining the Bengals, Casey spent three years (2016-18) on the University of Houston coaching staff. Serving as special teams coordinator/tight ends coach in 2018, he helped the Cougars rank fourth nationally in scoring (46.4 points per game).
Casey broke into coaching in 2016 as an offensive analyst at Houston, helping the Cougars rank 15th nationally in passing offense that season (310.9 yards per game).
Casey had a seven-year NFL playing career (2009-15), lining up both at TE and fullback. He entered the league as a fifth-round draft pick of Houston in 2009, and spent four seasons ('09-12) with the Texans before later stints with Philadelphia ('13-14) and Denver ('15). His NFL career totals included 72 catches for 842 yards and six TDs.
Casey played collegiately at Rice University, where he had a record-setting career as a tight end in just two seasons (2007-08). He set single-season school marks for receptions and receiving yards, and had a single-game record for receiving yards. He earned Freshman All-America honors in 2007, then garnered first-team All-Conference USA and Academic All-America recognition in '08. He was named the 2008 recipient of Rice's James W. Glanville Award, presented to the player who has achieved excellence in athletics, academics and integrity.
Prior to his time at Rice, Casey was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the seventh round of the 2003 MLB Draft. He spent three seasons with the White Sox organization as a pitcher, before enrolling at Rice and pursuing football.
Casey was born on Sept. 22, 1984, in Fort Worth, Texas, and was raised in nearby Azle, Texas. He attended Azle High School, where he was a standout quarterback on the football team and pitcher on the baseball team.
Casey and his wife, Kylie, have two sons, Cannon and Knox.
Playing and coaching history: 2007-08—Played TE at Rice. 2009-12—Played TE with Houston Texans. 2013-14—Played TE with Philadelphia Eagles. 2015—Played TE with Denver Broncos. 2016-18—Assistant coach (AC), University of Houston. 2019-present—AC, Cincinnati Bengals.
