Jacksonville Jaguars: The case against keeping HC Doug Marrone in 2021
Can the Jacksonville Jaguars really keep Doug Marrone?
The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t been very good at winning football games this season, and in an effort to turn things around, they gave general manager David Caldwell the pink slip after the team’s 27-25 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Although head coach Doug Marrone could be next, there’s a chance he will be part of the team’s upcoming rebuilding effort.
Adam Schefter of ESPN says there’s the belief around the league that Marrone could stay next year and be part of the organization’s long-term plans. He cites the fact this Jacksonville team has still been competitive and their players have fought hard.
The head coach has already been told his job is safe for the remainder of the season, so the possibility always remains. In fact, Owner Shahid Khan could ask the team’s new general manager not to fire Marrone. On the other hand, bringing him back might not be in the Jaguars’ best interest.
Why it wouldn’t make sense for the Jacksonville Jaguars to stick with Marrone.
Marrone has already had plenty of time to show he’s the right man to lead the Jaguars to the Super Bowl. Although he came close in 2017, he’s had only one winning season in his five-year tenure and has lost 12th straight games in 2020.
It’s true this team has played hard with Marrone at the helm, but in the end, they have come short. Injuries have certainly not helped matters, but they’re an inherent part of the game, and every team goes through them, so that’s not much of an excuse. Last year, the team finished with a 6-10 record with a better roster than this year’s, so it’s uncertain what he can do even if he has more talent at his disposal.
Also, let’s say Khan really wants Marrone back and asks the team’s next general manager to keep him, that will likely turn off potential candidates for the position. Nobody likes to be part of an arranged working relationship and even if someone accepted the owner’s request, this kind of arrangement rarely succeeds.
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Marrone has certainly had bright moments during his tenure as the Jaguars head coach. However, it doesn’t make much sense to retain him after the 2020 season.