If the Jacksonville Jaguars are committed to keeping general manager Trent Baalke past the disappointing 2024 season, it could cost them. After Mike Florio reported that Baalke could end up surviving what's been a hugely disappointing season so that the Jags could pair him with former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, Dianna Russini immediately threw water on that fire.
Russini posted on X that Belichick wants to be a head coach again in 2025 and the Jaguars could be a landing spot for the future Hall of Fame coach. On the subject of Baalke, however, she noted, "I'm told it's highly unlikely that a partnership with GM Trent Baalke would take place, per sources"
In other words, if the Jaguars want a shot at hiring Belichick to be their next head coach, they need to part ways with Baalke. Belichick served as both the head coach and the general manager during his lengthy tenure in New England so it's not crazy to think he'd want to serve in both roles in Jacksonville as well.
Sticking with Trent Baalke could cost Jaguars in a big way
The Jaguars hired Baalke to take over as their GM in 2021 after he had spent six years in the same role with the 49ers. In 2022, the Jaguars hired Doug Pederson as their next head coach and everything looked to be headed in the right direction. Jacksonville won the AFC South in Pederson's first year on the job and won a playoff game but it's been all downhill since midway through the 2023 season.
What's been most concerning has been the regression of former number one overall pick Trevor Lawrence, who was looking like he'd transformed into the franchise quarterback Jacksonville was hoping for in 2022. Since then, Lawrence has battled injuries and struggled on the field as well. The team went from being a dark horse Super Bowl contender in 2022 and early on in 2023 to now sitting with just two wins.
Pederson will surely be fired by season's end (if not before then) and then the Jaguars have a decision to make. Will they continue to remain loyal to Baalke, who doesn't necessarily deserve to remain with the team? Or will they cut their losses by firing both Baalke and Pederson and hitting the reset button?
It's going to be yet another interesting offseason in Jacksonville.