The Jacksonville Jaguars will be conducting a second interview with Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, marking their first known interview of Phase 2 of their search. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, that interview will be on Thursday and will be an in-person interview as initially suspected.
#Colts DC Matt Eberflus, who has emerged as a hot candidate for at least two HC openings, has his second interview with the #Jaguars today. It is in-person. Jax likely to also add a 2nd interview with a coach whose team is currently in the playoffs.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 20, 2022
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that Jags owner Shad Khan would be traveling from his home in Illinois to Indianapolis to meet with Eberflus in the second interview. His first interview took place five days ago on Saturday, Jan. 15.
Eberflus is an assistant the Jags are very familiar with as they’ve played his defenses twice a year for some time now. This past season, his unit finished 10th against the rush. They’ve also been able to finish in the top-10 in that category the three years prior under Eberflus and have been able to be a top-10 group in takeaways in each of his four seasons, too.
Eberflus has been an assistant in the NFL since 2009. He started his NFL coaching career with the Cleveland Browns as a linebackers coach and was with them until 2010. Afterward, he joined the Dallas Cowboys as a linebackers coach from 2011-17, but spent his last two seasons with them as a defensive passing game coordinator as well.
Lastly, Eberflus arrived at his current stop with the Colts in 2018 and was named defensive coordinator by New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was initially set to become the Colts’ new head coach. However, McDaniels elected to stay with the Patriots, and the Colts named Frank Reich their new head coach, who kept Eberflus in a move that turned out to be a wise one.
Eberflus may not be atop the list of many Jags fans, who would mostly prefer an offensive mind, but it’s clear he’s a well-respected assistant. He’s also set to meet with the Chicago Bears a second time, so he’s received plenty of interest in this coaching cycle.
As mentioned by Rapoport, though, it seems the Jags are waiting to conduct a second interview with some of the assistants who are in the playoffs like Nathaniel Hackett of the Green Bay Packers and Byron Leftwich of the Tampa Bay Bucs. Another meeting with Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles may be on the table, too.
Once the weekend is over, more should be available in terms of others who will join Eberflus in Phase 2 of the Jags’ search, but for now, fans will simply have to play the waiting game.
