Shahid Khan Laying A Foundation, Creating A Noticeable Culture
By Luke Sims
March 18, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan arrives for the annual NFL meetings at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan has been at his job for a little over a year now. In that time he saw his team waste millions of dollars on underperforming athletes and poorly planned coaching moves. His initial investment was one in a team that he made successful on the business side but did not produce a product on the football side. The end result was tying for last place in the NFL with a franchise-worst 2-14 record.
But in year two it’s all different.
Gone are Gene Smith and Mik Mularkey, the general manager and head coach from a year ago. Gone is the uncertainty and sharp learning curve. Now, Khan is in a position to understand more than just the business side of the NFL, but also the football side. The change is noticeable. The culture in Jacksonville is shifting and it isn’t just fans of the Jags that are noticing, it’s everyone.
Uncertainty breeds indecision and distrust. In Khan’s first year as owner he likely would not have been able to attract top talent because he was uncertain about where the Jaguars were and where they wanted to go. After year two, the Jags are in a much better position and people are noticing. “A year ago, they didn’t know me. What are they getting into? A year later, there was at least a track record how they could decide if this was the place for them,” Khan said in an interview with Forbes.
Khan and his big moustache are now a familiar and likable face in the NFL. He is making all the right moves and saying all the right things. It’s finally coming together in Jacksonville and Khan is the glue behind all of the pieces that are new to the Jags as they rebuild.
– Luke N. Sims
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