JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Will from Jacksonville

KOAF, how is the coaching search affected by potential candidates' involvement in the playoffs? I know some have already had interviews, so clearly they're juggling commitments, but would an announcement have to wait until their current teams are eliminated? Jaguars Owner Shad Khan hasn't asked my opinion yet. I'm sure that call will happen soon. But I don't want him missing out on the right hire (Ben Johnson) for the hire he can have right now. #strugglingbutDTWD

The Jaguars are in the middle of their first round of interviews for a new head coach, having completed first interviews with Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo (Friday), Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (Saturday), Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (Saturday) and Las Vegas Raiders Patrick Graham (Saturday). They are expected to interview Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and former New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh this week. As for timing, the rules are complex and a little cumbersome to explain, but I'll provide the broad strokes. All interviews with coaches under contract with NFL teams must be virtual until January 20 – unless the coaches involved are with teams still in the postseason. In that case, in-person interviews can begin January 27 – at which time coaches would be with teams either eliminated from the postseason or in the Super Bowl. Coaches with Super Bowl teams may interview until February 2 (the beginning of Super Bowl week), but then can't speak with teams until February 10 – the day after the Super Bowl. A coach can't sign a contract or agree to a contract to be a head coach of another team until after the coach's current team's season ends. Those are the rules, cumbersome though that may be. Either way, don't worry about the Jaguars missing out on "the right" hire for the hire they can make now. Khan will focus on making the right choice here, not speed.

Colin from Sanford

Hey, John. If the Jaguars agree to terms with a candidate who is still coaching his team in the playoffs, how will that work? Will we know immediately or would they wait to announce until after his team is no longer in contention? Would he continue coaching?

A coach in that situation wouldn't officially have agreed to terms. He would continue coaching his current team. In recent cases with coaches with Super Bowl teams getting head coaching jobs elsewhere, it typically became pretty evident that a marriage was pending even if the "I dos" hadn't been said.

Marty from Jacksonville

Hey, John. Love your column. I hear people saying the next head coach needs to be a person who gets the most out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. That would be nice, but what I want is a defense and a running game. Give us that, and whoever is our quarterback will thrive and look great.

The Jaguars must be better in both areas in 2025 to be better as a team than they were in 2024.

George from Blue Ridge, GA

Having read what Mike Vrabel said about his plans for coaching the Patriots, we clearly missed out on an exceptional head coach in Jacksonville.

Vrabel, hired this week as the New England Patriots' head coach, is a good head coach. He proved that during his tenure as head coach with the Tennessee Titans. I imagine what he said during his intro presser with the Patriots was cool, too.

Tim from Jax

So, Baltimore called 13 plays and they were all runs. Is that innovative or unpredictable?

The Baltimore Ravens typically run well. They therefore tend to be in positive down-and-distance situations a lot. They can therefore be creative and innovative a lot. And when they're not, they still run well enough that people tend not to care as much if they're innovative.

Jimjim from Eugene

Is it too early to speculate if the Jaguars will interview Heath Farwell for their head coach position? He appears genuine and always full of enthusiasm. His guys play hardnosed special teams for him. Couldn't that spill over to the rest of the roster given the chance?

Jaguars special teams coordinator Heath Farwell is very good, and from this view his enthusiasm is indeed genuine. I expect he will be an NFL special teams coordinator for a long time, perhaps with the Jaguars. I also expect he could be an NFL head coach someday. He's not a candidate for the Jaguars' head coaching job in this cycle.

Marty from Jacksonville

John, in terms of our offensive "predictability," I would say the most predictable thing about this offense in 2024 was that we would so often have second-and-12. If we want an effective offense, we have to stop losing yardage on first down.

Right.

Don from Marshall, NC

If the Jaguars decide to go defensive head coach, then I like Aaron Glenn and if they go offensive head coach, then I like Liam Coen. All the coaches on that list are good choices. They all have their own personalities. Good Luck on the search and Go Jaguars!

When it comes to leaning toward a couple of good candidates who would be fine choices, Don remains "all in."

Al from Fruit Cove

Several local commentators, including your colleagues, have suggested that Tony Boselli should be hired as Jags EVP. Certainly, no one would bring more dedication to the franchise and the city as its greatest player and lone Hall of Famer. Hypothetical situation: Ben Johnson gets hired as head coach, and he brings Mark Brunell along as his offensive coordinator. Would you anticipate any problems with Boselli and Brunell being long-time friends and somehow squeezing the Head Coach?

No.

Mike from Daytona Beach

NFL organizational structures vary, but most franchises have one person (general manager) that is largely responsible for occasionally hiring a head coach, but continually acquiring players to play for that head coach. Head coaches usually get the most credit/blame for winning/losing, while general managers typically get the credit/blame for good/bad drafts and free agent decisions. However, poor personnel decisions can make coaches look bad. And poor coaching decisions can make a general manager's personnel decisions look worse than they are. Would love to have your insights on this, especially on how much input coaches typically have in player acquisition decisions?

All NFL teams involve coaches in personnel decisions. Coaches usually are given video of potential free-agent targets and draft prospects early in the offseason, and coaches share thoughts about those players with personnel officials. Pretty much all teams on some level take these thoughts into consideration. How much consideration varies from team to team – and sometimes from coach to coach. My sense is that Jaguars coaches in recent seasons have had real input into personnel. I assume that will continue to be the case moving forward.

James from Salt Lake City via Jagsonville

Mr. O, Head Coach Doug Pederson could only coach the players he was given. So since he was such a dismal supporting cast. Seems he did the best with what he had. I think whoever picked these players should catch the blame and be fired. Just saying.

OK.

Jason from St Augustine, FL

Remember when we were so excited and relieved to have signed coach Pederson? Can you enumerate the reasons why he was fired in your opinion? And do you think that the owner would consider firing the general manager if the coach he chooses wanted it?

I do remember when Jaguars fans were giddy over Pederson. Fans are usually happy before coaches coach games. The day he dismissed Pederson, Khan cited the defensive regression in 2024 under first-year coordinator Ryan Nielsen and offensive predictability as reasons. Khan on the general manager position: "My response would be how would you improve it and then if it is credible, you want to do it. How does the structure work? I want to make sure that this isn't about ego or power or something more sinister quite frankly. There have been some of those elements that I have found in my experience in the NFL. If it's a legit effort to get better, then everything should be on the table."

Spazman from JACKSONVILLE

John. Maybe I am too negative, but I see our three blowout losses as more of an indication of where our team is at now than the 10 close ones. Didn't Detroit outgain us by approximately six to one? That should never happen in the NFL.

You're not being negative and in fact you're seeing the Jaguars realistically. They were a team that was good enough to be close to OK teams and usually not close to being as good as elite teams such as the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills.

Tudor from St Augustine, FL

It would be super awesome IMO if the next general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars is the great Pat Riley!

Would it?