Despite being tied to the Trent Baalke regime, Ethan Waugh took part in the Jaguars’ round of interviews to replace him. But Baalke’s right-hand man is out in Jacksonville as well.
The Jags are moving on from Waugh as assistant GM, InsidetheLeague.com’s Neil Stratton reports. Hiring Waugh just after the 2022 draft, the Jags also named him interim GM following Baalke’s January firing. With James Gladstone now in place as GM, it certainly makes sense a key new hire will take place as restructuring continues under the ex-Rams exec.
Teams often wait until after the draft to make these moves, in order to not disrupt continuity within the front office after extensive scouting work has been completed. Waugh ended up working through the draft, a memorable one for the Jaguars, who traded a 2026 first-rounder as part of a package that secured them (via the Browns) Travis Hunter‘s draft rights.
Gladstone is credited with putting those trade talks in motion, doing so weeks ahead of the draft. Waugh was still with the team at this point. Waugh arrived days after the 2022 draft and had been playing out the string this year. The veteran exec had worked in San Francisco for an extended period, overlapping with Baalke there. It will be expected he lands elsewhere soon, even if Baalke has not.
Despite Baalke’s 49ers ouster after the 2016 season, John Lynch retained Waugh and eventually elevated him to VP of player personnel in 2021. This came months after the Jaguars named Baalke GM, though he held that title while Urban Meyer ran football ops. Post-Meyer, the Jags elevated Baalke to the top of their personnel period. They then added Waugh from the 49ers.
The Baalke-Waugh pairing completed an eventful offseason in 2024, giving out the three most lucrative contract extensions — for Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell — in team history. This came after the team gave Gladstone and Co. an ascending talent by drafting Brian Thomas Jr. in Round 1. Last year’s Jags season skidded off track early, however, as a host of close losses turned into a 4-13 record — during a season that brought Lawrence’s first extended absence. Hunter will be brought in to team with Thomas.