Jacksonville, Florida – The Jacksonville Jaguars have parted ways with general manager Trent Baalke following unsuccessful attempts to secure second interviews with several top coaching candidates. Owner Shad Khan announced the decision on Wednesday, coinciding with Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s withdrawal from consideration for the Jaguars position after he agreed to a contract extension with the Buccaneers. Coen was slated for an interview with Jacksonville on the same day.
Khan expressed gratitude towards Baalke, stating, “Following several discussions with Trent Baalke this week, we both arrived at the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interests to respectfully separate, effective immediately. Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons.” In the interim, Ethan Waugh has been appointed as the general manager, tasked with continuing the search for the team’s new head coach.
It became apparent that Baalke’s presence was hindering the coaching search, as both Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn accepted job offers elsewhere without interviewing with the Jaguars. The situation intensified when Coen opted to remain in Tampa Bay, pushing Khan to make a decisive change.
The Jaguars had previously focused their search on Coen, along with Las Vegas defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh. Both Graham and Saleh are scheduled for interviews on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Despite Khan’s earlier statements asserting that Baalke’s position as GM would not interfere with the search for a new head coach, the outcome proved otherwise. “I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville and look forward to introducing a new head coach who will make that happen for our players and fans alike,” stated Khan.
Throughout his career, the 60-year-old Baalke struggled to maintain a positive reputation in the league. Of the five coaches he hired during stints with San Francisco and Jacksonville, three had short tenures, namely Jim Tomsula, Chip Kelly, and Urban Meyer. Baalke’s draft performance was mixed, successfully selecting players like Trevor Lawrence, right tackle Anton Harrison, and Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round. However, he faced criticism for choosing defensive end Travon Walker over Aidan Hutchinson and failing to make substantial impacts with first-round pick Devin Lloyd and several second-day selections.
Baalke’s free-agent signings have also faced scrutiny, with the latest class ranking among the least effective in franchise history. The Jaguars invested over $150 million, approximately $90 million of which was guaranteed, in seven free agents. Among them were receiver Gabe Davis, cornerback Ronald Darby, and defensive lineman Arik Armstead, all of whom failed to elevate the team’s performance.
The conclusion of Baalke’s tenure adds to a series of setbacks for a GM whose career includes working with five coaches who have since been fired, including the likes of Meyer, Doug Marrone, Kelly, Tomsula, and Jim Harbaugh. Baalke also spent three years working as a football operations consultant for the NFL before returning to front office roles.
Fans in Jacksonville have long expressed dissatisfaction with Baalke’s leadership, culminating in a “Klown Out” protest during the 2021 season finale to voice their discontent with Khan’s decision to retain him prior to hiring Doug Pederson.
With Baalke’s departure, the Jaguars may revisit options like Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Due to NFL regulations, the earliest these candidates can be interviewed again will be next week, as their respective teams are competing in the conference title games.
Going forward, the Jaguars (4-13) are left with a narrower pool of candidates. The critical question now is how much more desirable the role of head coach is without Baalke’s influence. The Jaguars do have a promising young quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, an emerging star at receiver in Brian Thomas Jr., and key defensive figures like cornerback Tyson Campbell and pass rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. Additionally, the team boasts a modern practice facility, a forthcoming $1.4 billion stadium renovation, and a financially strong owner.
They hold the fifth overall pick in the upcoming draft and possess around $50 million in salary cap space for 2025. Competing in the relatively weaker AFC South division, the team also enjoys the benefits of a sunny state with no income tax. Moreover, their previous performance of 3-10 in one-score games indicates they may be on the verge of improvement.
However, Khan remains committed to hosting at least one home game annually in London, which might raise competitive concerns, and is planning for reduced capacity in 2026, with all home games scheduled out of Jacksonville in 2027.
