5 COACHING CANDIDATES THE JAGUARS SHOULD CONSIDER

The Jaguars don't have a coaching vacancy yet, but the writing's on the wall. 

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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The Jaguars still have a head coach. Doug Marrone hasn't been fired. Even though I love Doug Marrone, the man, it's evident that Doug Marrone, the coach, hasn't done a good enough job in Jacksonville. The writing is on the wall.

Rumors that the Jaguars will pursue a head coaching candidate before they lock down their GM have been swirling around league circles. It's not the most conventional route, but it could certainly work, nonetheless. There's precedent for it. 

So, which coaches out there would make sense for the Jaguars? I've got an eclectic group of names that I would like to see Shad Khan pursue. Armed with an unlimited bank account, the most salary cap space in football, a roster with young talent, and a hoard of draft picks (including the number one overall pick), Khan should have his pick of the litter. 

My number one goal with this hire is to find someone who can establish a bond with Trevor Lawrence and get the best out of the prodigious young talent. Creating a winning culture of accountability is also vital. 

Here are my top five head candidates to be the Jaguars' next head coach.

Brian Daboll

Daboll is a safe bet, in my opinion. He's helped mold Josh Allen into one of the most dangerous and consistent quarterbacks in football. Daboll has shown the ability to squeeze the most out of his young quarterback in Buffalo and has designed an offense that plays to Allen's strengths. Imagine what he could do with someone like Trevor Lawrence. He's been the offensive coordinator in Buffalo since 2018 and prior to that was the co-offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach at Alabama, where he worked with Tua, Jalen Hurts, and Mac Jones. He coached under Belichick in New England and made stops in Cleveland, Miami, and Kansas City as an OC. He's revered by Bills players and fans. Given a QB like Trevor Lawrence to work with, Daboll could become a star head coach. 
 
Urban Meyer

While Daboll is still looking to establish his star, Urban Meyer's is already shining bright. He's done everything there is to do at the college level and has always gotten the most out of his quarterbacks. He hasn't taken on the NFL yet, but there are indications that he'd be willing and excited to make the jump to the pros. Meyer would bring a pro-style spread offense to Jacksonville that would suit Lawrence's skill set. He comes with some risk, in that he usually doesn't stick around too long with programs and has health issues. But the opportunity to make a splash move at head coach and get a proven winner is there.  

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Joe Brady

Brady's had a meteoric rise up the ranks in the coaching world, and for good reason. His passing game concepts have proven successful at every level. His peers gush about his mentality and smarts. Brady knows how to get the best out of his quarterbacks. He's only 31, but Brady is going to be one of the hottest names on the coaching circuit after guiding Joe Burrow and the Tiger offense in 2019 and then having success with the Panthers less than stellar offensive cast in 2020. 

Jim Caldwell 

Jim Caldwell is one of the only re-tread head coaches I'd be interested in. His lone poor performance as an NFL coach was the famous Colts' tank job in 2011 that landed them Andrew Luck. Outside of that year with that awful roster, Caldwell has a record of 60-46. He took the Lions to the playoffs twice. THE LIONS! Have you seen how they've fared since unfairly moving on from Caldwell? Yeah. Caldwell also served as the Ravens' offensive coordinator in 2012, when they won the Super Bowl. Despite being a quiet man, Jim is one of the best leaders in the NFL and has had success with QBs for a long time in this league. 

Arthur Smith

Poaching from inside the division is always fun, am I right? Arthur Smith has turned the Titans' offense into a juggernaut over the last couple of years. He's been with the Titans since 2011 and has risen up the ranks in their coaching staff. The work he's done with their running game and play-action should get Jaguars' fans excited. Think about Trevor Lawrence and James Robinson in the Titans' system. 

All of these coaching candidates have had recent success, especially when it comes to working with quarterbacks and coaching dynamic offenses. While Meyer and Caldwell have long, impressive histories as head coaches, Daboll, Brady, and Smith look primed to take on the challenge of being the figurehead for an organization. 

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