The Jacksonville Jaguars will be in need of a head coach if they dismiss Doug Pederson. While Bill Belichick has become a trendy name to replace him, Aaron Schatz of FTN Fantasy recently told the Black & Teal that the Jags are better off steering away from retread candidates, and he has a point. Why would go go after someone who wasn't able to get the job at his last stop?
Granted, Belichick himself was a retread and failed to deliver during his stint with the Cleveland Browns. It wasn't until he joined the New England Patriots that the Hoodie enjoyed long-term success. Andy Reid, Gary Kubiak, and Dick Vermeil are also examples of head coaches who won it all when they were given a second chance.
That said, these are notable cases precisely because of how rare is it for head coaches to succeed after having previously failed. So for the sake of the argument, let's say the Jaguars focus their search for Pederson's replacement on candidates who will be first-time head coaches, these five would make the most sense.
Brian Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator
There's no doubt that Brian Johnson will be the crown jewel of the next coaching cycle. He knows it, which is precisely why he laid out the kind of things he expects from his potential employers. Then again, his asks aren't unreasonable. The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator simply wants teams that interview him to be honest with themselves about the reasons they've failed. Similarly, he wants to work with a general manager who shares his vision.
All things considered, these are things every head-coaching candidate should demand. The Jacksonville Jaguars already saw firsthand just how dominant his team is, giving up 52 points while scoring just six in Week 12 of the 2024 season. If they show legitimate interest in his services, they should accommodate his requests. It would be worth it.
Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator
One reason Ben Johnson is already the hottest head-coaching candidate in the next hiring cycle even though it hasn't begun is that he's coming from a winning program, one that was in the cellar as recently as 2020 but has worked its way up to the top of the NFC.
Sure, Johnson is not THE reason Detroit is one of the top clubs in its conference, but he's most definitely played a part. The same is true for defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who's routinely gotten the most out of his players and turned its units into one of the best in the league.
Heck, Glenn has his defense thriving despite the fact that the Lions lost premier pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the year. That ability to adapt and make chicken salad with what he has could come in handy in Jacksonville.
Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator
Aaron Glenn won't be the only candidate in the next hiring cycle that will garner interest from teams with a vacancy. Jesse Minter could also be in demand based on the success he's enjoyed in his first season with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Minter was a defensive coordinator for different college programs before following Jim Harbaugh to the pros in 2024. In LA, he's put together one of the stingiest units the NFL has seen in several years. Then again, it will be interesting to see how much of that has been due to his mentor.
Either way, Minter will be an intriguing candidate to keep an eye on.
Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator
If the Jaguars lose on Ben Johnson or he's simply not interested in what they offer, they can turn their attention to another ascending coordinator in the NFC: Liam Coen.
Like his Lions counterpart, Coen took on a quarterback who had peaked and helped him enjoy a career revival. In Johnson's case, it was Jared Goff. For his part, the Buccaneers offensive coordinator helped Baker Mayfield find the consistency he was lacking early in his NFL career.
But Coen hasn't limited himself to coaching quarterbacks, he's also molded wide receiver throughout his coaching career. If that wasn't enough, he has experience at both the NFL and college level, so he's been able to see how different programs operate.
Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator
If the Jags are interested in a Sean McVay disciple, Zac Robinson is their guy. He may not be in nearly as much demand as Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips but would still be an intriguing candidate.
Years after his playing career in the NFL concluded, Robinson joined McVay's staff as an assistant quarterbacks coach. He then switched to assistant wide receivers coach before returning to assistant quarterbacks coach and moonlighting as the passing game coordinator.
Robinson left the Rams earlier this year to become the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. With him at the helm, the Dirty Birds have put together a respectable offense, something they had trouble with in previous years. It also helps that they have Kirk Cousins behind center, but Robinson most definitely deserves credit for putting him in a position to succeed.