As expected, the Jacksonville Jaguars named Trent Baalke their general manager Thursday. The news comes after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported that a promotion was in the works for the Jags former interim.
It’s official! We have named Trent Baalke our next general manager.
— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) January 21, 2021
Baalke, 56, was hired by the Jags in February of 2020 as their director of player personnel under former general manager Dave Caldwell. However, when Caldwell was let go in November, Baalke was named the interim general manager.
Baalke will return to a role he previously held with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 through the 2016 season. During his time as general manager with the 49ers, they went to three NFC championships from 2011-13. One of those seasons led to a trip to the Super Bowl (XLVII) where the 49ers fell to the Baltimore Ravens after the 2012 season.
While with the 49ers, Baalke’s notable selections included quarterback Colin Kaepernick, pass-rusher Aldon Smith, safety Eric Reid, and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner. He also played a huge role in scouting Alex Smith before becoming a general manager, and during that process, he met Jags coach Urban Meyer, who was Smith’s coach.
Now, Baalke will be asked to work alongside Meyer in the Jags front office as owner Shad Khan has indicated that the three-time national champion coach is the leader of football operations. Only time will tell how that structure works, but clearly the Jags organization is trying something new.