Trent Baalke was hired as the Jaguars general manager on Jan. 21, 2021.
He originally joined the Jaguars in Feb. 2020 as the team's director of player personnel before being named the interim general manager on Nov. 29, 2020.
In the 2024 draft, Baalke and the Jaguars selected WR Brian Thomas Jr. with the No. 23 overall pick. He only conducted one trade over the three-day draft, sending the No. 17 overall selection to the Minnesota Vikings for the No. 23 and 167 selections – and third- and fourth-round selections in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Baalke and the Jaguars selected a franchise-record 13 players in the 2023 draft, including OL Anton Harrison with the No. 27 overall pick. Thanks to four trades triggered by Baalke, Jacksonville selected a franchise-record 10 players on day three of the NFL Draft.
In Nov. 2022, Baalke engineered a trade with the Atlanta Falcons for WR Calvin Ridley.
In the 2022 draft, Baalke and the Jaguars selected OLB Travon Walker as the number one overall pick. He subsequently led the Jaguars in reaching deals with an accomplished free agent class, including TE Evan Engram, WR Zay Jones, WR Christian Kirk, LB Foye Oluokun, OL Brandon Scherff, and CB Darious Williams. Baalke's free-agent haul helped establish a culture in Jacksonville that withstood a 3-7 start before rebounding to win the AFC South (9-8) and defeat the Chargers in one of the greatest comebacks in NFL postseason history.
Engram went on to set the franchise record in receptions and yards for a tight end. Jones recorded a personal mark for receptions (82) in a single season and, likewise, Kirk set personal highs in receptions (84) and touchdowns (8), as they helped take Jacksonville's offense to a new level. Oluokun and Scherff were both voted as captains for the 2022 season, and Williams provided vital veteran leadership for a defense that finished first in the league in passes defensed with 95.
In his first draft as general manager in Jacksonville, Baalke and the Jaguars selected QB Trevor Lawrence with the first overall selection of the 2021 draft. With the pick, Lawrence became the first No. 1 overall selection made by both Baalke and the Jaguars. The Clemson product set rookie franchise records in both completions (359) and passing yards (3,641) in his inaugural season with the Jaguars. Second-round selection CB Tyson Campbell finished his rookie season with 10 passes defensed, good for fifth all-time among rookies in franchise history. Seven of Baalke's nine 2021 draft selections saw playing time during the 2021 season.
Prior to arriving in Jacksonville, Baalke spent 12 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, ascending to general manager (2011-16) after stints as western region scout (2005-07); director of player personnel (2008-09); and vice president of player personnel (2010). He was named Executive of the Year following the 2011 season by the Pro Football Writers of America and Pro Football Weekly after transforming a 6-10 team into a 13-3 team in his first season as general manager with San Francisco.
During Baalke's tenure in the Bay Area, the 49ers appeared in three consecutive NFC Championship games (2011-13) and Super Bowl XLVII, while tallying a 5-3 postseason record. After Baalke began overseeing all player acquisitions in 2010, six acquired players accounted for nine All-Pro selections, while eight of those players earned Pro Bowl honors. Overall, the 49ers produced 24 All-Pro selections and 35 Pro Bowl nods from 2010-16.
He previously spent four years with Washington's scouting staff, serving as the college scouting coordinator in his final season. From 2001-03, he was a national scout. Baalke began his NFL career as a personnel scout with the New York Jets from 1998-2000.
Prior to his NFL career, Baalke worked as a defensive line and strength and conditioning coach at South Dakota State from 1990-95 before working as the athletic director at Shanley High School in Fargo, N.D. in 1996 and 1997. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at North Dakota State in 1989, helping the team finish with a 14-0 record and Division II National Championship.
The Rosendale, Wis. native earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education at Bemidji State (Minn.), where he played outside linebacker and was an All-Northern Sun Conference and All-Midwest Region honoree. He and his wife, Beth, have two daughters, Katy and Cassie.
