Tem Lukabu (loo-ka-boo) is entering his eighth season coaching in the NFL and his first as linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lukabu brings 17 years of coaching experience, most recently serving as outside linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers (2023-24).
In his first season in Carolina (2023), Lukabu helped fourth-year OLB Yetur Gross-Matos record career highs in quarterback hits (10), sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (seven). Additionally, OLB Brian Burns was one of four players in the NFL with at least 8.0 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one strip sack. In 2024, OLB Jadeveon Clowney tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks, while OLB D.J. Wonnum totaled 4.0 sacks in just eight games played.
Prior to joining the Panthers, he spent three seasons as defensive coordinator (2020-22) at Boston College. Lukabu's defense in his final season at Boston College ranked in the top 50 nationally in several defensive categories, including first downs allowed (240, 38th), passing yards allowed per game (211.2, 44th) and team tackles for loss per game (6.8, 26th). Sophomore DE Donovan Ezeiruaku was named All-ACC Second Team. Five other players at all three levels of the defense earned All-ACC Honorable Mention.
In 2021, the Eagles ranked third nationally with 173.5 passing yards allowed per game and top 30 nationally in six other defensive categories. Four members of his defense earned All-ACC honors, including a second-team, third-team and two honorable mentions. In his first season at BC (2020), Lukabu oversaw a defense that jumped over 50 spots in the rankings.
Before he served as the linebackers coach for the Cincinnati Bengals (2019), Lukabu coached linebackers at Mississippi State (2018) and helped the defensive unit finish the season ranked first in FBS and the SEC, with two starters earning All-SEC honors. Lukabu served as a defensive quality control coach with the San Francisco 49ers (2016-17), and worked primarily with the linebackers (2016), before shifting his focus to the team's secondary (2017). His first stint in the NFL came with Tampa Bay (2012-13) as a defensive assistant for the Buccaneers for two seasons.
After Lukabu began his career as player development graduate assistant at Rutgers (2006-07), he continued his college coaching career at Rhode Island (2008-09) before returning to Rutgers (2010-11), his alma mater Colgate (2014), and Florida International (2015).
A former linebacker, Lukabu was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at Colgate (2000-03). A two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year (2002 and 2003), he helped the Raiders to back-to-back Patriot League titles. He was also first-team All-Patriot League selection both seasons and was named AP Third-Team All-American.
Lukabu was born in Kinshasa, the capital and largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. He earned a degree in history with a minor in political science from Colgate (2004). He and his wife, Kate, have three children: daughters, Zaida and Kamryn, and son, Pax.
