JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars are in the process of building one of the youngest coaching staffs in the NFL.
Head coach Liam Coen, who is 39 years old, recently appointed Grant Udinski, an assistant coach from the Minnesota Vikings, as the offensive coordinator. Despite this hire, Coen plans to take on the responsibility of calling plays during his time with the Jaguars.
Udinski, who is merely 29, arrives in Jacksonville after spending three years with the Vikings, where he worked closely with head coach Kevin O’Connell. During his tenure, he received two promotions, first as an assistant to the head coach focused on special projects, then as the quarterbacks coach in 2023, and subsequently as the assistant offensive coordinator last year.
“Grant will bring a wealth of knowledge, energy, and a winning mindset to help lead our offense here in Jacksonville,” Coen expressed in a statement. “He is a rising star in this league that has been a pillar of success for the Vikings organization, and we can’t wait to have him.”
In addition to Udinski, Coen has hired Anthony Campanile as the defensive coordinator. Campanile, who is 42 years old, previously worked as the run-game coordinator and linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers. This will mark his sixth season in the NFL and his inaugural role as a defensive coordinator.
This combination of hires brings a unique dynamic to the Jaguars, presenting a head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator who are all stepping into their roles for the first time. The team has also welcomed a new executive vice president, Hall of Fame left tackle Tony Boselli. Additionally, the Jaguars may soon greet a first-time general manager following the Super Bowl.
Among this group, Udinski stands out for having the least amount of experience in the NFL. He transitioned from being a college tight end at Davidson and Towson, securing a graduate assistant position at Baylor under Matt Rhule in 2019. During that time, he lived out of his car in a Walmart parking lot before moving in with Phil Snow, the current defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears.
Following his time at Baylor, Udinski joined Rhule in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers before being recruited by O’Connell to Minnesota in 2022.
Both Coen and O’Connell share a common background stemming from Sean McVay’s coaching tree, having gained experience working under McVay with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Jaguars also considered several candidates for the offensive coordinator position, including Washington quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard and Rams offensive assistant Nathan Scheelhaase, before settling on Udinski.
Jaguars appoint 29-year-old Vikings aide Grant Udinski as their new offensive coordinator
