FOLIO
Words by Kaleb Stowell Photo by Aaron Berkshire
The 2024 Jacksonville Jaguars roster was claimed by Owner Shad Khan to be “The greatest team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars ever.” This is the same 2024 Jacksonville Jaguars roster that went 4-13. Taking these things into account, there were a number of things on the “to-do” list for the Jags in the 2025 offseason:
To-Do:
Fire and Replace Head Coach Doug Pederson and General Manager Trent Baalke
In general, when a team is viewed to be talented from a player personnel perspective, yet fails to perform during games, the coaching staff is usually blamed. Such is the case for the 2024 Jaguars, and much of this criticism is warranted. In his time in Jacksonville, Pederson led the Jaguars to a 22-29 record as head coach, giving him a win percentage of 42%. Despite leading the Jags to their first playoff appearance since 2017 in the 2022 post-season and a promising looking first half of a season in 2023, the Pederson-led Jaguars went 5-18 from Week 13 of the 2023 season to the end of the 2024 season. Shad Khan cited this disappointing stretch of games as his reason for ultimately firing Pederson on January 6, 2025. Pederson was replaced by Liam Coen, who previously worked as the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2024 season.
Trent Baalke held the title the general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars since 2020 and helped them secure QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, WR Brian Thomas Jr. and other big-name players on the team’s roster. Baalke had long been a target of criticism toward the Jags by fans. Perhaps this criticism was well placed, as Coen reportedly backed out of an in-person interview with team executives during the hiring process. Hours after Coen did not attend this interview, Baalke was fired on January 22, 2025.
Fill the gaps in the Coaching Staff
With the removal of Doug Pederson and Trent Baalke, the Jacksonville Jaguars were now faced with a pivotal step: hiring a new offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, a slew of new player coaches and most important, finding a new general manager.
The acquisition of a new defensive coordinator came first, when the Jags hired DC Anthony Campanile. A first-time defensive coordinator, he previously worked as the linebackers/run game coach for the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 season. The 2024 Packers’ Defense ranked 5th in the NFL, and Liam Coen believed Campanile could lead the Jaguars to something similar.
On February 5, the Jaguars hired Grant Udinski as offensive coordinator. Udinski was previously the quarterbacks coach of the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. Sam Darnold, the QB of the Vikings in 2024, ranked 5th in passing yards and passing touchdowns, and 6th in QBR for the regular season. Udinski is also a first-time offensive coordinator, adding to the list of “first-timers” on the Jaguars’ coaching staff.
On February 21, the Jacksonville Jaguars named James Gladstone, a 34-year-old scouting director from the Los Angeles Rams, the general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars, making him the youngest GM in the NFL. This is his first season ever as a GM.
February 24th was a busy day for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ front office:
- Shane Waldron, previously the offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears in the 2024 season was hired as the pass game coordinator.
- Spencer Whipple was hired as the quarterbacks coach, following two years as the Arizona Cardinals’ pass game specialist.
- Continuing the trend of stealing coaching personnel from the Minnesota Vikings, the Jaguars hired Shaun Sarrett as the O-line coach.
- Edgar Bennett was hired as the wide receivers coach. He was previously with the Las Vegas Raiders and was the WR coach there for seven seasons.
- Finally, Chad Morton, previously the running backs coach for the Chicago Bears, was hired as the Jags’ running backs coach.
The Draft
New GM James Gladstone was ready to make a splash on Draft Night.
First Round
The Jaguars originally held the fifth overall pick in the draft. But in a huge trade with the Cleveland Browns, the Jaguars gained the second overall pick, which they used to draft Travis Hunter, a “generational talent” from the University of Colorado, who can play both CB and WR at a high level. In return, the Browns received the 5th overall pick, a second-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and a 2026 first-round pick.
Third Round
In round 3 the Jaguars selected CB Caleb Ransaw out of Tulane with the 24th pick. They also selected G Wyatt Milum out of West Virginia with the 25th pick.
Fourth Round
In the fourth round, the Jags selected RB Bhayshul Tuten out of Virginia Tech with the 104th pick. They also selected LB Jack Kiser out of Notre Dame with the 107th pick.
Sixth Round
The Jags selected LB Jalen McLeod out of Auburn with the 194th pick. They also selected SAF Rayuan Lane III out of Navy with the 200th pick.
Seventh Round
The Jags selected C Jonah Monheim out of USC with the 221st pick. They also selected RB LeQuint Allen out of Syracuse with the 236th pick.
Free Agency Moves
The Jaguars, led by their new GM and coaching staff, were ready to make moves right out of the gate when the league opened on March 12.
Prior to the league opening, the Jaguars cut TE Evan Engram, who in the 2023 season made 114 receptions, putting him second all-time for receptions in a single season by a Jacksonville Jaguar. March 6 also saw the retirement of C Mitch Morse, who joined the Jags last year after being with the Buffalo Bills previously.
The Jaguars started free agency by trading beloved WR Christian Kirk to their divisional rivals, the Houston Texans, for a 2026 seventh round pick. Kirk had been with the team since 2022, when he recorded 1100+ yards and 8 touchdowns. But following two back-to-back seasons with big injuries, the Jaguars decided to part with the veteran receiver.
They signed CB Jourdan Lewis to a three-year contract. Lewis was previously a CB for the Dallas Cowboys. In 2024 he recorded 71 total tackles with 1 sack and 1 interception. They also signed C Robert Hainsey to fill the hole left by the retirement of Mitch Morse. Hainsey was previously with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
WR Dyami Brown was signed to a one-year contract. He had his best performing season of his career last year with the Washington Commanders with 308 yards and 1 touchdown, and over 10 yards per catch.
On April 8, the Jags signed DE Emmanuel Ogbah.
On May 7, the Jags released starting WR Gabe Davis. He had only been with the Jags for one season, he had 239 yards and 2 touchdowns.
On June 3, the Jags re-signed DE Dawuane Smoot. Smoot was drafted by the Jags in 2017 but was traded to the Bills last season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have had a very active offseason, with many players and staff being hired, signed, cut and dropped. Despite having a coaching staff that is largely “first-timers,” the general attitude toward the team has improved from the end of last season with many fans hoping that this change will bring about a new future for the Jaguars. The last thing left on the 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars’ “to-do” list is to execute and bring the city its first Lombardi Trophy.
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