Report: Jags HC candidate Jim Caldwell turns down interview requests from Vikings, Raiders

Caldwell has met with the Jags and Bears this month, but has turned down interviews since meeting with both.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in the second phase of their head coaching search and one candidate has received a second interview in Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. However, it’s unknown who could be joining him to get a second chat with the Jags, but many believe that Byron Leftwich of the Tampa Bay Bucs certainly will.

Early in the process, former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell seems to also be a popular name, who has since received interest from the Chicago Bears, too, and has met with them. According to ESPN’s  Dan Graziano, the veteran coach has since declined interviews from two other teams in the Las Vegas Raiders and Minnesota Vikings, which could mean he has a good feeling about the Jags’ and/or Bears’ vacancies.

Additionally, Graziano said that he felt the Bears would end up being the team to land Caldwell as former Colts general manager Bill Polian, who worked with him, is helping the Bears with their process.

According to multiple sources, the Raiders and Vikings both reached out to former Colts and Lions coach Jim Caldwell this week to request to interview him, and he declined both requests. This indicates strongly that Caldwell believes he will get one of the other open jobs, and my understanding is that he’s in the mix in both Chicago and Jacksonville and already is reaching out to candidates for his staff.

If I had to bet right now, I’d say Caldwell ends up in Chicago, where former Colts general manager Bill Polian is helping direct the search, though it’s obviously interesting that Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is scheduled for a second interview there.

Graziano could be right about Caldwell ending up in Chicago over Jacksonville as the Jags are in Phase 2 of their coaching search. There haven’t been any reports that they reached out to Caldwell a second time, but then again, maybe they’ve done it discretely or are waiting to do so later.

If he’s on their radar, Caldwell would be a great fit for the Jags due to his experience with quarterbacks and winning pedigree (62–50 overall record), which is exactly what Trevor Lawrence needs. Caldwell has coached notables like Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford and undoubtedly would have a wealth of knowledge to offer the young quarterback.

With various postseason games coming up today and tomorrow, more news and rumors are certain to come on the NFL’s coaching search. In the Jags case, there seems to be a little time left, though, as no team with a vacancy has named a head coach. However, that could change in a matter of days, so maybe a plan needs to start coming together by the end of the weekend.

Update: Caldwell has come out to say that he hasn’t declined interviews with the Vikings and Raiders.