The Jacksonville Jaguars put together an intriguing list of candidates to replace head coach Doug Pederson following a pair of disappointing seasons. Some options are more appealing than others, but there's no doubt that all of them deserve consideration. Having said that, John Butler of Fansided believes the Jags need to think outside the box and pursue another option they're not currently considering.
Butler drew up a list of five teams that should convince Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to waive his no-trade clause. He believes Jacksonville would be a viable destination, pointing out that he could be the stabilizing presence the Jags sorely need.
On the other hand, Butler thinks that for Tomlin to have a legitimate chance to turn things around in Duval, the Jaguars would need to move from general manager Trent Baalke. Here's the skinny.
"While it remains to be seen if Tomlin would even hear thoughts about going to Jacksonville, it starts with moving on from Trent Baalke and allowing Tomlin to pick someone else to build this team with. Given how chaotic the AFC South has been throughout its entire existence, a stabilizing presence like Tomlin might be exactly what the Jaguars need to get to their first Super Bowl in franchise history."
Even though the Jags dismissed Pederson, they chose to keep Baalke around. The decision has raised eyebrows across the league, and it's fair to say that Tomlin wouldn't be the only head coach who would prefer to work with a different general manager due to his conflictive personality.
Tomlin is the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL. With him at the helm, the Steelers appeared in two Super Bowls and won one of them. Moreover, they haven't had a losing season since he took over in 2007. That said, his luster has progressively shined in recent years. In fact, he's coming off a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card of the 2024 NFL Playoffs.
In all of Pittsburgh's trips to the playoffs, they have been one and done, and that makes you wonder if Tomlin has stalled, and what's holding them back from getting over the top. Make no mistake, he's probably underrated, and he will have a compelling case to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Heck, maybe he would benefit from a fresh start to show that he still has it. Then again, it's uncertain if the Jaguars should give it to him.
Why the Jaguars may not be the best landing post for Mike Tomlin
The Jaguars could certainly use a team-builder like Mike Tomlin and the stability the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed with him at the helm. Not having a losing season in 18 years is nothing to scoff at and is a goal many of his peers would love to accomplish. However, giving up compensation to land him may not be the best course of action. In Tomlin's case, it could be a first-rounder, and the Jags are probably better off using that selection to address one of their many needs.
But leaving aside his record in recent years, there are several appealing candidates in this hiring cycle. Granted, none of them have Tomlin's experience, but wouldn't it be better to take your chances on a candidate on the rise? After all, the Jaguars already tried the Super Bowl-winning head coach route when they hired Doug Pederson in 2022 and it didn't work out.
The bottom line is that there are worse ideas than potentially trading for Mike Tomlin, but the Jaguars should stay the course with their current search for their next head coach.