After a three-year stint as a graduate assistant at UCLA, Tarver got his start in the NFL in 2001 as an offensive quality control coach with the San Francisco 49ers. That began a stretch with the 49ers that spanned 13 seasons over two different stints, as Tarver moved up the ranks and worked with seven different head coaches. His longest stretch with the same position group was from 2005-10 as the team's outside linebackers coach.

That time of Tarver's career fortified his love for the position.

"I love coaching the linebackers because we're in the middle of everything," Tarver said. "They call you a linebacker because you're backed off the line. You've got to be on point in the run and pass game with your keys. You are the leaders of the defense and should respond and work that way and that's what's exciting. You want to be a linebacker because you're just involved with everything. You're right there in the middle or slightly on the sides. Run, shed, tackle the guy with the ball. That's what backers do and that's some of the most exciting things in football."

Tarver took his first defensive coordinator job at Stanford University in 2011. Under his guidance, the Cardinal defense ranked third in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (84.4) and 11th in points allowed per game (16.41) while finishing the season with an 11-2 record. One year later, Tarver was in the same position with the Raiders on Dennis Allen's staff.

As defensive coordinator with the Raiders (2012-14), helped oversee a unit that ranked 10th in the NFL in yards per carry allowed (4.05) over his three seasons. In first season as the Raiders defensive coordinator, Oakland's defense improved from 29th overall in 2011 to 18th in 2012.

"Jason Tarver is somebody I've met over the years and really enjoyed spending time with him and talking about the intricacies of defensive football," Stefanski said. "I think he's a really bright mind. He's been a coordinator, which is really helpful to Joe as he builds out the defensive staff. Jason's impact in that room as the linebackers coach really goes beyond that because of his former experience as a coordinator."

Tarver returned to San Francisco in 2015 for what would be a three-year stint as a senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach.

Tarver's excitement to get his hands on a young group of Cleveland linebackers is palpable.