An interesting name has recently come up regarding the Jacksonville Jaguars’ search for their next head coach. Former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio has reportedly already interviewed for the vacancy in Jacksonville, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It’s a fascinating development as the last we heard about the happenings in Duval being tied to Byron Leftwich preferring general manager Trent Baalke be relieved of his duties. Instead, the Jaguars have pivoted to interviewing a candidate that has even stronger ties to Baalke as Fangio and him worked together for four years in San Francisco. What are the Jaguars doing?
Jacksonville Jaguars are jumping through hoops to keep Trent Baalke
The Jaguars should be placing the development of Trevor Lawrence as their highest priority at the moment. Instead, they’re acting as if a general manager who hasn’t really had much success is their face of the franchise.
Team owner Shahid Khan seems unwilling to fire Baalke, despite not only Leftwich’s wishes but also the fanbase’s wishes as well. It’s a bit peculiar that Khan hasn’t recognized what’s happening yet and just fired Baalke a long time ago. Things may look bleak now, but what if the Jaguars have yet another underwhelming season?
Do they fire their head coach again? Do they let Baalke go and then pick a new GM who may want to put his own fingerprint on the team, hiring a new head coach?
It’s a mess the organization can avoid right now by relieving Baalke of his duties. Chances are, their potential head coach candidate pool would only grow. You’re telling me some offensive wizard doesn’t want to work with Lawrence? Nobody buys that.
While he’s qualified, Vic Fangio would be an odd choice
Shortly before he was fired from the Broncos, a report suggested Fangio would quickly land on his feet as a top-paid defensive coordinator elsewhere. While that hasn’t happened yet, there are still seven head coaching vacancies.
Curiously, Fangio hasn’t received a single head coaching interview, anywhere, except from the franchise who is picking first in back-to-back years for just the eighth time in NFL history.
Fangio has proven to be able to lead an incredible defense and has over 20 seasons of NFL experience, but his three seasons as head coach of the Broncos didn’t go well. It’s not unreasonable to believe, if paired with a legit QB, Vic Fangio can thrive. But he would still be an odd choice when Byron Leftwich appears to be there for the taking.