Progress takes time, so nobody would have batted an eye if it had taken Liam Coen a while to turn the Jacksonville Jaguars around after becoming their head coach in 2025. Surprisingly, though, he oversaw an immediate turnaround, leading his to a 13-4 record and an AFC South title in his first season as the head coach in just his first season at the helm.
Now, Jacksonville faces immense pressure to return to the playoffs and win the division for the second year in a row. It definitely won't be a walk in the park, but an NFL analyst believes the Jags have an overlooked edge that could take them all the way to the Super Bowl.
James Gladstone gives the Jaguars a chance to make the Super Bowl
When discussing the Jaguars' biggest strengths, you probably think of head coach Liam Coen and how he spearheaded a cultural shift. Perhaps the quarterback play comes to mind, with Trevor Lawrence coming off arguably the best campaign of his career. However, Connor Orr of Sports Illustrated came up with an unexpected suggestion.
Orr drew up a list of 14 teams with a legitimate chance to make the Super Bowl. He says he wasn't sure about the Jaguars but ultimately included them because of their front office. Here's the skinny.
"Of the teams on this list, Jacksonville is one of the few that makes me very suspicious; however, this is an organization that has invested in finding edges," Orr wrote. "The Jaguars' in-game scouting and analytics department are solid, which can make close games less of a coin flip."
The Jags ousted head coach Doug Pederson after going 4-13 in 2024. They originally wanted to keep general manager Trent Baalke but fired him when they realized that his presence could be a potential turnoff for head-coaching candidates. Jacksonville ultimately landed Coen and brought in James Gladstone to fill its general manager vacancy.
Gladstone spent nine seasons holding different positions with the Los Angeles Rams, learning under general manager Les Snead. When he bolted for Duval, he borrowed the Rams' Joint After-Action Review System to sort out players and draft prospects.
Since taking over the Jacksonville front office, Gladstone has put an emphasis on targeting intangibly rich players, building through the draft, and fostering competition across the roster. In Year 2 of his tenure, he'll get to show whether his system truly works.
James Glastone will play a pivotal role on whether the Jaguars make a deep playoff run
Making the Super Bowl would be huge, no doubt, and the Jaguars most definitely have a shot to go all the way. However, they depend on several factors to ultimately pull it off.
Head coach and quarterback aren't concerns with Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence leading the way. On the other hand, Jacksonville will need some of the moves James Gladstone made in the offseason to pan out.
Gladstone has caught a lot of heat for not being aggressive enough in free agency, opting instead to count on several returning players to take the next step. However you look at it, it's a bold approach. And if the Jags failed to make the playoffs, their young general manager will be under pressure. On the other hand, if he succeeds, other teams will be looking to recreate his formula.
Either way, it's a gamble James Gladstone is willing to take. If it pays off, the Jaguars could be playing on the biggest stage there is next January.
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