JACKSONVILLE – This is the right position at the right time. Mike McCoy is sure of that.
It's the right quarterback and head coach, too – and his enthusiasm is evident when McCoy discusses not only Trevor Lawrence, but everything about the Jaguars.
"It was just a great opportunity to work with good people," McCoy said.
McCoy, hired as the Jaguars' quarterbacks coach in February, joined senior writer John Oehser for this episode of the O-Zone Podcast. McCoy, a former NFL offensive coordinator, spent 2013-2016 as the head coach of the San Diego Chargers – but said his current position is the right fit right now.
"I missed being in the room," said McCoy, who served as the Denver Broncos' offensive coordinator in 2017 and the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator in 2018 before spending the last three seasons out of the NFL. "In the last couple of years, when I thought about what I wanted to do next, the opportunity to get back in the quarterback room (was important).
"As a quarterback and head coach, you have different roles. It's not just the quarterbacks. Being able to get back in that room, I'm excited to just be in there every single day."
Adding to the excitement: An opportunity to work with longtime friend, first-year Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson.
"Having known Doug for a long time, the type of coach he is – the type of leader he is – to be able to work for somebody like that, was a great opportunity," McCoy said. "Doug's done a great job of putting a great staff together.
“You always want to take the right job. When Doug first called me and talked to me about possibly joining him this year, I was so excited. To get back and work with someone like Doug … the type of person he is … it was just a great opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” Mike McCoy
McCoy as the Denver Broncos' offensive coordinator in 2012 worked with Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, working with quarterback Philip Rivers while the head coach of the Chargers. A chance to work with Lawrence – the Jaguars' starting quarterback and the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft – also was key in his decision to join the Jaguars' staff.
"We have a quarterback that can be special," McCoy said. "He has a lot of work head of him. He understands that and we understand that. There's a reason he was picked as high as he was picked last year. He has a very bright future.
"I love his attitude and his approach to everything. He has learned from last year. It means something to him. He understands his role in the organization. It's an exciting time for everybody, for our fans and for all of us as coaches.
"We're all really excited – not just to work with Trevor, but to work with this entire football team."
View the full O-Zone Podcast featuring Mike McCoy below.
