JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Will from Jacksonville
Joe Brady now, O-Zone? When does it end? Will we ever hire a coach?
Me thinks you're wearying of the Jaguars' ongoing head coaching search, and it indeed through two-ish weeks has had the makings of a thorough search. Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady on Saturday became the 10th candidate to interview for the vacancy, with the Jaguars already having interviewed the following nine coaches: Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, former New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh, Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen. All but Saleh interviewed virtually, with the others able to interview in person beginning Monday. How quickly the Jaguars hire a head coach now could depend on when teams lose. To reiterate this very crucial point: Coaches whose teams are still in the playoffs – Moore, Monken and Spagnuolo – can't interview in-person until after their current team loses or after the conference title game and no coach can agree to a contract or sign a contract as a head coach until his current team is eliminated. So now that the Lions, for example, have lost a team wanting Glenn or Johnson can move forward with the process. Key point to remember: This isn't a race to see who's first. It's about hiring the right person for the position.
Andrew from the 904
Who are the candidates for the Jaguars head coaching position again?
Googling this …
Chris from Southside
Hi, O-Zone. It has been really hard for me to get information on who the Jaguars have interviewed. Any chance you have a good summary? I know it's a longshot but thought I would ask. (Insert prayer emoji here).
… and this.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
After that performance, how do you feel about Johnson and Glenn. Uuuuugly.
I feel precisely the same about Johnson and Glenn after the Lions' 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in an NFC Divisional Playoff Saturday night as I did before. If you're basing your thoughts on your next head coach off one postseason loss, you're basing them off the wrong thoughts.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
John - I must admit that, for obvious reasons, I particularly enjoyed watching the Chiefs beat the Texans in the divisional round playoff. After the 2024 season, have the Texans taken over the role of the Jags' villainous rival from the Titans?
It would appear so.
Louie from El Paso, TX
QB hand off to RB. RB pitch to receiver. Creativity above par. Did Shad really choose Baalke over Ben Johnson?
That was a cool play the Lions ran in the Commanders-Lions game Saturday. And no, Jaguars Owner Shad Khan absolutely hasn't "chosen" Baalke over Johnson. Don't believe everything you read on the internet and hear on talk radio. Speculation and parroting of commonly held beliefs does not equate to reality.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
Did Jaguar Head Coach candidate Robert Saleh share time in San Francisco with Trent Baalke?
No. Baalke's final season with the San Francisco 49ers as general manager was 2016. Saleh's first season as the 49ers' defensive coordinator was 2017.
Nicholas from Fort Cavazos, Texas
KOAF: How did our potential new head coach do against the Commanders last night?
It's always coaching in the NFL.
GP from Savannah
Sounds like Kevin Johnson didn't get the realignment in Jacksonville like he will in Vegas. If true, that is a huge disappointment. Another miss that we may long regret
Kevin Johnson played a good game of point guard back in the day, though just what he has to do with the Jaguars I have no idea. As for the Jaguars' head-coaching search, any talk of disappointment and regret – not to mention football leadership alignment – is misinformed and/or premature. There is nothing factual or informed to indicate the Jaguars can't or won't get their desired head coach in the coming weeks. There's just not.
Mike from Atlanta, GA
"Juuuuust a bit outside." As a Chicago Cubs fan who grew up watching WGN and Harry Carey and Bob Uecker, one for the color commentariats who add a bit of brightness and color to our lives. "Unless that's Shaquille O'Neal with a rocket…" RIP legend
No doubt.
Kevin from Jacksonville
The Jags had 546 pass attempts for 3,477 yards (6.37 yards per). They ran it 414 times for 1,729 yards (4.18 yards per). People are entitled to their opinions, but not their own facts.
I suppose you're referencing a recent O-Zone discussion regarding the Jaguars' running game. I won't get bogged down in statistical analysis here except to say that while the Jaguars' yards per carry during 2024 wasn't bad, the area didn't always pass the situational test – or the eye test. The running game from this view had moments this past season and some memorable long runs. There were times early in the season when it seemed the offseason focus on the area had reaped benefits. It was effective at times. But overall over the last three seasons, it's hard to say the area has been as consistent as needed – particularly in situations where the Jaguars needed to run. If you can't run when you need to run in the NFL, it's very hard to be an effective or consistent offense.
CD from Fleming Island
Hey, John. I hear what you're saying regarding our head coaching candidates' past success not being as important as their ability to lead. But for someone like Saleh or Spagnuolo, doesn't the lack of success in their previous opportunities have a negative impact on a 20-something athlete when things aren't going well? I think I'll be optimistic about anyone we hire, but interested in knowing your thoughts on the above?
This could have an effect in the way you suggest, though how players feel about that coach matters more in that vein than past success. Most players don't pay all that much attention to the history of the league – past or present – and are far more concerned about what's happening to them in the present. Where a coach's past record would come into play would be how the hire is perceived publicly. And would there be times when fans pointed to a record at a former stop as a reason the coach lost a game at the present stop. Most fans I know would never stoop to such depths. Or would they?
Carol from SAINT JOHNS
Tom Coughlin adopted Jacksonville as his home and truly loves Jacksonville as we all are aware of - I do think to have a head coach (whether a defensive or offensive minded coach) that can lead a group of young men and hire the correct coordinators and give their heart to this city is exactly what we need and in my opinion Aaron Glenn and Robert Saleh would be the top two candidates.
One fer Glenn or Saleh.
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. Wouldn't the Jags be better off if we pursued a previous NFL head coach with a decent record instead of the risk of taking a chance on a "hot" defensive or offensive coordinator? Reaching for a coordinator, with no head coaching experience, seems akin to what might be a similar risk we see with the draft and/or free agency?
One issue that makes analyzing and discussing head-coaching candidates tricky is the understandable tendency of observers and media to discuss the topic in terms of traits. We talk in terms of former head coaches, hot coordinators and sides of the ball and compare them to head coaches who are doing well in their jobs. Because Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay is a good head coach and is young and is an offensive coordinator we tend to think all young offensive coordinators will follow suit. If that young offensive coordinator is not a leader of men who can establish a culture, his sharp jawline and cool haircut means nothing. Experience, coordinator, former head coach … whatever. Give me the guy who players believe in and let the rest fall into place.
Art from just shy of the ditch
O, for the last two weeks the Jags have appeared to have been a victim of imposter substitution! They were playing Monday with ugly purple unis and appear to have also stolen our game plans of predictability, quarterbacks holding the ball too long and a defense that couldn't stop the girl scouts? Amazingly announcers claimed this team won 14 this year? How can the NFL allow these imposters to compete while playing like our home team?
Art's got jokes, too. At least I think he's got jokes. Comedy is hard, even around the ditch.
Wade from Westside
I wish the Jags would hurry up and pick a coach so we can all complain about it.
Wade's got jokes. He's also got a point.
