Trent Baalke

Jaguars Preparing Aggressive Ben Johnson Pursuit; Kliff Kingsbury On Radar?

January 8th, 2025 at 9:05am CST by Sam Robinson

The Jaguars have sent out an interview request for Lions OC Ben Johnson. It is not yet known if the three-year Detroit play-caller will take the meeting; as of now, he has been tied to the Bears and Patriots’ HC openings. But the Jags do intend to make an aggressive play here.

Despite firing an offense-oriented HC (Doug Pederson) on Black Monday, Jacksonville is believed to be “all in” on Johnson, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes. Johnson has been notoriously selective, and that should be expected to continue. After all, the Lions’ 15-2 season will keep the 38-year-old OC in demand despite his having jumped off the 2023 and ’24 HC carousels early.

Joe Brady, Liam Coen, Kellen Moore and Todd Monken join Johnson among offense-oriented candidates on the Jags’ radar. Although no interview request has come out, Pauline adds Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury is a name to monitor here. The former Cardinals HC said he is interested in returning to a top job, even though his first such chance ended badly. Jayden Daniels‘ presence would stand to allow Kingsbury to be choosey as well.

No Kingsbury interviews are on any team’s docket, and no team has requested one yet. That adds some mystery here, though the Bears — after meeting with Caleb Williams‘ 2023 QBs coach at USC for their OC position last year — are expected to huddle up with him once again at some point. Kingsbury elevating Trevor Lawrence would be the Jags’ hope here, as that will be perhaps the franchise’s chief aim after a 4-13 season.

One matter that could stand in the way of the Jags adding a hotshot offense-based candidate, Trent Baalke‘s status continues to be a talking point around the league. A Tuesday report indicated certain candidates would steer clear of the Jacksonville job because Baalke was retained, but Pauline indicates the fifth-year Jags GM might not be long for the position. Some around the NFL view Baalke’s retention as a way for Shad Khan to receive assistance in hiring the next HC and then see the embattled GM kick himself to another role within the organization.

GMs have transitioned to other jobs within buildings before, as Rich McKay and John Elway‘s transitions in the not-so-distant past remind. Baalke, 60, has also shown an ability to stick around when many expected an ouster. Baalke has been GM (of the 49ers and Jaguars) during the tenures of five HCs. That number reaching six should not be ruled out, but a scenario in which Baalke changes jobs while another GM is hired appears on the radar, at least.

That would stand to help the Jags with a Johnson pursuit, as a candidate with options certainly may express reservations about being tied to an in-house GM. For now, that would remain the case. But a Jags aggressive pursuit of the Lions’ OC probably includes flexibility in the GM role.

Trent Baalke Caused Doug Pederson Hesitation In 2022; Jaguars GM To Deter HC Candidates?

January 7th, 2025 at 6:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Trent Baalke‘s pattern of perseverance may well continue in Jacksonville. Despite many expecting the Jaguars to clean house and rumors about a potential in-season firing coming out, their GM remains following Doug Pederson‘s Black Monday firing. This has been a rather surprising development, but the former 49ers front office boss has been able to outlast several HCs during his career.

Baalke climbed the ladder in San Francisco, eventually moving to GM alongside Jim Harbaugh in 2011. The Scot McCloughan successor was able to hire two more coaches — Jim Tomsula, Chip Kelly — before being let go after a 2-14 2016 season. The Jags brought in Baalke in 2020, with then-GM Dave Caldwell making him a chief lieutenant as director of player personnel. Baalke then rose to interim GM following Caldwell’s ouster, before being hired as full-time GM during the Urban Meyer year. Meyer and Pederson have come and gone, yet the GM remains.

While Shad Khan did not fully commit to Baalke staying, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes some coaching candidates will not entertain the notion of accepting a Jags HC offer if Baalke is attached (video link). This reminds of 2022, when we heard similar vibes out of Jacksonville. A strong candidate to return to Jacksonville as HC, Byron Leftwich did not want to work with Baalke and instead sought his own GM. Pederson later expressed hesitancy but agreed to work with the two-time GM, Breer adds.

