With their head coaching job now open, Urban Meyer is no longer the only coaching candidate the Jacksonville Jaguars are known to have interest in. Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is now on their radar.
All six teams with HC openings – Chargers, Jets, Jaguars, Lions, Falcons, Texans – have either requested permission to interview Titans’ OC Arthur Smith or plan to ask permission, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 4, 2021
While it’s unclear whether or not the Jags have asked him for an interview already, their interest in Smith isn’t shocking when considering he’s been highly successful in the AFC South. As their coordinator, he played a huge part in them finishing the regular season second in rushing (168.1 YPG average) and second in total offense (396.4 YPG average).
In terms of his coaching career, Smith started his coaching as a graduate assistant with his alma mater North Carolina (2006). He then joined the Washington Football Team as a defensive quality control assistant (2007-08), then Ole Miss as an intern and administrative assistant (2010). He then found his way to the Titans’ staff in 2011 as a defensive assistant and quality control coach — and worked his way up to the offensive coordinator role in 2019.
With the young skill players the Jags have in DJ Chark, Laviska Shenault Jr., and James Robinson, Smith would have something to work with in Duval when considering what he’s done with Ryan Tannehill, A.J. Brown, Derrick Henry, and company. If that isn’t enough, having the No. 1 overall pick, ample cap space, and patient ownership should make the job even more appealing in comparison to others.