The Jacksonville Jaguars have yet to dismiss Doug Pederson or Trent Baalke even though they've failed to deliver results this season. That's made fans feel frustrated about owner Shad Khan's inactivity, but waiting until the season ends to make a move is arguably the best thing for the Jags long term. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports certainly believes that's the case.
Jones had an exchange with former NFL executive Amy Trask and both agreed that Khan's silence isn't a bad thing, pointing out that the Jaguars owner will make a move in due time. For the time being, he's letting his general manager and head coach operate without interference.
"It's quiet in Jacksonville for now, but do not confuse quietness for inactivity. Quiet may mean respect" Jones said prior to the Jaguars game against the Tennessee Titans in Week 17. "People around the league have expected the head coach and GM positions in Jacksonville to open at the end of the season, but there's been an unusual silence from the top ranks there."
"Jones continued, "People are wondering if Doug Peterson and Trent Baalke, or one of them will be back next year because of that silence. I'm told Shad Khan "hasn't given anyone the time of day." when they inquire about potential openings, Khan is a hands-off owner, and he's allowed the Super Bowl-winning Peterson and Balkan to do their jobs without interference. This season, there was a belief there could be firings after their week 11 blowout loss to the Lions ahead of their Bye."
"But as reported earlier in the year, if Khan chose to do that, there weren't many good options for interim coaches in Jacksonville. They are not ignorant to this reality, and the folks there have been quietly planning their next move after the season. People I've talked to think very highly of the Jags jobs. By the way, they have great new facilities, an owner who doesn't meddle, a winnable division, a young quarterback under contract."
Trask goes on to echo what Jones said, pointing out that she had nothing but good interactions with Khan when he was making potential inquiries about buying the team.
"Absolutely consistent with my experience working with Shah. I met him when he was first exploring the opportunity to invest in a team. He asked for a meeting. We met with him. I was very impressed. And then when I worked with him during our overlapping time in the league, I was very impressed."
"Everything you said is consistent with what I observed. I think he's going to be very deliberate in his approach and thoughtful when making decisions. And I agree with you, this is a very attractive spot for all the reasons you noted.
For context, Khan explored the possibility of buying the Jaguars in 2011. At the time, Trask was the CEO of the Las Vegas (then-Oakland) Raiders, a position she held until 2013. Below is the full clip.
.@jjones9 has the scoop on the Jaguars and potential openings on the coaching staff, and @AmyTrask gives her insight. pic.twitter.com/FnIRopVgy1
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 29, 2024
Shad Khan will take his time when making decisions about Doug Pederson and Trent Baalke
The Jacksonville Jaguars made the playoffs and won the AFC South in 2022, Doug Pederson's first season at the helm. However, they failed to qualify for the postseason after an 8-3 start last year. To make matters worse, they've managed to win just four games dating back to Week 13 of the 2023 season. That's led to scrutiny for the head coach, and rightly so.
The team has looked uninspired and inconsistent under Pederson this season. While they have enough talent to go toe-to-toe with the best team in the league, they've failed to win close games. That's on the head coach. On the other hand, Trent Baalke shouldn't get a pass.
Since becoming the general manager, Baalke has had several hits, but not enough to put the Jaguars in a position to make a deep playoff run. Like Pederson, he's had enough time to prove his worth but has failed to come through. Add the fact that he's had a reputation for being divisive and difficult to work with, and it's reasonable to think that Jacksonville is better off moving on from him. And that's the thing!
Because Khan hasn't dismissed either Baalke or Pederson, fans are getting frustrated. This is understandable when you take into account that the Jags had just three winning seasons in the last ten years. However, the owner has a track record of waiting to make a decision, and it's fair to assume that he's doing precisely that right now, and that's probably the best thing that can happen to the organization.
After all, the Jaguars cannot just wave a wand and wish for a new head coach and a general manager. They could go after candidates who currently don't have a job, but why would they corner themselves? They're better off until they have openings and conduct a proper process.
For the time being, Khan wants to let Pederson and Baalke finish their respective tenures. Once the season is over, the organization will start an extensive search for their respective replacements. When you think about it, that's what good teams do. If the Jags made a sudden move, they would be showing potential candidates that you're prone to make impulsive decisions, which could turn out to be a turn-off.
You can say what you want about Shad Khan, but you can not blame him for being impulsive. When the time comes, he'll make a decision. For the time being, his letting things play out.