Jefferson "Jeff" Caldwell (born February 20, 1996) is an American retired professional

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

player who played as a

goalkeeper In many team sports that involve scoring goal (sport), goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie, or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or i ...

College and amateur

Caldwell played four years of

college soccer College soccer, called college football in some countries, is played by teams composed of soccer players who are enrolled in colleges and universities. While it is most widespread in the United States, it is also prominent in Japan, South Kore ...

at the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson and contains his The Lawn, Academical Village, a World H ...

between 2014 and 2017, making 61 appearances. While at college, Caldwell appeared for

USL PDL USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States, forming part of the United States soccer league system. The league will feature ...

sides

Seattle Sounders FC U-23 Sound FC is an American soccer team based in Tacoma, Washington. Founded in 2006, the team most recently played in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. History 2006–2009: Playoffs The Tacoma team was introduced i ...

and

Colorado Rapids U-23 Colorado Rapids U–23 were an American soccer team based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado. Originally founded in 2000 as part of the development system for the Colorado Rapids, the team played in the Premier Development League, t ...

Professional career

New York City FC

On January 19, 2018, Caldwell was selected 19th overall in the

2018 MLS SuperDraft The 2018 MLS SuperDraft was the nineteenth SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. As customary, the SuperDraft was held in conjunction with the annual United Soccer Coaches convention. The 2018 UCS was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania b ...

New York City FC New York City Football Club (often referred to as NYCFC) is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in New York City. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern C ...

. He signed with the club on February 28, 2018.

Loan to Memphis 901

On March 5, 2019, Caldwell was loaned to

USL Championship The USL Championship (USLC) is a men's professional association football, soccer league in the second tier of the United States soccer league system#Men's leagues, United States league system. It is organized by the United Soccer League (USL) a ...

side

Memphis 901 FC Memphis 901 FC was an American professional soccer team based in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 2018, the team made its debut in the USL Championship in 2019. On November 13, 2024, it was announced that the team would be folding after they wer ...

for their 2019 season.

New England Revolution

Caldwell was released by New York City on November 20, 2019. He was selected by

New England Revolution The New England Revolution are an American professional association football, soccer club based in the Greater Boston area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. It is on ...

in the MLS Waiver Draft on November 25, 2019. He was the third-choice keeper behind Matt Turner and

Brad Knighton Bradley Burton Knighton (born February 6, 1985) is an American former professional soccer player. He is currently the Goalkeeper coach for Revolution II. College and amateur soccer Knighton played four years of college soccer at UNC-Wilmingto ...

, and did not make an appearance in the 2020 season with the Revolution.

Hartford Athletic

On January 27, 2021, Caldwell signed with

team

Hartford Athletic Hartford Athletic is an American professional association football, soccer team based in Hartford, Connecticut. The club was founded in 2018 and started play in the USL Championship in 2019. It is the only pro soccer team in Connecticut (thoug ...

for the 2021 season. He made his competitive debut with the team on April 30, 2021, against

New York Red Bulls II New York Red Bulls II is an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Montclair, New Jersey. They are the reserve team of the New York Red Bulls and play in MLS Next Pro, the third tier in the American soccer pyramid. Hi ...

. Caldwell finished the year second in saves for the

and tied for 3rd in clean sheets at nine.

Loan to Miami FC

On November 5, 2021, Caldwell was sent to USL Championship side

Miami FC Miami FC is an American professional association football, soccer team based in Miami, Florida that competes in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. The club began play in the North American Soccer League (201 ...

as an emergency loan ahead of the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs. He started for Miami in the team's 1–0 loss to

Louisville City FC Louisville City Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Louisville, Kentucky. The team plays in the USL Championship, which is currently the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. The club was founded in 2014 after O ...

in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks

On December 7, 2021, it was announced Caldwell would join USL Championship side

Colorado Springs Switchbacks Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC is a professional soccer team based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2014, the team is a member of the Western Conference in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. The fra ...

ahead of their 2022 season.

International

Caldwell played in one game with the United States Under-20 Men's National Team in 2015, and also featured for the U-17 and U-18 national teams. He was a member of the United States’ 2013 Concacaf U-17 Championship squad, and was also named to roster for the

2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup The 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the twentieth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup since its inception in 1977 as the FIFA World Youth Championship. The competition took place for the first time in New Zealand, the third time on Oceanian soil after ...

, but did not see game action.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Caldwell, Jeff 1996 births Living people American men's soccer players Men's association football goalkeepers Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer players Seattle Sounders FC U-23 players Colorado Rapids U-23 players New York City FC draft picks New York City FC players Memphis 901 FC players New England Revolution players Hartford Athletic players Miami FC players Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC players USL Championship players USL League Two players People from Ashe County, North Carolina Soccer players from North Carolina United States men's under-20 international soccer players United States men's youth international soccer players 21st-century American sportsmen