Despite a disappointing end to the 2023 season for the Jacksonville Jaguars, there’s been little talk of general manager Trent Baalke getting fired as a consequence for the team’s tailspin.
According to Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, there’s been talk that the Jaguars might not need to fire Baalke to move on from the executive.
“It wasn’t step back, it was retire,” Prisco said Tuesday on 1010XL of rumors that Baalke would leave the Jaguars organization. “That was out there. It was mentioned. It was a possibility. It was even mentioned by people inside the organization. I don’t know what happened, I don’t know if it’s still a possibility. But it was definitely something that was talked about.
“Now it also could be something that was talked about because they were considering a change, and in that kind of scenario, if you’re Trent Baalke you’re gonna retire and make it look like you’re not being let go. So I don’t know the exact specifics of it, but it was definitely mentioned.”
Now more than a couple weeks into the 2024 offseason, the Jaguars have made a few changes, firing defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and several other assistant coaches earlier this month.
If Baalke was on the way out, it seemingly would’ve come sooner rather than later. The general manager was even a part of the team’s decision to hire Ryan Nielsen as Caldwell’s replacement, according to Prisco.
“Trent was in on those meetings,” Prisco said. “When you’re picking your defensive coordinator and your general manager is in the meetings, I don’t understand it, to be honest with you. That shouldn’t be that way.”
That would seemingly suggest that Baalke intends to continue shaping the future of the Jaguars.
Baalke, 59, is scheduled to speak to Jaguars reporters Thursday morning, which should provide insight into his thoughts on retirement.