Past Jags consideration toward adding an executive vice president-level exec to potentially oversee Baalke did not produce a hire, but Khan said Monday he would both be open to it and that the team needed more executive talent in its “thin” front office. This tenuous situation could lead to a third GM change during this year’s cycle, but for now, the resilient Jacksonville boss is still in power. He has been with the Jags through one- and two-win seasons and now a four-win campaign, albeit with two 9-8 slates in between.

Baalke and Harbaugh’s power struggle led the latter to Michigan, producing woeful seasons under Tomsula and Kelly, and the Baalke-Pederson fit eventually deteriorated. Breer describes the partnership falling apart at the end of its run; we heard in September friction had mounted between the Jags’ HC and GM. Baalke wanted more staff changes than Pederson was willing to greenlight, namely an OC change. As he did in Philadelphia, Pederson prevented Press Taylor from being fired. Taylor served as the Jags’ primary play-caller in 2023 and ’24.

The Jags are interested in two candidates that can be rather choosey, in Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel. Johnson has stepped off two HC carousels since 2023 and may only be prepared to meet with the Bears and Patriots during this year’s cycle. Vrabel has been tied to wanting former Titans interim GM Ryan Cowden to join him, though it is far from certain if that would be mandatory. The Jaguars have not sent an interview request to Vrabel, but Johnson and a host of others received them.

Baalke greenlit the three most lucrative contracts in Jags history last year — for Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell — but saw the team struggle even when the QB was on the field. The Jags did lose 10 one-score games, and Lawrence’s presence stands to attract interest. Baalke’s, however, may have the opposite effect. This could still be a looming vacancy to monitor, should the Jaguars interview promising candidates that would want a new GM in place.

Jaguars Interested In Ben Johnson, Joe Brady, Liam Coen; Team Open To Hiring Executive VP

January 6th, 2025 at 4:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Shad Khan gave both Gus Bradley and Doug Marrone more time, he canned Doug Pederson after three seasons. Trent Baalke is staying on, which has surprised many around the league. Baalke will now be part of the team’s HC search, which looks to have a certain skillset in mind.

Offensive creativity will be factored into the Jaguars’ search, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who reports the AFC South club has Ben Johnson, Joe Brady and Liam Coen on its radar. Despite having gone offense with Pederson, Khan appears to be leaning in a similar direction.

Pederson came to Jacksonville as a five-year play-caller, but the former Super Bowl winner relinquished that responsibility — to the chagrin of many — after the 2022 season. Embattled OC Press Taylor remained the Jags’ play-caller over the past two seasons, despite the team’s fortunes worsening since December 2023 began a regime-defining swoon. Nevertheless, the Jags are targeting more play-callers, as they attempt to maximize Trevor Lawrence.

No interview requests have come yet, but it would surprise if these three did not receive slips. Although the Jags finished 4-13, Lawrence’s presence figures to add intrigue to the post. Teams with QB issues may have a much harder time attracting top candidates, even though the 2021 No. 1 overall pick has not yet justified his summer megadeal. Lawrence is also recovering from shoulder surgery completed midway through last month.

Johnson has long been believed to be the top play-caller type available, having restored Jared Goff as a quality passer after the Lions acquired him as a throw-in as part of the Matthew Stafford trade. Johnson has called plays for the past three seasons, and the Lions have continued to climb. Detroit’s 68 offensive touchdowns this season trail only the 2013 Broncos’ record-setting attack. The Lions led the NFL in scoring and finished second in yardage. Johnson, 38, has been selective but is tentatively viewed as more likely to take a job this year. He is set to meet with the Patriots and Bears, two teams that just drafted top-three QBs.

Coen did plenty to sustain Baker Mayfield‘s 2023 resurgence, helping to elevate the formerly maligned passer. Mayfield shattered his career high by throwing 41 touchdown passes this season. Coen, 39, did not stand out as Rams OC in 2022 but has restored his stock in Tampa. The four-time reigning NFC South champion Bucs navigated Dave Canales‘ departure well, ranking third in scoring offense, and Coen is drawing interest in a league starved for promising play-callers. Coen should be expected to garner extensive attention this year, Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager adds.

