Jaguars’ decision to Trent Baalke not popular, deserves benefit of doubt

The Jacksonville Jaguars will soon start interviewing candidates for their head coach vacancy. However, they won’t be looking for a new manager, as they’ve expected to retain Trent Baalke. Ian Rapaport of NFL Media reports that owner Shad Khan plans to retain Baalke. The news doesn’t come as a surprise, as there were no signs the team would move on from him. Baalke joined the Jags in 2020 as the director of player personal and became the interim general manager when David Caldwell was given the boot. He got the job on a permanent basis earlier this year.

Baalke was part of the front office that drafted cornerbacks C.J. Henderson and defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson. The former is no longer with the team and the latter hasn’t lived up to his draft billing. Caldwell was the one that made the picks and he should be held accountable for them. Then again, Baalke should shoulder some of the blame.

Before working with the Jaguars, Baalke held different front office roles for the San Francisco 49ers from 2005 to 2010 before being promoted to general manager in 2011. In his first year on the job, the Niners went from 6-10 to 13-3 and he won the NFL Executive of the Year Award. Although San Francisco found success early in his tenure, his failure to replenish their roster and find a head coach cost him his job in 2017.

Khan gave Caldwell and his predecessor, Gene Smith, enough time to make an impact. Although he could change course at any time, it looks like he’s also going to grant Baalke the opportunity to work his magic.