Despite a messy season in Jacksonville, it sounds like Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke will keep his job. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), Baalke will be retained and will assist owner Shad Khan in the search for a new coach.
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Baalke will continue to report to Khan, and he’s expected to “work in sync” with whoever is hired to be the new Jaguars HC. The head coach will also report directly to Khan, Rapoport added in a follow-up tweet.
During Baalke’s first full offseason at the helm, the organization managed to add a potential franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence with the first-overall pick, and they managed to hire away Urban Meyer from the NCAA to be the new head coach. Fast forward to now, and the team is 2-13, they’ve fired Meyer, and Lawrence has completed only 58.7-percent of his passes while tossing a league-leading 14 interceptions. Of course, Baalke’s plan was never expected to come to fruition during the 2021 campaign, and while things have been tumultuous (to say the least) in Jacksonville this season, it makes a bit of sense that he’d keep his job.
Baalke sort of fell into the role when he was promoted to GM in January. He was originally hired as director of player personnel under David Caldwell, but after the former GM was fired, Baalke was promoted to take his spot. Meyer was still calling the shots from a team-building perspective, and Khan also plays a major role in personnel moves. Baalke and Meyer reportedly didn’t see eye-to-eye during their stint together, and now Baalke will have an opportunity to build a team his way heading into the 2022 season.
Previously, the executive rose through the 49ers organization and eventually became San Francisco’s GM in 2011. Between the 2011 and 2013 seasons, the 49ers won 36 games, lost a Super Bowl, and appeared in a pair of conference championship games. However, following a 2016 season that saw the 49ers win only two games, Baalke was relieved of his duties.
Meanwhile, while we previously heard that Doug Pederson and Jim Caldwell were among the names that Jacksonville was eyeing as their next HC, Rapoport has added another name to the list. Current Buccaneers offensive coordinator (and, of course, former Jaguars starting QB) Byron Leftwich would “fit on the list” of potential head coaching candidates.
Lmao
Maybe leads the way for Jim Tomasulo to become head coach?
Nice work drafting a no-brained. What else do you possibly bring to the table?
Jim Harbaugh had nothing to do with his success at the 49ers?
What a dumpster fire. Khan’s ego is totally out of control. I wouldn’t expect anyone competent to touch that HC job. It’s a career ender.
I don’t think attracting competent HC candidates will be a problem at all. Expectations of success are at rock bottom so the in coming coaching staff will not be under any pressure to produce immediate results. Coaching bad teams isn’t necessarily a career ender….Belichick coached the Browns remember.
Sign a guaranteed deal for 6 years, get fired, never have to work again.
This is funny. But then again it can’t get much worse, not much for him to destroy besides a few coaches careers and maybe Lawrence’s career while he’s at if.
Too pick to PGH for Tomlin solves everything!
Go get Brain Daboll.
Draft Kayvon Thibodeaux first overall.
Then with first choice in the second round take Wyndemyer, and at 65 take Jalen Pitre.
Then come free agency let Chark and Robinson go and make a splash giving Orlando Brown a huge deal. Then follow that up by giving Micheal Gallup a 4 year 40mil contract, Desmond King 2 years 10mil and Will Hernandez 2 years 7mil.
Daboll can then spend time developing Lawrence and building an offence around him.
Jags have will have some weapons too with Eitenee, Robinson, Wyndermyer, Shenault, Gallup and Jones.
Upfront the line should be steady, Brown Norwell Linder Little/Hernandez and Taylor should do well.
Which leaves the defence, Thibs will be a great addition. Pitre and King are nice additions to the backfield aswell. Expect a lot of work to be done by the LB trio of Jack, Chaisson and Allen. If this group can atleast hold its own hopefully Daboll and the new offence can get enough done on the other end.
I’d be aiming for 7-10 with this group and be challenging the Titans and Colts in your division. It’ll all be about stoping the running game, putting pressure of the QB and offensively beating them over the top
Quick wrap up.
Make sure to take Wyndermyer with the first pick in the second round, forget about Robinson and upgrade to Orlando Brown and while your at it let Chark go and bring in Micheal Gallup instead.
Other than Lawrence the Jags whiffed on pretty much all their top picks. He gets the benefit of the doubt given we don’t know how much influence Meyer was allowed – but frankly a complete reboot would probably have been a better choice.
Etienne’s foot injury doesn’t mean they whiffed on him. No telling if he’s a bust or not.
Maybe, maybe not, but in any case the Jags have a literal cosmos of holes and picked the only position where they looked good beforehand.
How many workplace disasters is Trent going to be “at the helm” of before people realize he’s a huge part of the problem.
This is…colossally stupid.