Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley just “earned” his 13th career win as a head coach and could be safe, but he doesn’t deserve to be.
Before the Week 4 game in London, Jason La Canfora wrote that Gus Bradley is likely safe with the Jacksonville Jaguars even with a loss in London.
That wasn’t the kind of news that Jags fans wanted to hear, especially with Bradley looking more and more out of his depth. He hasn’t been able to get his team ready, manage the game well, or address the mounting penalty issue that is plaguing the team.
But as was written in that piece, it isn’t likely that uber-patient owner Shad Khan makes a change early in the season. Khan knows that the way to make money in the NFL isn’t to become the latest Oakland Raiders or Cleveland Browns but to pursue a consistent strategy with the same leadership.
That’s true and Khan should be given credit for sticking with his proven method of success, taking some knowledge from his auto business and applying it to the NFL.
Now, with a win in the books for Bradley in London (in no small part due to wide receiver Allen Hurns scoring an improbable touchdown in mid-meltdown for everyone else) it may be even less likely for Bradley to get axed.
Still, that shouldn’t stop the calls for his head from fans.
If Gus Bradley wins his second London game this coming Sunday 15% of his wins will have come in London.
— Cap Dealer (@BoldCityCap) September 26, 2016
When you snag a big division win but realize it means Gus Bradley keeps his job pic.twitter.com/P5f5o0Zko3
— Stephen DeAugustino (@DeAugieDogie) October 2, 2016
Well guess the firing of Gus Bradley is going to be post poned till later in the season
— S. Easterling (@Jvillesfinest) October 2, 2016
When you're happy the Jags won, but then remember Gus Bradley lives to see another day... pic.twitter.com/0zhpTca5IR
— Willy P (@WillP888) October 2, 2016
Gus Bradley won't have to swim back to Jacksonville using a pink slip as a floatation device
— Payne (@PayneInsider) October 2, 2016
Shad Khan should send Gus Bradley out on a good note... It's gonna happen anyway, let him go out with a win
— Mike Lee (@CoachLee54) October 2, 2016
Although I'm happy for the win, Gus Bradley stays to see another week #Jags
— Jason Pugh (@JPughSports) October 2, 2016
Frankly, this game shouldn’t have been particularly close. Andrew Luck looked like a shell of himself and the Jags were well ahead at multiple points. The coaching seemed to let up on the aggressiveness and that falls to Bradley.
At the end of the day, a win is a win but it certainly doesn’t feel good having to see Bradley struggle through another week.
Related Story: Allen Hurns makes London his home, continues clutch streak
Hopefully he can turn the corner but it seems more likely that he just extended his current employment by a few weeks.