MOBILE, Ala. – The Jaguars' new offensive direction is set.
Jay Gruden, former Washington Redskins Head Coach and former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator, on Wednesday morning officially was named the Jaguars' offensive coordinator.
Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone on Wednesday morning said experience played a major role in the hiring.
"We went through a process and brought in people who have a ton of experience," Marrone said while attending the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. "All of the candidates are proven that they have done it at this level and done it at a high level.
"We were trying to find someone who's best for this staff, who's best for what you want to run, then you're looking for what person's best for your players – who's going to relate to the players, who's going to be able to communicate with them.
"At the end of the day, we just felt that Jay was the best fit for us."
Gruden, 52, spent 2014-2019 as the Redskins' head coach and was dismissed after five games this past season. The Redskins were 35-49-1 during his tenure, winning the 2015 NFC East title.
Gruden, the brother of Oakland Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden, spent 2011-2013 as the Bengals' offensive coordinator. The Bengals made the postseason all three seasons, ranking 20th, 22nd and 10th in the NFL in total offensive yards in those seasons.
"Jay's been very multiple," Marrone said. "He's done a good job formationally in a lot of different areas. He's done a very good job with quarterbacks when he's been an offensive coordinator.
"A lot of it going to depend obviously on players. You're not going to try to go in there and try to force a system on offense if you don't have all the pieces. We wanted to make sure it's a big enough menu that we're going to be able to use all of our players to the best of their ability."
Gruden also spent 2004-2008 as the head coach of the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League, winning two ArenaBowl titles during that span.
Offensive coordinator was one of two primary positions open on the Jaguars' coaching staff, with coordinator John DeFilippo and the Jaguars mutually parting ways earlier this month. The quarterbacks coach position remains vacant, with Scott Milanovich having left the position immediately following the 2019 season to become the head coach of the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos.
"We'll get to work on that right away," Marrone said of the quarterback coach position.
