Jaguars fans searching for balance in team’s front office

Here is an idea for Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan to balance the team’s organizational chart to attract a new head coach.

Jaguar owner Shad Khan has been making bad decisions since buying the team in 2011. Among them is his inability to find a head coach. That’s why I would like to see him completely reset the front office and rebuild even though recent reports have all pointed to this not happening. Trent Baalke is likely to stay in his current general manager position. This has proven to be an unpopular decision among Jags fans and if Khan wants to gain their support, he will need to change how he does business.

Hiring a vice president for football operations needs to be a priority and Baalke has to be limited in key decisions for this franchise. In this search, the focus should be around the league in successful franchises. Consider how other winning teams more often than not have stability at the top. A VP of football operations could bring some of that consistency to Jacksonville.

Much like most owners in the league. Khan would like to be the first to discover the diamond in the rough. He’s failed so far despite the fact that he has been a person that has worked his tail off and exploited opportunities to grow his businesses. What makes this situation different is that he does not appear to have a grasp on what it takes to build a successful organization. Often, the fanbase has called for a former player to step up to be a part of the front office, and based on the Jags’ lack of success, it wouldn’t hurt them to try that approach.

Where do you find the solution to the Jaguars’ big problems?

There are a couple of examples around the league of former players stepping into general manager jobs. John Lynch in San Francisco and John Elway in Denver from 2011 to 2020 come to mind. Fanbases are looking for exciting moves. Hiring former players can create positive publicity.

Of course, just like others in their position, they need to deliver results, regardless of their background. Lynch has been successful at adding talent to the roster but hasn’t been able to get the Niners over the hump. Before Elway stepped down, he was focused on finding the quarterback of the future. How did that work for him? Once Peyton Manning retired, the roster seemed to have suffered while he was swinging for the fences.

Jacksonville has had its share of questionable personnel moves. Many opportunities were given to the past general managers and it looks like Baalke will get his too. In particular, Davin Caldwell brought in some talent when he was shooting for the Super Bowl in 2017. Coincidentally, that was the same year they hired former head coach Tom Coughlin to be their vice president of football operations. Although it didn’t work out in the long run, the Jags’ had their only winning season in the last ten years with Coughlin leading their front office.

Baalke brought in a couple of starters in 2021. Moving forward, he must have someone checking the work he is conducting on talent evaluation. Constructive criticism will build something for fans to be proud of. So, if this team is having to see Baalke lead the Jaguars through another draft and free agency. Why should there not be some kind of checks and balances? Who would you like the Jaguars’ vice president of football operations to create some balance?