The biggest storyline of the offseason for the Jaguars is their search for a new head coach. That process might be hindered by the man that new hire will report to, however. CBS’ Jason La Confora reports that ownership’s decision to keep GM Trent Baalke could deter certain candidates from taking the job. 
The Jaguars have been the source of controversy since the hiring of Urban Meyer this offseason to take over as head coach at the NFL level. Having been fired midseason amid a slew of on- and off-the-field issues, owner Shad Khan has already started the process of requesting interviews with potential replacements. The fact that Baalke is still around, and playing a role in that search, however, is “already turning off several top candidates”, according to La Canfora.
The insider adds that it is believed by many in NFL circles that Baalke is an executive whose track record in terms of team-building isn’t worth the likely power struggles that would ensue between he and the new head coach. He adds that, “many of those [potential candidates] harbor reservations about the ability to truly thrive in Jacksonville” and that Baalke has been advocating for recently-hired Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien to be considered. The latter’s ugly exit from Houston in 2020 was mired in exactly the sort of problem the Jaguars will be looking to avoid. One of the bigger names amongst potential hires, Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, would likely have little interest in the job with Baalke in place, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Ultimately, La Canfora writes that pushback from coaching interviewees and fans alike could force Khan to reconsider and fire Baalke. It is a situation worth watching as the regular season winds down and the offseason coach and executive landscape begins to take shape.
Fire him and start with a clean slate.
I do not understand this headline – hurting head coach search? Typo?
it’s explained in the article.
Its amazing how many comprehension problems would be solved if people would just read the article….
People don’t read more than short snippets anymore. It is all part of the dumbing down of our country.
Exactly!! That’s why people are so easily lead to believe just about anything. They don’t read and investigate anything. They’re called “headliners”…because that’s all they look at.
You’re opening a wasps nest. We could keep going with lack of work ethic and entitlement in the current generation, though.
I would think Khan is the primary roadblock to hiring a legit HC. He’s probably the worst owner in the NFL. That franchise is a dumpster fire bcs of his ego.
Dan S would disagree with that!
Have you guys seen Cal McNair? He deserves the title of worst owner in the NFL
Coaches can ignore terrible owners. They can’t ignore terrible GMs.
If he is actually considering hiring O’Brien that should be enough to be fired right there.
I was thinking the exact same thing. If I were an NFL owner hiring a GM, I’d show them BOB’s blind resume. If they like it, that’s going to be a hard “no” from me.
JLC hates the Jags for some reason. Now I don’t know everything about the GM, but he would not be the 1st GM to hire multiple coaches though. And frankly, it would be his 1st hire for the Jags. Shad signed Urban.
Until JLC is actually prepared to name these mystery people who don’t want to work for the Jags, there’s no reason to give him any credibility.
JLC also said Meyer lost the locker room in an article in October. Dislike the guy all ya want, but I think that report was pretty accurate without naming names.
Honesty, there has been turmoil in the Jags lockerroom dating back to when Tom Coughlin was in charge so to blame all the problems on Meyers was not warranted.
I think Bill O’Brien is actually a good coach, as long as that’s his only responsibility. Clearly he has zero ability as an executive. His teams made the playoffs every year but one in Houston I believe, and he did a good job developing talent. That being said, I still wouldn’t touch him.
Houston fan here, and Nope BoB did not develop talent in the least.
He didn’t draft himself the best talent to develop. Baalke is a good talent evaluator and could put better talent on the roster for O’Brien to coach.
Baalke made serious roster missteps, and with Chad Kelly at his side the 49ers sank like an anvil…
Was just going to comment the same thing. Baalke is a solid GM and O’Brien is a solid coach. If they were able to stay in their respective lanes I think this could work.
O’Brien’s playoff appearances came in a weak division. I don’t really buy into him being a great coach. I’m not really bullish on anyone from that N.E. coaching tree. The results haven’t been great.
I’d really, really like to see the evidence that Baalke is a solid GM.
Jim Harbaugh and Chip Kelly will tell you otherwise.
Doesn’t surprise us 49ers fans one bit. When they brought him in I said on here it was a mistake in the end it’ll end up being a mistake like myself and many other said and they will wish they didn’t hire him.
“BoB” had no QB for years and still took them to the playoffs. Pretty much every year. They also fired him waaaaay too early in his last season, but that makes sense because of how bad he was at GM.
Uh… What? Schaub his first year, who wasn’t bad. Fitzpatrick was there, and he’s decent. BoB also had Watson awhile. How do you figure he never had a QB?
Even if he didn’t, who’s fault would that be?
he lookin for someone w a MCL tear