In a stunning turn of events, Jaguars owner Shad Khan put his foot down and fired general manager Trent Baalke.
Khan dismissed Baalke on Wednesday, just hours after Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen backed out of a scheduled in-person interview with team executives. With this new development, the Jaguars pursuit of Coen might not be dead.
The franchise explained it as the owner and the GM agreeing to “respectfully separate, effective immediately.” But a person familiar with the decision said Baalke was fired. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team and Baalke had hoped to keep details private.
Khan grew increasingly frustrated and was losing patience with the process when Coen, a 39-year-old, young innovative play-caller, who blew the Jaguars away with an impressive initial interview, declined the second meeting and agreed to a new contract with the Buccaneers, the person said.
And since Baalke appeared to be the reason, Coen, along with former Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, avoided Jacksonville, Khan chose to go in a different direction. No one would be shocked to see Khan double back to Coen, who might reconsider with Baalke no longer involved.
“Following several discussions with Trent Baalke this week, we both arrived at the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interests to respectfully separate, effective immediately,” Khan said in a statement.
“Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons. Ethan Waugh will serve as interim general manager and play an important role, with others, as we continue the process of interviewing candidates to serve as our new head coach. I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville and look forward to introducing a new head coach who will make that happen for our players and fans alike.”
Embed from Getty ImagesEthan Waugh will serve as interim general manager and will “continue the process of interviewing candidates to serve as our new head coach,” Khan said.
Waugh was Baalke right hand man for 12 seasons (2005-16) with the San Francisco 49ers. Will potential candidates flock to Jacksonville now or will Khan have to offer some reassurances that he plans to hire another GM as soon as possible?
Jacksonville had narrowed its search down to a final three, Coen, Las Vegas defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh. Graham and Saleh are scheduled for in-person interviews on Thursday and Friday.
Johnson and Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn were among 10 candidates who initially interviewed with Jacksonville. But the duo took other jobs, Johnson with the Chicago Bears, Glenn with the New York Jets, without an in-person meeting with the Jaguars.
Khan was adamant after firing Doug Pederson earlier this month that Baalke’s retention as GM would not affect the coaching search. He was clearly mistaken.
“I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville and look forward to introducing a new head coach who will make that happen for our players and fans alike,” Khan said.
The 60-year-old Baalke developed a rocky reputation around the league, and three of the five coaches he hired in San Francisco and Jacksonville, Jim Tomsula, Chip Kelly and Urban Meyer were not given the chance to build anything and had just one-year stints.
Baalke’s drafts were hot and cold. He hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, but anyone would have selected him coming out of college, right tackle Anton Harrison and Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round. But he chose defensive end Travon Walker over Aidan Hutchinson and whiffed on first-rounder Devin Lloyd as well as several second-day picks: offensive tackle Walker Little, safety Andre Cisco, center Luke Fortner and linebacker Chad Muma.
His free-agent classes were equally spotty, with the latest one being among the least productive in franchise history.
The Jaguars committed more than a whopping $150 million, including roughly $90 million guaranteed, to sign seven free agents. The group included receiver Gabe Davis, journeyman cornerback Ronald Darby and oft-injured defensive lineman Arik Armstead. None of them increased the Jaguars win total.
Jaguars’ fans have been waiting quite a while for Baalke to get the axe. They even went so far as to organize a “Klown Out” during the 2021 season finale to protest Khan’s decision to keep Baalke in place before he hired Pederson.
With Baalke gone, Jacksonville has options and could double back on Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Under NFL rules, the earliest they can interview again is next week because their teams are preparing for conference title games.
