The Jacksonville Jaguars just completed their most successful season in recent years, and you can bet that they will be contenders for as long as Liam Coen is their head coach. That said, expectations will rise in 2026, and the Jags will have to face several challenges along the way. Replenishing the roster will be one of them, but they also need to find new coordinators.
After an impressive 2025, don't be surprised if teams with head-coach openings attempt to poach defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile or his offensive counterpart Grant Udinski. Sure, they had no prior experience before Coen hired them, but both of them helped him turn Jacksonville into one of the top teams in the NFL.
Campanile, in particular, has turned one of the worst defenses in the NFL into one of the top 10. Similarly, he's been able to get the most out of players like safety Antonio Johnson, cornerback Montaric Brown, and linebacker Devin Lloyd. Simply put, he should be a hot commodity in the upcoming coaching cycle, so the Jags may need to brace themselves for his potential departure.
The good news is that Coen has already shown that he has an eye for talent and should be able to find a replacement for Campanile. Moreover, the perfect replacement just became available.
The Jaguars need to target Raheem Morris if Anthony Campanile leaves
In every coaching cycle, there's always a surprise firing. This year, the Atlanta Falcons relieved Raheem Morris of his duties after posting his second losing season in a row. Not even the fact that the Dirty Birds rode a four-game winning streak to end was enough to help him keep his job.
Now, Morris can join any team with a head-coaching opening, but Dianna Rusinni of The Athletic reports that he will also consider defensive coordinator vacancies. If that's the case, the Jaguars need to keep tabs on him.
Sure, Morris was never able to find a competent coordinator and was never able to get the most out of playmakers such as wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson. That said, he sure knows how to run a defense.
Although the Falcons didn't field a top-10 defense during Morris' stint, they weren't awful, either. Moreover, he was a heck of a defensive coordinator in Atlanta (2019) and the Los Angeles Rams (2020-2023) before the Falcons hired him as their head coach in 2024.
It's also worth noting that Morris was the head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011 and was also the wide receivers coach during his first stint in A-Town. This is a long-winded way to say that he has no shortage of NFL experience and could help Liam Coen navigate the challenges that come with trying to build off a successful season.
Related: Dream replacement for Grant Udinski may fall into the Jags' lap
It's not a given that Anthony Campanile will leave the Jaguars
The good news is that Anthony Campanile remains with the Jaguars, and there's a chance he may not go anywhere regardless. On the other hand, they'll be at a disadvantage if he does leave for a head-coaching job.
While the coaching carousel is firing on all cylinders, the Jaguars are fully focused on the playoffs and won't start preparing for the offseason until they're eliminated. That will give other clubs a head start to fill their vacancies, so there's a chance Morris won't be available by the time they begin their search for a new defensive coordinator.
If Anthony Campanile does leave, the Jaguars should most definitely cast a wide net to find his replacement. That said, Raheem Morris should be at the top of their list.