Welcome to the Big Cat Country Staff Roundtable!
This week we’re here to talk about the Jacksonville Jaguars’ search for a new head coach.
Question 1: Which should be more important to the Jaguars, finding a coach who can maximize Trevor Lawrence or a coach who can rebuild the culture?
Dillon Appleman: The number one priority must be ensuring that the long-term investment in Trevor Lawrence pays off. Culture is great, but if Trevor doesn’t reach his potential, it can only take you so far.
Simon Carroll: This may have more to do with ownership and/or front office issues, but the Jaguars have seemed to lack an identity since Doug Marrone took the team to the AFC Championship Game after the 2017 season Getting the best version of Trevor Lawrence is undoubtedly important, but he’s only one man – and unless there’s a healthy culture for him to operate in, it probably wouldn’t do any good.
Caitlin Connor: I think finding a coach who rebuilds the culture is more important. I feel like once the culture changes we will see a completely different football team, including Trevor Lawrence.
Travis Holmes: The obvious answer is that both are necessary, but if I’m forced to draw a line in the sand, then I’ll land on the side of a rebuilt culture. Interestingly, if you can find the right coach who can rebuild the culture on a more physical and aggressive basis, then you can just maximize Trevor indirectly.
Gus Logue: I think culture is more important in a vacuum, but the Jaguars have a franchise quarterback in place. Additionally, off-field leadership is more difficult to assess than on-field effectiveness in coaching candidates. I would go for the best offensive-minded candidate available. If Lawrence emerges as a top-five quarterback, the rest of the roster will be easier to develop.
Henry Zimmer: I think finding a coach who can maximize Trevor Lawrence goes hand in hand with rebuilding the culture. Right now, Lawrence is not treated or treated as the cornerstone of the team. If the next coach can reinvigorate it, then the culture of trust should accompany him.
Question 2: Do you think Trent Baalke will remain the general manager of the Jaguars, or do you see a possibility that he will be replaced by the new head coach?
Dillon: I expect Baalke to remain general manager for 2025 and his future beyond depends on the immediate return on investment provided by this next coach. I’m not saying this should be the strategy, but it’s my intuition.
If: Unfortunately, I think it’s much more likely that Shad Khan opts for a “lesser” coaching candidate who would be willing to work within the current structure rather than hiring a disruptor who wants a radical change in the front office. Teflon Baalke will probably still be around for the next coaching hire, let alone this one.
Caitline: I remain cautiously optimistic about Baalke’s tenure as Jaguars general manager. While I think he should leave and hope the new head coach has a say in his position, it wouldn’t surprise me if he stays for another season.
Travis: While I can acknowledge the rumors, I cannot foresee a future in which Trent Baalke is not employed as a general manager by a Shad Khan organization. I just don’t have room in my heart for that type of hope. In my crystal ball, it will be 2028 and Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke will cut the ribbon on the “Stadium of the Future.” This is and always will be my expectation until Shad directly says otherwise.
Gus: There seemed to be a chance that Baalke would be reassigned if Ben Johnson could convince Shad Khan. However, when Baalke was retained as general manager, it virtually ended the Johnson-Jacksonville connection. Now that Johnson has agreed to become the Bears’ next head coach, I highly doubt Baalke is going anywhere.
Henry: I find it hard to believe that Baalke will maintain his current position. He could move into an advisory role as he clearly has a close relationship with Shad Khan, but changes at GM need to happen if this team is ever going to get back on track.
Question 3: How have your opinions on the Jaguars head coaching search changed in recent weeks?
Dillon: My initial opinion was that if we didn’t have Ben Johnson, we had failed. This has changed a bit in recent weeks, as I have taken the time to delve into the journeys of the other candidates. There are several names I would trust if hired.
If: Unlike other teams, no candidate has turned down an interview with the Jags – so at least that’s something! Khan has gained head coaching experience in his last three hires (admittedly, Urban Meyer’s resume came solely from the college ranks), so it was pleasantly surprising to see seven of the ten shortlisted looking of their first opportunity in the big chair. Ultimately, I think their ambition and their owners’ cautious approach means we end up with a retread rental – we’ve already seen Ben Johnson choose a new alternative home.
Caitline: I was completely sold on Ben Johnson and didn’t pay attention to anyone else as a potential replacement for Pederson. After reading the coaching profiles and learning that Johnson is headed to Chicago, Aaron Glenn is a solid favorite for me and I’m more open to someone not named Johnson as the new head coach.
Travis: The Big Cat Country Coaching Profile Series has deepened my understanding of some lesser-known candidates, their stories, and their areas of opportunity. Going into this series, I placed a higher priority on offensive guys and prior head coaching experience only. By the end of the series, guys like Todd Monken and Aaron Glenn had moved up my coaching rankings by lining them up directly against each other. And my number one and number two coaching preferences literally flipped, I was no longer “all-in” on Ben Johnson like I once was.
Gus: I like that the Jaguars seem to want a young, offensive-minded coach to team up with Lawrence for a long time. But the process was horrible. It’s one thing for Shad Khan to say that cleaning house would be suicidal and to choose Trent Baalke over Ben Johnson. It’s another thing for Jacksonville to be so patient with this coaching search — Johnson was hired Monday and Aaron Glenn could be hired directly after his in-person interview with the Jets on Tuesday. Why didn’t the Jaguars hire either Lions coordinator as soon as possible once Detroit was eliminated from the playoffs? Why is their next interview not until Thursday? Baalke’s selling point to Khan is that he knows how to lead a team, but even if we assume Baalke is trying to keep his job more than anything, it was a poor process.
Henry: With Ben Johnson off the table, I think Liam Coen can do essentially the same thing: make this offense creative and get the most out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Coen may not be as flashy as Johnson, but he made Baker Mayfield a top-tier quarterback when he was essentially out of the league. It shouldn’t be that hard to get Lawrence there too.
Question 4: What are your top three choices, in order of preference, to be the Jaguars’ next head coach?
Dillon: Aaron Glenn, Todd Monken, Liam Coen
If: Aaron Glenn, Liam Coen, Robert Saleh
Caitlin: Aaron Glenn, Liam Coen, Kellen Moore
Travis: Liam Coen, Aaron Glenn, Joe Brady
Gus: Liam Coen, Joe Brady, Robert Saleh
Henry: Liam Coen, Aaron Glenn, Rob Saleh
What do you think, Jaguars fans? Let us know in the comments below!
