After the Jaguars fired Doug Pederson, following the Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts season finale, Shad Khan, and the front office have a list of Jaguars head coaching candidates for the 2025 season. From top candidates to former head coaches around the league, they have put together a strong list of Jaguars head coaching candidates.
Top Five Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coaching Candidates
When the Jaguars fired Pederson, they opened up one of the top spots for a head coaching candidate. With the 2024 season officially over for over half the NFL, all the teams that fired their head coaches get to begin searching for their new leader. Heading into this head coaching search for 2025 and beyond, two main things should be focused on for the Jaguars: the head coaching candidates and the pitch for why those candidates should choose the Jaguars.
Before pitching why a coach should come to Jacksonville, the Jaguars head coaching candidates need to be interviewed and analyzed.
Who Are The Jaguars Head Coaching Candidates?
1. Ben Johnson
The top candidate of the 2025 hiring cycle is Ben Johnson from the Detroit Lions. Johnson has been the hottest commodity in the head coaching landscape for two years. With the Lions ascension into the elite of the NFL, the offense is the biggest reason for their meteoric rise, with a huge kudos to Johnson for turning the Lions offense into a juggernaut.
Of the Jaguars head coaching candidates, Johnson is the top option by a wide margin. There are a lot of similarities between Jared Goff and Trevor Lawrence in play style, and with what Johnson has done for Goff displayed for the world to see, there is a lot of optimism for what he could do with Lawrence.
Not only would Johnson be the best hire for Lawrence, but he would be able to build his own culture, something that the Jaguars have been lacking for a long time. The fit is right, and Johnson has shown interest in the job thanks to the situation. There would be no better hire than Johnson amongst the Jaguars head coaching candidates for 2025, as the fit works great for both sides. He’s the top option, and the Jaguars should be a top choice of his as well.
2. Liam Coen
Another name that has been getting a lot of attention is Liam Coen, thanks to the massive improvement of Baker Mayfield and the rest of Coen’s offense. As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator, Coen has squeezed more out of Mayfield after his resurgence in 2023. The Buccaneers offense was a top group once again in 2024, thanks in large part to the scheme run by Coen.
While not reaching the same hype as Johnson, Coen would be a fantastic hire for the Jaguars to make. Not only has he taken the Buccaneers passing offense to new heights, but he’s also gotten a lot of mileage out of the running backs in Tampa Bay, including rookie Bucky Irving.
His ability to utilize great players correctly is a great sign for the Jaguars, since the weapons the Jaguars have on offense are solid, but could use better direction and creativity. Coen soared to be the favorite amongst the Jaguars head coaching candidates according to many sports betting platforms, and he would be a great hire for the Jaguars head coaching vacancy.
3. Aaron Glenn
Another member of the Lions coaching staff, Aaron Glenn has led the Lions’ defense to an impressive 2024 season and is the third-best Jaguars head coaching candidate. Part of why the Lions’ defense is so impressive isn’t just the raw numbers or grade, but what Glenn has done it with. The Lions’ defense is the fifth-highest-graded defense according to Pro Football Focus, and he’s done it with a defense that has been the most banged up across the league.
Star edge rusher Aiden Hutchinson has been out for most of the season, and the Lions’ secondary has been marred with injuries all year long. No position group has gone the year without an injury for the Lions, and yet, the defense is still one of the better units in the league. Doing more with less is a sign of a great coach, and the Jaguars would benefit immensely with Glenn in charge.
The only difference would be the need to bring in an offensive coordinator to call plays, as Glenn would take care of the defense. That is a minor issue, as he might bring someone from the Lions to Jacksonville, which could be a great combination for the Jaguars. Glenn is a great option for the Jaguars and is one of the best Jaguars head coaching candidates that the Jaguars have requested to interview with.
4. Kellen Moore
After a few years with the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers, Kellen Moore wound up with the Philadelphia Eagles leading their offense to being one of the best in the NFL. The distinct difference between Moore and the other candidates is what Moore had to work with in Philadelphia; an elite offensive personnel and offensive line.
Jacksonville wouldn’t have the same tools to give to Moore, but there would still be intrigued to see how far he could take the Jaguars offense, especially in the passing game. The biggest knock on Moore is his inconsistency on offense, and how the Jaguars might not reap the benefits of his offense, especially if he has his plate full as head coach. Some coaches struggle to make the transition, and with Moore, there is a bit more concern regarding his ability.
While not the flashiest of the Jaguars head coaching candidates for 2025, Moore can bring experience and poise to the Jaguars head coaching vacancy, along with new ideas and a more dynamic offense than what Pederson and Press Taylor ran down in 2024.
5. Brian Flores
The fifth Jaguars head coaching candidate is Brian Flores, the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. Flores has turned the Vikings’ defense from one of the worst units in the NFL before his tenure, into one of the most feared. A huge reason is the huge variety of plays on his call sheet, and how it can easily confuse opposing offenses. Flores has mastered the blitz and can make the lives of quarterbacks with pressure issues a nightmare.
Flores might not be the hottest candidate thanks to how poorly his first stint as head coach ended in Miami, but Flores has what it takes to utilize the Jaguars’ defensive personnel to its fullest. While some of the other Jaguars head coaching candidates may have more upside or intrigue for the Jaguars fan base, Flores would provide a dynamic defensive package that can elevate a struggling defense.
He has shown the ability to take a struggling defense to one of the best in the NFL, and with more years under his belt and more wisdom, Flores would be a great candidate for the vacancy in Jacksonville. Flores would return to Florida as a head coach, but be in a much easier division and have the chance to work with some of the most underrated defensive personnel in the NFL.
