JAGUARS NAME TRENT BAALKE NEW GENERAL MANAGER

The Jaguars have their next GM. 

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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The Jaguars have officially hired Trent Baalke to be their next general manager.

"Trent Baalke has had success at virtually every level of football, notably so as a general manager who shrewdly and quickly built an NFL conference championship organization and team," said Jacksonville Jaguars Owner Shad Khan. "That experience inspired us to recruit Trent to Jacksonville a year ago to serve as our director of player personnel and is one of many reasons why we are naming Trent as the new general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Trent thoroughly knows the NFL and the dynamics of today's game, has an exceptional eye for talent, and I know will have excellent chemistry with Head Coach Urban Meyer as they begin their mission to bring a consistent winner to our fans in Jacksonville."

Baalke joined the Jaguars' front office in 2020 as the director of player personnel and was promoted to interim GM after Dave Caldwell was fired. He's been rumored to be among the top candidates for the job throughout the interview process. 

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"I would like to thank Shad Khan for the opportunity to continue with the Jacksonville Jaguars as the team's general manager," said Baalke. "I look forward to getting to work with Coach Meyer and giving Jaguars fans everywhere the winner they deserve. I am confident that our shared vision will lead our team to success in 2021 and beyond."

Baalke made his name in San Francisco, where he rose from regional scout all the way to GM. He held the GM job for the 49ers from 2011-2016 and helped build a roster that made it to three straight NFC championship games and a Super Bowl appearance. He was named NFL Executive of the Year in 2012. After 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh left for Michigan, Baalke struggled to find a replacement, and a couple of poor seasons in a row led to his firing. Among the notable players that Baalke drafted during his time in San Francisco are Aldon Smith, Colin Kaepernick, DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, Jaquiski Tartt, Mike Davis, Trent Brown, Jimmy Ward, Carlos Hyde, Eric Reid, and Vance McDonald. The 49ers produced 35 Pro Bowl appearances during Baalke's time at the helm. 

Trent Baalke and Jaguars' head coach Urban Meyer will both report directly to owner Shad Khan. But Khan mentioned last week that he and Baalke will be there to assist Urban and help guide him. This is Urban's team. Khan, Urban Meyer, and Baalke will be available to the media at 1 pm on Thursday. 

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