A Bills team that already had a dominant quarterback has benefited from Brady, who has been at the controls during Josh Allen‘s most complete season. The MVP favorite had already propelled Brian Daboll to a top job, and his current 35-year-old conductor may not be long for the Bills’ OC chair. The Saints are also interested in Brady, who coached in New Orleans previously.

When the Jags’ job was last open back in 2022, rumblings about potential difficulty working with Baalke surfaced. The second-chance GM, who battled Jim Harbaugh in a mid-2010s San Francisco power struggle, is believed to have seen his relationship with Pederson worsen in 2024. He has fended off rumors about a firing, doing so as Pederson took the fall. The Jags considered hiring an executive VP to operate between Baalke and ownership previously, but nothing came of it. Khan did not rule out another search, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, and said some front office talent will be added due to the present Jags staff being “lean.”

Baalke rode shotgun to Urban Meyer upon becoming the Jags’ GM, and it is rather interesting that the former 49ers leader will be on staff with a fourth Jags HC. The AFC South franchise hired Baalke during Marrone’s tenure in 2020 and promoted him to GM under Meyer. Baalke’s presence will be one of the most interesting components on this year’s HC carousel.

Jaguars Assistants Expecting Staff Changes

January 5th, 2025 at 3:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the 2024 season has progressed, the Jaguars’ continued struggles have led to an strong sense of head coach Doug Pederson dismissal being likely. That would certainly not come as a surprise at this point, especially given the sentiment of his assistants.

Many members of Pederson’s staff have been “preparing as though they’ll need new jobs” once the season ends, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones writes. Jones, like many others, adds Pederson is viewed as being a lock to be dismissed as early as tonight. Likewise, ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted on Sunday morning’s NFL Countdown that Pederson is among the coaches seen as not being safe with respect to firing decisions (video link).

The most recent updates on the matter suggested firing Pederson was not necessarily a guarantee, but taking into account owner Shad Khan‘s optimism about the 2024 season he will no doubt be dissatisfied with the results of the campaign. That could also lead to general manager Trent Baalke being replaced, although Khan’s quiet stance on the situation has left it unclear how he will proceed on that front. Jones confirms the expectation around the league remains that Baalke – in place since 2021 – will be fired.

Offensive coordinator Press Taylor has been in place since Pederson’s arrival in 2022, reuniting with the Super Bowl winner after their shared time in Philadelphia. Baalke reportedly urged Pederson to fire Taylor after last season, one in which the Jaguars collapsed during the second half of the campaign. Injuries to quarterback Trevor Lawrence and receiver Christian Kirk (among others) have hampered Jacksonville’s offense this year, but Taylor’s name will certainly be one to watch if Pederson is fired. Major changes were made on the defensive side of the ball last offseason, but those did not produce the desired results either.

Jones adds Jaguars assistants have been “demoralized” during the closing weeks of the campaign, one which ended Sunday afternoon with an overtime loss to the Colts. Khan could very well react with sweeping changes, in which case adding a new head coach and quickly filling out the rest of the staff will become a priority. Khan has not made contact with potential candidates at this point, but Jones notes a search firm will likely be brought in presuming Pederson’s tenure comes to an end.

As Black Monday approaches, the Jaguars are among the teams to watch closely after a 4-13 season. Further signs point to a head coaching change, and many other positions on staff could soon be open.

Jaguars Not Certain To Fire Doug Pederson, Trent Baalke?

January 4th, 2025 at 8:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 4: It still remains to be seen if one or both members of the Pederson-Baalke pairing will be let go soon, but a change in the front office could be needed if Khan targets a notable coaching move. Schultz reports many around the league believe firing Baalke will be a requirement for the top HC candidates to consider the Jacksonville gig, provided it becomes available. The Jaguars will remain one of the teams worth watching closely once the regular season ends.

