Will the Jaguars, who were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention in Week 13, make sweeping changes after their disastrous 2024 season?
There was a belief, legitimized in reporting by NFL Network, that Jaguars owner Shad Khan would consider a “dramatic move” and fire Jacksonville general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson if the team lost to the Detroit Lions in Week 11.
Despite the Lions handing the Jaguars their biggest defeat in franchise history that week, 52-6, no moves ever came. Pederson and Baalke remain in their posts as Jacksonville prepares for its Week 15 matchup with the New York Jets.
ESPN NFL reporters, Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, offered insight regarding the potential for a regime change in Jacksonville on Wednesday, sharing their beliefs that the Jaguars are likely to eventually shake things up.
Their question is: If Khan opts for new leadership, will he commit to a full measure or keep Baalke around for a chance with a third head coach?
Dan Graziano: “It’s important to say that a lot of what we hear about potential openings this time of year is speculation from the outside. We don’t usually know what the plans of team owners are until the season ends. That said, the people to whom I’m talking to believe Jacksonville is likely to come open, and the question there is whether GM Trent Baalke will get to stay to pick the next coach to replace Doug Pederson or if the Jags will change both spots.”
Jeremy Fowler: “For the Jaguars, the sense I get from talking to people is that owner Shad Khan would make the head coaching job more attractive by also starting anew at general manager. People in Jacksonville are bracing for change, but whether that’s a full-house cleaning still needs to be determined. But most people are predicting the Jaguars to open barring a major surprise.”
Despite leading the NFL in total offseason spending by over $100 million — with quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s $275 million contract extension and the free-agent signings of defensive lineman Arik Armstead, safety Darnell Savage Jr. and wide receiver Gabe Davis among their headlining moves — the Jaguars own one of the NFL’s worst records this season at 3-10 through Week 14.
Jacksonville has sustained two losing streaks of four-plus games and snapped its longest skid of the year, a five-game drought, with a 10-6 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
The Jaguars’ offense ranks fifth-worst in the NFL for generating 297.2 yards per game, and seventh-worst for scoring 18.3 points per game. It will be without Lawrence for the rest of the year after a combination of injuries, a concussion and a hurt left shoulder, ended his season last week.
The Jaguars have been even more disappointing on the other side of the ball, despite Pederson making a play-caller change this past offseason, hiring Ryan Nielsen as Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator in February.
Jacksonville ranks last in the league in yards allowed per game at 396.1. The Jaguars allow the fifth-most points per game, 26.5