The Jacksonville Jaguars are once again back in the market for a head coach after firing Doug Pederson on Monday.
Now, what direction will owner Shad Khan turn after making clear prior to the season that he believes this is the ‘best team’ ever assembled in franchise history?
Since buying the franchise in 2011, Khan has not had any coach last more than four seasons. The turbulence hasn’t let up much in recent years, with Pederson not making it past his third season after Urban Meyer was axed prior to the conclusion of his lone campaign.
But brighter days might be ahead, with the organization potentially better positioned than it was in previous searches to land a top candidate.
Despite finishing just 4-13, the Jaguars’ roster is dotted with young talent – starting, of course, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence, but extending to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, among others. There should be sufficient cap space (currently $42.8 million for 2025, according to Over The Cap) and draft capital, with a top-five pick and extra selections in the third and fourth rounds ahead.
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With that in mind, here’s a look at the most sensible candidates for the Jaguars’ head coaching vacancy
Jaguars coach candidates after Doug Pederson’s firing
Ben Johnson
He’s the architect of the NFL’s highest-scoring attack. He’s only 38. And he’s a critical part of what has become the league-wide model for building a winning culture. It’s easy to see why Johnson, the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, is seen by many as the big prize – at least among the pool of coaches who have never held a top job in the NFL before – of this year’s hiring cycle. But Johnson has been exceedingly discerning in evaluating other openings, bowing out of proceedings the last two years to return to the Lions. Reeling him in would be a massive victory for Khan, but there no doubt will be heated competition for his services – and no guarantee he leaves at all.
Mike Vrabel
The former Tennessee Titans coach certainly knows his way around the AFC South after claiming two division titles and three playoff trips from with the Jaguars’ rival from 2018-23. His brand of smashmouth football might not be what many envisioned for Lawrence, but putting together a sturdy run game and defense could prove critical to his development given the lack of support on both fronts this year. Given his track record, Vrabel figures to be a hot commodity this cycle. Ultimately, however, the Jaguars could have a hard time contending with the New England Patriots given Vrabel’s ties to the organization.
Anthony Weaver
Could the Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator emerge as a top candidate for Khan? The 44-year-old interviewed with the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons last year when he was assistant head coach and defensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens, and he now has coordinator duties on his résumé. The Dolphins finished the year ranked fourth in yards allowed (314.3) and 10th in points allowed (21.4 per game), and Weaver helped the team turn the page on last year after multiple players clashed with Vic Fangio.
Liam Coen
Perhaps no candidate has done as much to boost his profile this season as Coen, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator who replaced Dave Canales and has delivered sterling results. In Coen’s scheme, Baker Mayfield enjoyed a career year that included 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdown throws, and the rushing attack has gone from the league’s worst to a top-five ground game. That output helped keep Tampa Bay afloat despite injuries to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, among others. Even if Coen, 39, doesn’t land a top gig this year, he’s done enough to put himself on the interview list for several teams. But three years after things fizzled out with Byron Leftwich, could the Jaguars link up with another prolific offensive architect for Tampa Bay?
Todd Monken
For some teams, the Ravens offensive coordinator’s age (58) might be a strike against him. For the Jaguars, it could be a selling point, as his extensive experience at both the collegiate and pro level have helped him develop an ability to connect and teach with young players. Monken’s attacks have proven to be highly adaptable, and he built on last year’s MVP campaign for Lamar Jackson by integrating Derrick Henry into a unit that leads the NFL in yards per game at 424.9. He served as the Jaguars wide receivers coach from 2007-10, a run that predated Khan’s arrival but still gives him some degree of familiarity with the franchise.
Kliff Kingsbury
As someone with former head coaching experience and a track record of bringing along young quarterbacks, Kingsbury could check several boxes for Khan. In his first year as offensive coordinator for the Commanders, the former Arizona Cardinals coach has put himself back on the radar for top jobs by helping develop Jayden Daniels into the Offensive Rookie of the Year front-runner. Kingsbury acknowledged he’s interested in returning to the head-coaching ranks with the right opportunity, and he should get a chance to make his case on the interview circuit this year.
Kellen Moore
Moore, 36, interviewed with Jacksonville and was a finalist for the Dolphins’ opening in 2022, when the then-Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator was a hotshot candidate. His stock has since cooled considerably, but it could be on the rise again. The Eagles surged all the way to the NFC’s No. 2 seed after making adjustments coming out of their bye. His mentorship of Dak Prescott should be a strong selling point for an organization that has struck out multiple times in finding the right person to bring along Lawrence.
Joe Brady
Still only 35, the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator has already interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets. In his first full season leading Josh Allen and Co. after taking on the position in an interim capacity last November, Brady has kept the unit among the league’s highest-scoring outfits despite the loss of receiver Stefon Diggs, while Allen has mounted an MVP-worthy campaign. The Jaguars are familiar with just how potent his attacks can be after Buffalo scorched Jacksonville for a 47-10 win in Week 2.
Frank Smith
Winning over the locker room should be no problem for Smith, the Dolphins offensive coordinator who finished first in a NFL Players Association poll of the top assistants at his position. Smith has been touted as a top-notch teacher and communicator. How he would handle play calling as a head coach looms as a potential question mark given coach Mike McDaniel handles those duties in Miami, but that doesn’t have to be a deal breaker.
Brian Flores
The Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator showed great ability to compensate for personnel shortcomings last season, and he’s created further havoc in 2024 with one of the league’s best groups at creating pressure. Yet Tua Tagovailoa’s critical comments about how the former Dolphins head coach treated him might draw special scrutiny from Khan after the Meyer ordeal, and it’s unclear exactly how Flores’ lingering lawsuit against the NFL might affect his candidacy with any team.
Aaron Glenn
Rebuilding morale would be a lot easier with the leadership of someone like Glenn, the Lions defensive coordinator who has learned under the likes of Sean Payton and Dan Campbell. Glenn has an impressive track record of getting results, helping lift Detroit’s defense to rank seventh in scoring despite the loss of Aidan Hutchinson. He’s also widely respected, as he was the leading vote-getter for the top defensive coordinator in an NFLPA poll. The three-time former Pro Bowl defensive back also made a one-year pitstop with the Jaguars as a player in 2007. But he figures to be in demand elsewhere, with potential interviews with the Jets, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints.
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