JANUARY 3: One of the NFL’s two active second-chance GMs has overseen one of the NFL’s most disappointing teams. After authorizing the three most lucrative extensions in Jaguars history (for Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell), Trent Baalke has seen the team tumble to a 4-12 record.

It would seem likely Doug Pederson is heading into his final game as Jags HC, based on the unraveling that has taken place since December 2023, but Shad Khan has not made any clear indications about which way he is leaning. Many around the NFL expect Pederson to be fired, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but the former Super Bowl-winning HC may have a sliver of hope to stay.

Pederson has been “projecting confidence,” according to some in the NFL, Fowler adds. With the Jags following back-to-back 9-8 seasons with a campaign that can max out at just five wins, it would be difficult to overstate how hot Pederson’s seat would be if Khan gave him another chance.

Then again, Khan kept Gus Bradley on for a fourth season after he had strung together three straight years with at least 11 losses. Doug Marrone also coached four full seasons, having finished with double-digit losses in three of those. By that standard, firing Pederson would represent a quick hook. Then again, more was expected from Lawrence-centered Pederson teams — especially over the past two seasons.

The longtime Jags owner said before the season this year’s team carried the most talented roster in franchise history. Even in the moment, that appeared to significantly underrate the franchise’s late-1990s rosters, but Khan making that comment only to see what has transpired points to Pederson being days away from an ouster. Baalke is undoubtedly on thin ice, too, though he has survived after being at risk of an in-season dismissal. Khan had projected confidence in his power duo, doing so around the same time John Mara professed support for his. Both the Jags and Giants have moved toward the No. 1 overall pick in the weeks since.

Promoted to GM during Urban Meyer‘s disastrous year in charge, Baalke was given the green light to hire Pederson in 2022. In mid-December, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz predicted the Jags would stay the course with Baalke. Considering Baalke has been in Jacksonville for both the franchise’s recent No. 1 overall picks — which featured a Travon Walker-over-Aidan Hutchinson call — it would be somewhat surprising if Khan did not clear the decks in hopes of hiring a new regime to better maximize his roster.

Most around the NFL expect Baalke to be canned, but Fowler adds some league personnel are pointing to the former 49ers GM’s resiliency in reminding not to assume this is a lock. Baalke memorably won a power struggle with Jim Harbaugh, leading the latter to Michigan after the 2014 season. The 49ers’ fortunes significantly worsened in the two years Baalke operated without Harbaugh, and the GM was fired after the ’16 campaign. This Jags effort has not provided the kind of bounce-back offering Khan hoped for when appointing Baalke to the GM post.

The relationship between Baalke and Pederson was believed to be strained as early as September, and a subsequent report had Baalke urging Pederson to fire OC Press Taylor — a Pederson lieutenant in Philadelphia and Jacksonville — after last season. Pederson kept Taylor on and continued with him calling plays. That decision has played a role in the Jags’ descent, though other factors — Lawrence’s injuries among them — have been part of this tumble as well. Will Sunday be it for Pederson and Baalke in Jacksonville or will one of them continue on without the other?

Jaguars Owner Shad Khan Quiet On Potential HC, GM Firings

December 29th, 2024 at 2:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

Three head coaching vacancies are currently in place in the NFL, and the Jets will also be in the market for a new general manager this offseason. More openings are expected in the near future, with Jacksonville remaining a team to watch on both fronts.

Head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke have been the subject of considerable speculation regarding in-season firings. Both have survived in that respect despite the Jaguars’ 3-12 record entering Sunday’s action, but owner Shad Khan will have several key decisions to make once the campaign is over. No major developments have emerged from the front office as it pertains to potential changes this winter, though.

Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network write Khan has remained quiet in terms of connections emerging as candidates to replace Pederson and/or Baalke. Still, the pair notes a sense of “major change” being imminent remains in the organization. Pederson has been in place since 2022, while Baalke’s tenure in Duval County began one year earlier. Jacksonville made the postseason in 2022, and the team matched that record last year. Expectations were high as a result, but struggles on both sides of the ball have been witnessed with and without quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the lineup.

