Jay Gruden‘s interview with the Jaguars ended up leading to a job offer. The former Redskins head coach has been hired as Jacksonville’s new offensive coordinator, the team announced. Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reported yesterday (via Twitter) that this was the expected outcome.
Gruden joined ex-Giants HC Ben McAdoo and ex-Rams HC and Cowboys OC Scott Linehan in interviewing for this post. The Redskins set several passing records during Gruden’s years with Kirk Cousins and were in first place in the NFC East when Alex Smith went down with the severe leg injury that harpooned Washington’s 2018 season. The Redskins ranked 10th in scoring in their 2015 playoff season and were third in total offense a year later.
Despite Marrone entering his fourth season as the Jags’ full-time head coach, this has not been a stable position in recent years. The Jags fired Nathaniel Hackett late in the 2018 season and will make John DeFilippo a one-and-done in the OC role. With Marrone avoiding the ouster many expected, Gruden’s work with Nick Foles and Gardner Minshew will be critical to this regime staying in place. Gruden also figures to be auditioning for a future HC job.
The Redskins fired Gruden after an 0-5 start to his sixth season. He clashed with ownership and since-fired team president Bruce Allen on the drafting of Dwayne Haskins but has a history in helping young quarterbacks. Gruden was in his first year as Cincinnati’s OC when the team traded Carson Palmer and pivoted to rookie Andy Dalton. The Bengals made the playoffs from 2011-13 and were a top-10 scoring offense in the ’12 and ’13 campaigns. Minshew, who is set to compete with Foles this offseason, will be his next project.
I expect Nick Foles to be cut and Case Keenum brought in.
If Ereck Flowers and Donald Penn follow Keenum to Jacksonville the Jags will be drafting early next year.
Jags thinking: We brought in Marrone in case we need to fire Gus. Now let’s bring in another former HC in case we need to fire Marrone.
At least they were smart enough to finally get rid of Coughlin who completely killed any positive team morale that existed down there.
Haven’t the Gruden family worn out their welcome in the NFL yet? Blowhards with no recent success.
Jay is a lot quieter than his brother Jon. He’s also reached his ceiling of competence. Promoting Jay to head coach was one tier too high. As OC, he’ll be more in his element and may do a decent job.
On the other hand, Gruden was so blasé about his work in his last two seasons in Washington following Alex Smith’s broken leg and then Colt McCoy’s similar broken leg a week or two later, that perhaps he’s done altogether. Someone released a video of Jay Gruden smoking pot with co-eds last season where Gruden looks like everything but a motivated, focused head coach.
I’d say Grudens head was definitely motivated and focused in that video ahahaha
I know the Gruden family personally from my time working as a statistician for the Bucs and also working at Berkeley Prep school in Tampa where jay and jons mother used to teach. Jay and Jon are both great people! Jon is a very passionate coach and he expects the best from his players. Jay is also a great coach. Salary caps can take a toll on a coach and his abilities. Jon will be successful in Las Vegas sooner rather than later and I believe Jay will also be successful in Jacksonville. Jay will be a head coach again it’s just a matter of time
WOW … Jaguars are going to be such an exciting Team to follow next year !! (Sarcasm)