The Rest of the Jaguars Head Coaching Candidates
While the top five candidates for the Jaguars should be the targets in Jacksonville, there are still plenty of other options that the Jaguars have requested to interview for their head coaching vacancy. Todd Monken, Joe Brady, Patrick Graham, Robert Saleh, and Steve Spagnuolo are the other Jaguars head coaching candidates that the Jaguars are expected to interview during their search. Of this group, two names stand out as most intriguing.
Saleh is coming off a strenuous New York Jets tenure, where he was fired early in the 2024 season at two and three, seemingly a little premature, as the Jets went on to only win three more games the rest of the season. He is currently working with the Green Bay Packers and should get another shot at leading a team. The Jets defense was good under Saleh, and once he departed they regressed heavily. He would be a solid option for the Jaguars but isn’t the strongest choice.
Another interesting Jaguars head coaching candidate is the Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo. “Spags” as he’s affectionately called by players and media alike, would be a great veteran leader to have in Jacksonville. The Chiefs defense has been great under his leadership, and he’s helped the Chiefs to win multiple Super Bowls. His experience in big games, and ability to get the most out of young players, make for a great candidate to bring to Jacksonville.
The Pitch For The Jaguars Head Coaching Candidates
With the landscape outlined, there is still one big question remaining; why would a coach want to come to Jacksonville? There are a lot of negatives for a team that just fired a head coach in most scenarios, and while the Jaguars do have some holes and issues that need to be addressed, the Jaguars have one of the best situations in the NFL.
The Jaguars Roster
For starters, the Jaguars already have their quarterback of the future. Lawrence is a capable quarterback and has shown flashes of his elite potential. Any head coach coming in wouldn’t have to throw darts at quarterbacks, as one is already in-house. Another reason that stems from the quarterback is that he’s got a couple of nice supporting cast members.
Brian Thomas Jr. is one of, if not the best rookie wide receivers from the 2024 NFL Draft. He will be in Jacksonville for a while on a rookie deal, something that would be very appealing for any one of the Jaguars head coaching candidates. Evan Engram is a good tight end, especially in the passing game, and there are a bunch of other solid pieces across the roster at receiver, running back, and offensive line.
The defensive personnel is nothing to sneeze at either, as the Jaguars head coaching candidates will have plenty of good players on defense for a new coach to rely on. Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd are a top linebacker duo in the NFL, while Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker are a strong presence on the edge of the defensive line. Arik Armstead in the interior should also be a much more valuable piece in 2025, while Tyson Campbell and Jarrian Jones are good cornerbacks to build around.
The Jaguars Draft Capital and Cap Space
Outside of the players already in-house, there are two other reasons why the Jaguars head coaching candidates should look forward to coaching in Jacksonville. The first is the Jaguars’ available assets to use in the offseason. Jacksonville has a decent amount of cap space, 40 million, and a top-five selection in the 2025 NFL draft. The cap space creates some flexibility when it comes to adding new players in the offseason, but the most important asset is the draft capital.
Picking fifth in the NFL Draft, the Jaguars have a highly valuable selection early, while also having six picks in the first four rounds. The Jaguars can add a ton of high-upside and valuable players in the upcoming draft.
A Weak AFC South to Conquer
Another huge reason for a coach to come to Jacksonville is due to the AFC South. None of the teams in the AFC South have taken the league by storm, as the Houston Texans look beatable even at full strength thanks to the offense taking a step back in 2024. The Indianapolis Colts are struggling to manage their quarterback situation with Anthony Richardson, while the Tennessee Titans have holes littered throughout their roster, and have been drifting in and out of a rebuild for some time now.
With the AFC South up for grabs, and with all of the in-house assets in Jacksonville, the Jaguars head coaching candidates should see an opportunity for immediate success with the Jaguars. A chance to win the division in their first season as head coach is very possible, which should be something any candidate considers when looking at the Jaguars job.
Only One Blemish For The Job
Unfortunately, there is one issue lingering within the Jaguars organization that could deter some coaches from choosing the Jaguars. That is General Manager Trent Baalke. He survived another head coach getting fired, something that rarely happens once, and he should be on his way out sooner than later since his team building has ham-stricken the Jaguars in many different ways over the years. Some of the top Jaguars head coaching candidates may balk at the opportunity in Jacksonville with Baalke still in the front office.
Taking Walker over Hutchinson, signing Gabriel Davis to a contract larger than Saquon Barkley got, and giving league-altering money to Christian Kirk are among the many questionable moves he’s made as general manager. It’s also the moves he isn’t making that have negatively affected the team. With a lack of depth at edge rusher and cornerback, the Jaguars have found themselves struggling defensively. Baalke is a bump in an otherwise great opportunity for a head coach.
There is a scenario in which Baalke remains as general manager for 2025, but with the Jaguars rumored to be willing to part with Baalke if a coach like Ben Johnson prefers it so, then Baalke might not be as big of an obstacle in getting one of the top five Jaguars head coaching options to come to Jacksonville.
Jaguars Head Coaching Candidates: Top Five Best Coaches
With the Jaguars’ head coaching candidates coming into focus, the top five candidates have become clear. Johnson and Coen would be the best two candidates for the Jaguars thanks to their ability to elevate Lawrence and Thomas to new heights. Glenn and Flores are two great options for the Jaguars head coach vacancy, while Moore would be someone the Jaguars can grow with as he develops Lawrence and Thomas into superstars.
All in all, the Jaguars have plenty of good options for their new head coach with expertise on both sides of the ball. The Jaguars fire Doug Pederson, opening a door for one of the best head coaching situations available. This situation is a great one for a new head coach, and the future is bright for Jacksonville if they go with one of the top five Jaguars head coaching candidates for 2025.
Main Image: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
