The Jacksonville Jaguars were expected to clean house once the regular season ended. While they dismissed head coach Doug Pederson, they chose to keep general manager Trent Baalke. That decision could potentially hurt them in their pursuit of Ben Johnson if they set their sights on him.
Johnson reportedly had interest in the Jaguars opening, but he has made it clear that he wants to work with a general manager who shares his vision. He might not be thrilled that Baalke is in place, and might ultimately skip their opening if he's around.
This begs the question, which candidates the Jags should go after if they can't land Ben Johnson? These five come to mind.
Aaron Glenn, Lions defensive coordinator
As important as Ben Johnson has been for the rise of the Detroit Lions the past two seasons, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has been equally crucial.
A disciple of Bill Parcels, Glenn has gotten the most of his players during his stint with the Lions. After his playing days were over, he chose to coach, spending time with the Cleveland Browns and the New Orleans Saints before landing in Detroit.
Despite injuries, Glenn's unit stepped up against the Minnesota Vikings in the season finale. While the Jaguars must look for someone who can at last untap Trevor Lawrence's potential, they could also bring in a head coach with a defensive background. Glenn fits the bill.
Liam Coen, Buccaneers offensive coordinator
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen could be the best option after Ben Johnson for the Jaguars. In his first season at the helm, Coen turned the Bucs' offense into one of the best in the league.
Under his tutelage, Baker Mayfield showed considerable improvement. Similarly, rookie running back Bucky Irving, wide receiver Jalen McMillan, and tight end Cade Otton benefited from his presence. In Jacksonville, Coan would also have ample talent to work with. The fact that he could also get the most out of Trevor Lawrence makes him an intriguing option.
Wes Phillips, Vikings offensive coordinator
While Wes Phillips isn't garnering as much attention as Liam Coen or Ben Johnson, he'll also be an appealing candidate for teams who want a quarterback-friendly coach. With the Minnesota Vikings, Phillips routinely put journeyman signal-callers in a position to succeed. His magnum opus is without a doubt, Sam Darnold.
The third overall pick in 2018, Darnold flopped with the New York Jets and spent time with the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers before landing in Minnesota. Seen as a bust before joining the Vikes, the former USC Trojan has enjoyed a career revival and played a big role in helping his team make the playoffs.
Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders offensive coordinator
If the Jaguars want someone with experience, they could then target Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who previously was the head coach for the Arizona Cardinals.
Although his relationship with Kyler Murray soured and couldn't get the Cards over the hump, Kingsbury has quickly rehabilitated his stock in Washington. He played a huge role in the development of quarterback Jayden Daniels and has turned him into a legitimate Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.
Maybe Kingsbury has learned from the mistakes that led to his dismissal in the desert and is ready for another opportunity. The Jaguars need to get on the phone with him and find out.
Mike Vrabel, head coach
If you can beat them, join them. Throughout most of his tenure with the Tennessee Titans, Mike Vrabel enjoyed success against the Jaguars. Heck, he knocked them out of playoff contention in 2023. He was dismissed not long after, but at least left with the satisfaction of beating his division foes in his last game.
After a one-year hiatus, Vrabel will be one of the most coveted candidates in this hiring cycle, and rightly so. He took Tennessee to the AFC Championship in 2019, and you could make the case that they progressively got worse because former Titans general manager Jon Robinson left the roster devoid of talent.
If he's given ample to work with, there's a chance Vrabel will once again enjoy success. He's already interviewed for the New York Jets' opening and the New England Patriots are reportedly interested in him.