The Jaguars have despatched out an interview request for Lions OC Ben Johnson. It isn’t but identified if the three-year Detroit play-caller will attend the assembly; he has been tied to the Bears and Patriots’ head coaching openings. However the Jags do intend to make an aggressive play right here.
Despite firing an offense-oriented HC (Doug Pederson) on Black Monday, Jacksonville is believed to be “all in” on Johnson, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes. Johnson has been notoriously selective, and that needs to be anticipated to proceed. In any case, the Lions’ 15-2 season will preserve the 38-year-old OC in demand regardless of having jumped off the 2023 and ’24 HC carousels early.
Joe Brady, Liam Coen, Kellen Moore and Todd Monken be part of Johnson as offense-oriented candidates on the Jags’ radar. Though no interview request has come out, Pauline provides Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury is a reputation to watch right here. The previous Cardinals HC mentioned he’s interested in returning to a prime job, despite the fact that his first likelihood ended badly. Jayden Daniels‘ presence would additionally permit Kingsbury to be choosey.
No Kingsbury interviews are on any staff’s docket, and no staff has requested one but. That provides some thriller right here, although the Bears — after assembly with Caleb Williams‘ 2023 QBs coach at USC for his or her OC place final yr — are anticipated to huddle up with him once more sooner or later. Kingsbury elevating Trevor Lawrence can be the Jags’ hope right here, as that will probably be maybe the franchise’s chief intention after a 4-13 season.
One matter that might stand in the best way of the Jags including a hotshot offense-based candidate is Trent Baalke‘s standing, which stays a speaking level across the league. A Tuesday report indicated sure candidates would steer clear of the Jacksonville job as a result of Baalke was retained, however Pauline signifies the fifth-year Jags GM won’t be lengthy for the place. Some across the NFL view Baalke’s retention as a manner for Shad Khan to obtain help in hiring the following HC after which see the embattled GM kick himself to a different position throughout the group.
GMs have transitioned to other jobs within buildings before, as Rich McKay and John Elway‘s transitions in the not-so-distant past remind us. Baalke, 60, has also shown an ability to stick around when many expected an ouster. Baalke has been GM (of the 49ers and Jaguars) during the tenures of five HCs. That number reaching six should not be ruled out, but a scenario in which Baalke changes jobs while another GM is hired appears on the radar, at least.
That would stand to help the Jags with a Johnson pursuit, as a candidate with options certainly may express reservations about being tied to an in-house GM. For now, that would remain the case. But a Jags aggressive pursuit of the Lions’ OC probably includes flexibility in the GM role.