On more than one occasion, reports have indicated a rift between Pederson and Baalke; that, in turn, has fueled further expectation that at least one member of the pair will be dismissed after the campaign. If only one firing is to take place, Baalke is believed to be on stronger footing than Pederson, but nothing is certain at this point. Bill Belichick had been floated as a potential hire (especially in the event of Khan fully cleaning house), although his decision to take North Carolina’s head coaching gig has made that a moot point.

CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones confirms Khan has not yet actively engaged in discussions with outside candidates on the coaching and general manager fronts (video link). Khan is known to be patient, though, so that approach comes as little surprise with time remaining in the regular season. After next week, more clarity will emerge with respect to which changes will be taking place for 2025, and as a result the focus of the team’s targets for outside hires will likely be narrowed.

For the time being, however, no signals have been made by Khan – who before the start of the season made it clear he felt the 2024 Jaguars were the most talented in franchise history. How he proceeds after the end of the season will be one of the league’s top storylines.

NFL Coaching Rumors: Jacksonville, Smith, Mayo

December 13th, 2024 at 8:31pm CST by Ely Allen

The way the season is going in Jacksonville, it’s looking more and more likely that the Jaguars are going to have some new leadership in 2025. The consensus in league circles is that the team is highly likely to move on from head coach Doug Pederson. The question that seems to be trending lately for Jacksonville is whether or not general manager Trent Baalke will be soon to follow.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, there has been increased speculation on whether or not Baalke will be sticking around to choose Pederson’s replacement, should he be fired as expected. Having already been eliminated from playoff contention with a 3-10 record while, at this point, competing for a top draft slot, it seems like a foregone conclusion that Pederson is out, but with Baalke, it’s not as sure a thing.

In an appearance on Herd with Colin Cowherd, FOX Sports’s Jordan Schultz claimed he doesn’t believe Baalke gets fired because he’s entrenched himself with team owner Shahid Khan and chief football strategy officer Tony Khan.

Here are a few other rumors from coaching circles in the NFL:

Arthur Smith‘s recent success jump-starting the career of veteran quarterback Russell Wilson has put him back in the head coaching spotlight. The Steelers offensive coordinator may have to wait a little longer, though. Per Graziano, Smith is more likely to find his way back into head coaching races after the 2025 season than in the upcoming offseason.
Like the Jags, the Patriots are another team already eliminated from the post season and in the running for a top draft slot. That doesn’t appear to mean the same thing for New England’s head coach, though, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Jerod Mayo is only in his first year as Patriots head coach and as an NFL head coach in general. Team owner Robert Kraft was part of the decision to set Mayo up for a coach-in-waiting situation, so it’s hard to imagine that he’s lost the vision on that front this early.

Jaguars, LT Walker Little Agree To Extension

December 1st, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Rory Parks

The Jaguars have agreed to a three-year, $45MM extension with left tackle Walker Little, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report. The deal, which features $26MM in guaranteed money, will keep Little under club control through 2027.

Little, 25, was selected by Jacksonville in the second round of the 2021 draft and saw just six regular season starts over his first two professional seasons. However, three of those games — along with two more postseason appearances as a starter — came at the end of the Jaguars’ exciting 2022 campaign, when the club rallied to a playoff berth and won a memorable wildcard round bout against the Chargers. Little’s efforts during that stretch earned the praise of quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

This season, speaking shortly after the Jags traded longtime LT Cam Robinson to the Vikings (thereby paving the way for Little), Lawrence said, “[Little] had to come in, in ‘22 when Cam got hurt, and finish the season when we were on that run. We didn’t skip a beat because he was prepared, and he prepared every day like a starter. … [H]e’s more than ready and he’s done a great job. I’m excited for him. I’ve got all the faith in the world, and he’s played great so far” (h/t John Shipley of SI.com).

