The Jacksonville Jaguars will soon wrap up their search for a general manager. They've already narrowed down the number of candidates and will be meeting with the finalists in the upcoming days. The Jags have no doubt put together an intriguing list, but J.P. Shardick of the team's official website believes interim Ethan Waugh could have a leg up.
Shadrick recently made an appearance on 1010 XL and discussed the traits that make Waugh an appealing choice to become the general manager full-time, citing his experience as a potential advantage.
I think it's experienced. I mean, the guy's been around the game a lot longer than some of these younger candidates, right? And they have seen it firsthand, how Ethan goes about his business and is thorough and is prepared. Everything behind the scenes that you want: Organization, skill, the whole thing, so I think they like that part is my guess about Ethan Waugh, and it's right there in front of their face every day.
Shadrick continued, "They've seen it for the last few years. So if it was a real issue, he wouldn't be a finalist. I think that's why he probably has an opportunity, at least, to be in this last wave of interviews, and we'll see what happens. If he's in this last wave of interviews, I don't think it's as an olive branch or anything. I think it's real. I don't think they're doing anybody favors. So let's see what happens in the interview process. You just never know."
For the sake of transparency, Waugh has never been a general manager full-time. In fact, the only candidate for the Jaguars opening who previously held the position was Jon Robinson, who was with the Tennessee Titans from 2016-2022, and he didn't make the final round of interviews. What Shadrick probably meant is that he's been around longer, and if that's the case, he sort of has a point.
Waugh originally joined the San Francisco 49ers as an assistant and worked his way up the front office until becoming the vice president of player personnel in 2021. He then joined Trent Baalke in Jacksonville as the assistant general manager.
Ever since Baalke got the boot, Waugh has been serving as the general manager. And according to Jaguars vice president of football operations Tony Boselli, he has a realistic chance to get the job, pointing out that he's earned the opportunity because he's proven himself.
The other finalists for the Jaguars general manager vacancy are Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, Los Angeles Rams director of scouting strategy James Gladstone, Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, and San Francisco 49ers director/scouting and football operations Josh Williams.
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) February 15, 2025
Below is Shadrick's full exchange on 1010 XL. His comments about Waugh start at the 5:52 mark.
Related Jaguars news:
Why experience alone won't be enough for Ethan Waugh to get the Jaguars GM
Experience in itself isn't necessarily a good thing. Would you hire Gus Bradley or Doug Marrone as a head coach over Ben Johnson or Liam Coen because they have held the position before? Heck, Jon Robinson has had the job before and didn't make it past the first round of interviews.
Sure, Robinson helped the Tennessee Titans reach the AFC Championship in 2019, but he eventually lost his fastball and left the roster so devoid of talent that he got the boot after 2022. This isn't to say that Ethan Waugh is a bad candidate but experience isn't his strongest suit. And even if it were, that wouldn't make him the best fit for the job.
In fact, all the finalists for the position come with an intriguing body of work, and the choice will probably come to who interviews better.
The bottom line is that the Jacksonville Jaguars are well aware that whoever they pick will be a first-time general manager, and if Ethan Waugh gets the nod, it will be because the organization hires him full-time, it will be because they think he's the best man for the job.