JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Thomas from Jacksonville

If the Jaguars' leadership wants a second – and in-person – interview with Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator or the Kansas City Chiefs' defensive coordinator, don't they have to wait until at least next week?

The Jaguars indeed would have to wait until next week to hold second – and in-person – interviews with Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and/or Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady. The same is true of Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who – like Spagnuolo and Brady – already interviewed virtually for the Jaguars' vacant head-coaching position. The Jaguars as of Wednesday morning have not scheduled second interviews with any of those three and are not permitted to do so because their teams are in their conference title games – and NFL rules say they must now wait until after those games to interview in-person for vacant head-coaching positions. The Jaguars have scheduled second —and in-person interviews – with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and former New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh after interviewing 10 candidates in the first round of interviews. Expect a busy week.

Sebastian from Saint Johns, FL

Reports say that Ben Johnson turned down the Jags because of (dramatic drum roll) Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke. No one would have imagined such a scenario. Total shock I tell you.

I have received multiple emails along these lines in recent days since former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was hired by the Chicago Bears as head coach. This answer is to acknowledge the receipt of those emails. There indeed are reports reporting what you cite, and these reports have angered many Jaguars observers. I'm not sure what to say or write about this beyond that.

Mario from West Kelowna, BC

Folks, do you ever try to do everything possible to make your dreams come true and along the way you make some decisions that everybody questions yet you have faith that they will pan out? Well, that's Jaguars Owner Shad Khan. He will keep doing what he thinks is best for the team even if you don't agree with him.

One fer Khan and one fer dreamin'.

Kathy from Palm Coast, FL

I saw your comment that Doug Pederson was a good head coach. I don't think that is at all true and am wondering why you posted it.

I suppose I posted it because I believe it – and because when deciding what to post, I don't give the slightest thought about whether you might or might not agree.

Jimmy sec 135 since Day 1 from Jax Beach

Zoniac, I don't get these fans who complain Shad doesn't listen to the fans? Why would he or should he? If he did, which fans should he listen to? By the way, as you know "doesn't listen to the fans" is just code for "doesn't agree with me." I sure wish they wouldn't attempt to speak for me because typically when that phrase is used, I disagree with the uninformed hot take. By the way, regarding the head-coaching search – like so many others – I was kind of hoping for Johnson, but boy, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is quite impressive. But I'm looking forward to supporting the new head coach no matter who it is.

Well said.

Jamie from Ocala, FL

Hey, O. One thing I've noticed for quite some time with this team is the lack of continued fire in the play on the field and the sidelines. Jacksonville is a college town, and a lot of fans treat the Jags like a college team. They're used to seeing that type of hype and fire on Saturdays and are disappointed when it doesn't show in the home team on Sundays. Which of the current coaching candidates do you think could bring that fire and intensity to the team that a lot of fans see as lacking right now?

I haven't the foggiest idea which coach can bring hype and fire to the sidelines. Hype and fire are cool. So are pregame runway fashion shows and Instagram accounts. All have their place somewhere, I suppose. I don't know that a coach should be hired based on his ability to bring any of these into the organization.

Marcus from Jacksonville

When the Jags hired Urban Meyer, they were the only team interested in him. When they hired Doug Pederson, they were one of three teams to interview him out of nine possible openings. Currently, they are the only team that has interviewed Liam Coen. Does that make him the betting favorite to be the next head coach?

Not if Khan doesn't think he's the best fit.

Jordan from Mandarin

Directly or indirectly, Shad chose Baalke over Ben Johnson. We don't know what the results will be for Johnson as a head coach, but we know Baalke's record as a general manager.

Johnson was the "hottest coach" of the 2024 cycle. When you don't hire the "hottest coach," you're going to get criticized. The hottest coach isn't always the best coach, and no one remembers the hottest coach. The Jaguars will be criticized until they win. Until then, it's all fair.

Kevin from Mandarin

If as you say, Khan is doing his best to make the right choices, and has done so for 13 years; isn't it time for him to admit that his best isn't good enough and hire someone that can make better choices?

Maybe. If so, he needs to hire the right person for that job.

Matt from Jacksonville

Enough about the head-coach search. I've said it before, Saleh is going to be the new head coach and I stand by that. However, what I find most telling is that even though there are four teams actively looking for an offensive coordinator and five teams looking for a defensive coordinator, neither Press Taylor nor Ryan Nielsen have been tapped or even mentioned for interviews. What say you, KOAF? Please don't give me the snarky "It's always coaching..."

Thank you for your prediction; I, too, enjoy darts. As for neither Taylor nor Nielsen being mentioned for interviews for other coordinator positions … of course they haven't been mentioned. Their units had bad statistical seasons for a Jaguars team that finished 3-14 in 2024. They're not going to get interviews in this cycle. Both likely will be position coaches somewhere next season and perhaps a while after that. If/when they are around a successful offense or defense, then they likely will become a coordinator somewhere – and if the circumstances fall in their favor there, they might even have a chance to be a head coach. The cycle is the cycle in the NFL.

Travis from Jacksonville

You said: As for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, he's mobile enough to run effectively when necessary. His primary task from this view is learning how to better protect himself when out of the pocket. If he doesn't learn to do that better, he may not be healthy enough for much else to matter. While this is true, I hardly think it is the primary issue. Trevor regressed in reading the options and was too frequently locked into the first option. See: Goff, Jared, for how that works in the playoffs against a good defensive coordinator.

Lawrence must improve in many areas. Together, we've touched on a few. Yay us.

Kei from Kitakyushu, Japan

As disappointing as it is to miss out on Ben Johnson, the Jags probably would have turned him and his GM into Gus Bradley 2.0, too. We're at a point with Shad Khan where everything he does is going to turn out wrong even when it's popular and sensible in the moment.

Many Jaguars fans share this e Jaguars fan share. It's a sentiment largely built on frustration and history, neither of which make it true. The Jaguars are in the middle of determining how their football decision-making/coaching will look moving forward. Khan said as much the day after the 2024 regular season. We'll see what that means soon enough.

Jordan from Mandarin, FL

History shows that only a couple of these hires will pan out. Dan Campbell is a great example of no one really knowing who will end up being the best head coach from a given cycle. As a fan, I understand that sometimes the owner is going to miss on a hire and that is part of the deal. But, my issue is when you have impediments that take out the "best" candidate. It's an L for the organization.

OK.

Don from Marshall, NC

Nobody even knew Ben Johnson's name before the season started. Now somehow we can't live without him. Give me a break. The guy that we need is still there so quit the damn crying. I have never seen our fans so whiny! The sky is not falling and if you want to quit then quit and let somebody else have your seats. Go Jaguars!

When it comes to at least trying to put a little of the breathless panic Jaguars fans are feeling about what by definition is speculation and projection, Don remains "all in."

Jeff from Orange, CA

Is it ass backwards or back asswards? This is the only real question that matters right now.

It's whatever, really.