Little received extensive work in 2023 thanks in large part to Robinson’s PED suspension and subsequent knee injury (though some of Little’s action came at left guard). In 14 games (11 starts), Little was flagged for seven penalties and yielded 26 total pressures, seven of which got home for sacks. That amounted to a middling 58.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which positioned him as the 58th-best tackle out of 81 qualifiers.

Now the unquestioned starter at left tackle in the wake of this year’s Robinson trade, Little has started each of the Jags’ last four games and has allowed just one sack and three QB hits during that time. PFF has assigned him a strong 67.9 overall mark for his 2024 work, and his performance to date has convinced Jacksonville brass that Little is the right player to protect Lawrence’s blind side for the foreseeable future.

Naturally, GM Trent Baalke was “heavily involved” in the Little negotiations, as Schefter confirms. Of course, Baalke is very much on the hot seat, so it is at least notable that he is making major decisions that will impact the long-term future of the Jaguars. A rival executive tells Schefter that the Little extension is a sign that Baalke is planning to remain with the club, though Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle throws some cold water on that notion. As Branch reminds us, Baalke authorized a five-year, $35MM deal for tight end Vance McDonald in December 2016, when Baalke was serving as GM of the 49ers. Baalke was fired less than a month later.

Regardless of what it means for Baalke’s future, Little’s new contract likely takes the 2-9 Jaguars out of the running for an offensive tackle when they make their first pick of the 2025 draft, as ESPN’s Field Yates posits.

Jaguars’ Trent Baalke Wanted Doug Pederson To Fire OC Press Taylor?

November 20th, 2024 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jaguars stood 8-3 at this point last season but have gone 3-14 in the 17 games since that hot start. As a result, Doug Pederson is almost certain to be fired by season’s end. GM Trent Baalke is also on unstable ground.

Pederson remains employed as Jaguars HC, with owner Shad Khan thus far resisting the former Super Bowl-winning coach join Urban Meyer and Gus Bradley in being dismissed in-season. But it appears only a matter of time before Pederson is gone. Some around the league believe Khan will have no choice but to fire both Pederson and Baalke to start the 2025 offseason, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes.

Sitting 2-9 after a 52-6 demolition at the hands of the soaring Lions, the Jaguars rank last defensively despite that being the area Pederson focused on in terms of staff turnover. Pederson fired two-year DC Mike Caldwell and most of his staff but opted to keep OC Press Taylor despite Baalke having conducted a close look into the state of the offense with Taylor at the controls. Pederson made Taylor the team’s full-time play-caller in 2023, and that plan carried over into this season. The younger brother of Bengals HC Zac Taylor, Press has not distinguished himself during a dismal Jags season.

Baalke and Pederson are not seeing eye-to-eye presently, and SI.com’s Albert Breer notes Press Taylor’s presence is a key reason why. Baalke is believed to have wanted Pederson to make more staff changes, with Taylor’s name coming up as one the fourth-year Jags GM would have liked to see go. As was the case with the Eagles, however, Pederson has been loyal to Taylor. This is not the first time Taylor’s name has come up as a Pederson anchor, nor is this the first report of Pederson-Baalke strife.

The Eagles shot down Pederson’s plan to promote Taylor to OC in 2021; the team fired Pederson soon after. Nevertheless, the former Philadelphia honcho brought Taylor with him to Jacksonville and has stuck by him despite steady criticism. The Jaguars have tumbled from 13th to 28th in total offense since last season and 13th to 23rd in scoring. Trevor Lawrence‘s absence has played a small part in the decline, though the former No. 1 overall pick has been healthier than last season on the whole.

It is rather interesting Taylor’s name has caused so many issues for Pederson dating back to his time in Philly — only to see no action taken. Taylor remains in place as Jags OC, though his tenure in that role will be capped at three seasons. This has marked Taylor’s first OC opportunity, but Pederson promoted him to pass-game coordinator with the Eagles. That drew scrutiny once Carson Wentz regressed; Taylor did not interview for another OC post once the Jags hired him in 2022. Taylor, 36, has been a Pederson staffer throughout the latter’s HC tenure, even though it was Chip Kelly who initially brought him to Philly.

