The Golden Bears are turning the page on their offensive identity, and they’re doing it with a coach who’s been part of one of the NFL’s most surprising quarterback turnarounds. Travers Family Head Coach Tosh Lupoi has officially named Jordan Somerville as Cal’s new offensive coordinator - a move that brings NFL experience, college versatility, and a track record of player development to Berkeley.
Somerville arrives fresh off a three-year stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he served as the assistant quarterbacks coach. And while the title might sound modest, the results were anything but. Working closely with Baker Mayfield, Somerville helped guide the veteran quarterback to the best stretch of his career - numbers that jump off the stat sheet and demand attention.
Just last season, Mayfield posted career highs across the board: 407 completions, 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, a 71.4% completion rate, and a 106.8 passer rating. Those aren’t just good numbers - they’re historic. Mayfield became just the fourth player in NFL history to log a season with 4,000+ yards, 40+ touchdowns, and over 70% completions, joining elite company in Drew Brees, Joe Burrow, and Aaron Rodgers.
And that performance didn’t come out of nowhere. In 2023, Somerville’s first year on an NFL staff, he helped Mayfield put together a Pro Bowl campaign in his Tampa Bay debut.
The quarterback set then-career highs in completions (364), completion percentage (63.4%), yards (4,044), and touchdowns (28), earning the PFWA’s Most Improved Player award. For a QB who had bounced around the league and was looking to re-establish himself, that kind of leap speaks volumes - and Somerville was right in the thick of it.
But Somerville’s coaching chops aren’t limited to the NFL. Before Tampa, he built his résumé across several college programs, most notably at Oregon.
As an offensive analyst with the Ducks, he was part of a staff that engineered one of the most explosive units in the country. Oregon ranked sixth among Power 5 teams in scrimmage yards per game (500.5) and 10th in points per game (38.8).
He worked closely with Bo Nix, who turned in a standout season under that offensive umbrella. Nix finished fourth among Power 5 QBs in passer rating (165.7), and landed in the top 10 in yards, yards per attempt, and touchdowns.
Before his time in Eugene, Somerville served as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at New Mexico for two seasons. He also got his coaching start as a graduate assistant at Arizona State back in 2019, where he helped the Sun Devils earn a trip to the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.
Now, he takes the reins of Cal’s offense - a unit that’s looking for a new identity and a fresh spark. Somerville brings a well-rounded background: he’s worked with quarterbacks, running backs, and offensive schemes at both the college and pro levels.
He’s helped develop NFL talent and overseen explosive college attacks. And perhaps most importantly, he brings a modern, adaptable approach to offensive football - one that could give the Golden Bears a much-needed edge in the ever-evolving Pac-12 landscape.
It’s a pivotal hire for Coach Lupoi and a clear signal that Cal is aiming to elevate its offensive ceiling. With Somerville calling plays, the Bears are betting on innovation, development, and a proven track record of helping quarterbacks thrive.