The Jacksonville Jaguars have started this week off making a great deal of progress on their interviews to fill the head coaching spot left vacant by Urban Meyer, who the team fired on Dec. 18. Last week, they knocked out a scheduled interview with Doug Pederson, and then on Monday, they spoke with Tampa Bay Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles virtually.
However, according to Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union, owner Shad Khan didn’t stop there and jumped right into another interview. On Tuesday, the team spoke with former Detroit Lions coach and longtime NFL assistant Jim Caldwell.
#Jaguars are interviewing Jim Caldwell today in person at undisclosed location outside Jacksonville, just as they did last Thursday with Doug Pederson. Likely do same next week with #Packers OC Hackett.
— Eugene Frenette (@GeneFrenette) January 4, 2022
Caldwell is certainly an intriguing candidate who has been associated with the Jags due to having head coaching experience. In addition to holding that role with the Lions from 2014-17, he was a head coach for their divisional rivals in the Indianapolis Colts from 2009–11. Throughout those stints, he went 62-50 and was 2-4 in the playoffs. Additionally, he was able to earn a few Super Bowl titles as an assistant under Tony Dungy (XLI) and John Harbough (XLVII).
In addition to his role as a head coach, Caldwell has held NFL roles with the Bucs, Colts (before becoming their head coach), Baltimore Ravens, and Miami Dolphins as a quarterbacks coach, as well as an offensive coordinator role with the Ravens. Caldwell also held assistant head coaching roles with the Dolphins and Colts and was an interim offensive coordinator for Baltimore before having the interim tag removed.
Many fans have deemed Caldwell as the best fit for the Jags because he seems like a candidate who is the complete opposite of Meyer in terms of leadership and experience. Additionally, his résumé as a quarterbacks coach should be a huge deal for Trevor Lawrence, who hasn’t had the rookie season fans were hoping for.