The reported HC-GM friction aside, Fowler adds some believe the coach has not lost the locker room. Baalke has plenty to answer for as well, seeing as he greenlit the three most lucrative extensions in franchise history (for Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell) only to see the team plummet off the contender tier. This came two years after Baalke’s famous Travon Walker-over-Aidan Hutchinson call. GMs do not receive second chances on the level HCs do, and it appears more likely than not the former 49ers front office boss’ second GM opportunity is nearing an end.

Jaguars GM Trent Baalke At Risk Of In-Season Dismissal

November 18th, 2024 at 3:14pm CST by Rory Parks

NOVEMBER 18: Sunday’s lopsided loss has, as expected, left Pederson’s job status very much in the air. If a change on the sidelines is to take place, Bill Belichick remains a potential candidate to take over by the start of the 2025 season. On that note, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports a partnership between Belichick and Baalke would be “highly unlikely.” How Khan proceeds over the immediate and medium-term future will certainly be worth watching closely regardless of whether or not a Belichick pursuit takes place.

NOVEMBER 17: Reports from earlier this week indicated that an in-season shakeup of the Jaguars’ power structure may be in store should Jacksonville suffer a blowout loss at the hands of the Lions in Week 11. In addition to head coach Doug Pederson, Jags general manager Trent Baalke could also lose his job if the Jags are outclassed by Detroit, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms.

Owner Shad Khan publicly backed both Pederson and Baalke earlier this year, and he reportedly prefers to wait until the end of the season to pull the trigger on a coaching and/or front office overhaul. However, there is a very good chance that the 2-8 Jaguars, who are being quarterbacked by Mac Jones while Trevor Lawrence nurses a shoulder injury, will indeed lose in lopsided fashion to the 8-1 Lions, and Rapoport says the sense inside the Jaguars’ facility is that some sort of change is inevitable.

When addressing his team during training camp this summer, Khan made a statement that is aging more poorly with each passing day, noting that this year’s iteration of the Jaguars is the best in franchise history. Assuming he truly felt that way – and per Rapoport, rival clubs acknowledge Jacksonville sports a talented roster – then it would seem that Baalke, as the chief architect of that roster, would at least have a chance to remain in his position in 2025.

Indeed, when Pederson’s seat began to heat up in September, it was suggested that Baalke was on firmer footing than the head coach. On the other hand, the team’s fall over the last calendar year – the 2023 Jags won eight of their first 11 games and then lost five of their final six to miss the postseason – could be too dramatic for any of its top power brokers to survive.

Baalke, 60, served as the 49ers’ GM from 2011-2016, and during that time, San Francisco boasted 35 Pro Bowl selections and made a Super Bowl appearance. After head coach Jim Harbaugh departed at the end of the 2014 season, however, the Niners’ fortunes went south. The coaches that Baalke hired to replace Harbaugh, Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly, were one-and-dones, and the team went a combined 7-25 over the 2015-16 seasons. That led to Baalke’s ouster, and he spent the next several years as a football operations consultant for the NFL.

Baalke became the Jaguars’ director of player personnel in February 2020, was named interim GM upon Dave Caldwell’s firing in November of that year, and had his interim tag removed at the conclusion of the 2020 campaign. Even so, Baalke’s status as GM was believed to be turning off certain coaches during what became a long-running HC search in the 2022 coaching cycle, and the team interviewed longtime Vikings GM Rick Spielman for a non-GM position (but one that would have outranked Baalke). Although the Spielman hire never came to pass, rumblings about Baalke’s standing within the organization were still surfacing at the end of the 2022 season, the first year of the Pederson era.

While it has been reported that the relationship between Pederson and Baalke has become strained, Rapoport says that there is no in-fighting between the personnel department and the coaching staff at the moment. Members of both parties acknowledge that the club’s failure is a collective effort, and there is a “pall” and a “doom” hanging over the building as staffers brace for at least one ax to fall in short order.

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