NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated recently weighed in on the Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching vacancy and how top candidate Ben Johnson might view that opening.
On a radio appearance on 1010XL with Rick Ballou, Breer was asked about Johnson and the Jaguars’ head coaching role:
“I think he finds the job attractive,” said Breer. “My feeling, and this is just me talking, I think he’d want to bring in his own general manager. So I think you have the chance to be the most attractive job to him but I think it would be under certain circumstances.”
“I think he’d want to bring in his own general manager” – @AlbertBreer on Into the Night w/@Ballou1010xl pic.twitter.com/3TrzGAjcri
— 1010 XL / 92.5 FM (@1010XL) January 10, 2025
While the Jaguars made the decision to move on from head coach Doug Pederson, general manager Trent Baalke was still retained.
Baalke has been at the helm in Jacksonville for four seasons with the team having a record of 25-43. Under Baalke, the team peaked in 2022 with nine wins–which they duplicated in 2022–and one playoff win.
However, while there have been two–just barely–above .500 seasons, there was also a three win season and a four win season in 2024. The Jaguars are also about to be on their third head coach during that span.
“Now, does that mean he wouldn’t take the job if Trent (Baalke) was in there at all, I don’t know that,” added Breer. “But I do think he would want some alignment with the front office. In fact, I think that’s a bigger priority for him than quarterback.”
While Baalke is still in command of the personnel department, owner Shad Khan did elude to that for the right coaching candidate, and with a “credible” plan, a move could still be made at GM. Perhaps Johnson is that candidate.
