The Jacksonville Jaguars turned heads when they hired Grant Udinski as their offensive coordinator, and not necessarily for good things. Although it wasn't as puzzling as some of the other additions to the coaching staff, the move was a bit surprising because of Udinski's age and lack of experience. However, Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press says the 29-year-old coach has specific traits that will help him succeed with the Jaguars.
One of the biggest things that stood out about Udinksi is his rise through the ranks despite the fact that he's just 29. While that could be seen as a negative, Mizutani says that's actually one of his strengths, pointing out that it allows him to better connect with players.
"Yeah, there's just something about the way he's able to just digest the game and then take what he knows and relay it to his players in a way that makes sense to everybody," Mizutani said during an appearance on 1010 XL. "Obviously, people are going to look at what Sam Darnold did last year, and they should when looking at Grant he didn't see his resume because Grant Udinski worked with Sam Darnold day in, day out, and he played a big role in the success he had."
Mizutani continued, "But the thing I would point to with Grant Udinksi that I think maybe probably goes and flies under the radar now, because it was just a moment in time in Minnesota, was last season when Josh Dobbs gets straight to the Vikings, and he has that two-game stretch where he's just incredible before the league figures him out. He took the entire playbook, working pretty tirelessly with Grant Udinski around the clock as soon as he got traded."
"So I think that speaks to his ability to teach, is that he was able to take a guy who just got traded here and download everything he needed to him in that offense and so he could go out and perform at a high level for even though it was only two and a half games, it was still an electric moment in Minnesota. So you're getting a really special teacher in Grant you didn't see in a guy who everybody thinks very high, yeah."
For context, Minnesota traded for Josh Dobbs when their quarterback room was plagued by injuries in 2023. While he eventually faded, the Passtronaut was briefly the talk of the NFL.
Later in the exchange, Mazutani says that Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell would vouch for Udinski and points out that his age allows him to connect better than players.
"He is a guy who I think a lot of people on the staff, gravitated towards just because of his knowledge and his ability to kind of connect players like I said. So I think that's a reason to believe in him. Is because of what he's able to get out of his players, how he's able to connect them being pretty close to the same age, maybe even younger than some of them, but I think the fact that Kevin O'Connell believed so strongly and yourself, Hey, Dan, 'great to have you on the airwaves down here'," Mazutani
Udinski began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Baylor in 2019 and made the leap to the pros with the Carolina Panthers the following year. After two seasons, he joined the Vikings staff as an assistant to the head coach and special projects in 2022.
Over the last three seasons, Udinski was promoted twice and the last position he held with the Vikings was assistant quarterbacks coach and assistant offensive coordinator. Below is Mazutani's full exchange on 1010 XL.
Youth gives Grant Udinski and edge as the Jaguars offensive coordinator
As reassuring as Dane Mizutani's comments are, he's not the only one who's given Grant Udinski rave reviews for his work with the Minnesota Vikings. Quarterbacks Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy have spoken highly about his mentorship. Similarly, head coach Kevin O'Connell will never waste an opportunity to praise him.
Regarding Udinski's age, Mizutani is right. While some older coaches are able to build a rapport with younger players, the Jaguars offensive coordinator can relate in a way that none of his veteran counterparts can. Moreover, youth is far from the only tool in his repertoire that will help him succeed.
Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune recently talked about the level of knowledge and expertise Udinski possesses at this stage of his career. Put it together with his age and he's in a position to help Liam Coen to turn things around in Jacksonville.
The bottom line is that there's always a reason for concern with coaches not having prior experience at a position, in Grant Udinski's case, a first-time offensive coordinator. However, he did enough during his stint in Minnesota to make you think he'll hit stride with the Jaguars right away.