Jaguars Finally Fire GM Trent Baalke In The Midst Of Fruitless Head Coach Search

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been in the head coaching hunt since the firing of head coach Doug Pederson, who lost his job following a Week 18 loss that dropped the team to 4-13 on the season.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s barely been a couple of weeks. But in that time, the two most sought-after coaching candidates – Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson – have found their places with the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears, while a host of other teams are working through their hiring processes. Johnson was one of the ten candidates to score interviews with Jacksonville.

Multiple sources, though, reported that Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen was the Jags’ top choice. In 2024, his first season coaching in the NFL, Coen’s Buccaneers offense put up top-five performances in total offense (scoring, rushing and passing), third-down percentage and red-zone touchdown percentage. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns on the year, helping carry the Bucs to their fourth straight NFC South title.

Coen was one of three candidates invited to a second interview with the Jaguars, along with former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. That dream was seemingly crushed Wednesday morning, though, when it was reported that Coen had accepted a new contract in Tampa that would make him one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL.

But why didn’t he choose Jacksonville?

The Jaguars, after all, have young Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, not to mention Brian Thomas Jr., who’s just 22. They ended 2024 with the same record as the Patriots, who managed to secure Vrabel.

Well, in the midst of the Pederson firing, owner Shad Khan refused to fire general manager Trent Baalke, claiming that a complete overhaul of the organization would be tantamount to “suicide.” Baalke, despite a combined 31-68 record for the five coaches under his tenure and a less-than-stellar track record at finding and developing talent, would lead the head coaching search.

It was only a few hours after Coen reportedly removed himself from the search that Baalke was finally fired. Assistant General Manager Ethan Waugh will serve as the interim GM.

“I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville and look forward to introducing a new head coach who will make that happen for our players and fans alike,” Khan said in a statement.

Coen reportedly hasn’t officially put pen to paper, leaving him still technically open for a head coaching role. As Jacksonville prepares to look for a new general manager as well, though, their indecisiveness may have cost them for good.