The Jacksonville Jaguars appear to be zeroing in on Ben Johnson to be their next head coach. Fortunately for them, their interest seems to be mutual. That said, they're not the only team that covets the hottest candidate in this coaching candidate: The Las Vegas Raiders are also making an attempt to land him and have a few things going in their favor.
Aside from the Tom Brady factor, the Raiders dismissed general manager Tom Telesco to pave the way for whoever Johnson wants to work with. That may not seem like a big deal but the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator has made it clear that he wants to work with a general manager who shares his vision. Meanwhile, the Jags are stubbornly holding onto Trent Baalke, which is currently looking like a bad decision.
After all, Baalke has a less-than-stellar reputation around the league and is scaring potential coaching candidates. One has clearly stated that he's less intrigued with the Jaguars job because of him. However, owner Shad Khan doesn't seem to care, arguing that his right-hand man will help steer the team in the right direction.
In his defense, Khan says he's open to hiring another general manager if a coaching candidate offers a compelling case to do so. On the other hand, there's a strong chance Baalke will remain in place.
For the sake of the argument, let's say Johnson picks the Raiders because they'll give him more control and believe they're going to be more successful long-term. It will sting, but it won't be the end of the world for the Jags. They'll still have several intriguing options for their coaching opening, including the following five.
5. Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator
The Baltimore Ravens were mostly a running team when Greg Roman was the offensive coordinator. Once Todd Monken took over, they put together a more balanced offense. Moreover, Lamar Jackson put it all together under his guidance.
Under Roman, Jackson often relied on his legs to move the ball. That changed with Monken, who turned him into a more well-rounded passer. But leaving the quarterback position aside, the Ravens offensive coordinator has also helped other players hit their stride, including Zay Flowers, who became the first receiver in franchise history to make the Pro Bowl.
The one thing holding Monken's candidacy back is that he's a bit older than most of the other candidates, and that might make it more difficult for him to connect with his players. Then again, that doesn't appear to be an issue in Baltimore, and is still a candidate worth keeping an eye on.
4. Robert Saleh, former New York Jets head coach
Turning Trevor Lawrence into a top-10 quarterback will be one of the Jags' priorities in their coaching search. That could give offensive-minded candidates a slight edge. That said, coaches with a defensive background could also land the job if present an appealing plan to get the most out of the former Clemson Tiger.
When it comes to Robert Saleh, he has head-coaching experience and showed with the New York Jets that he can put together a dominant defense. The issue is that he couldn't fix the quarterback position. Then again, that shouldn't be an issue in Jacksonville due to the presence of Lawrence. Add the fact that he's well-liked within the Jaguars organization, and he's got a realistic chance to get the gig.
The one thing the Jags will want to know will be whether he holds himself accountable for his mistakes in New York.
3. Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator
Joe Brady has turned the Buffalo Bills offense into a well-oiled machine, and he's done it without nearly as much talent as some of the other candidates for the Jacksonville opening. Granted, he has Josh Allen, but that shouldn't be used against him. Sure, it would be interesting to see what he could do with a lesser quarterback, but that wouldn't be the case in Jacksonville.
Going back to the Bills' overall talent, rookie Khalil Shakur was arguably their most reliable weapon in 2024. Imagine what he could do with the Jags. The only question would be if that would carry over into the defensive side of the ball, and whether he's more than just an Xs & Os kind of candidate that got hot at the right time.
2. Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator
If Ben Johnson wasn't the crown jewel in this hiring cycle, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn would probably be getting more attention. Like his offense counterpart, he's played a big role in the Detroit Lions' turnaround the past two years.
Throughout his stint in Detroit, Glenn has seen teaching as a two-way street. This means that he'll coach his players hard but he'll also listen to them and their feedback so can do the best possible job. Basically, he'll look for the best way to put them in a position to succeed.
While Glenn is a legitimate candidate for the Jaguars' opening, the Jets are also courting him, so he may lean towards New York, one of the teams he suited up as a player.
Liam Coen, Tampa Bay offensive coordinator
Liam Coen isn't making as much noise as Ben Johnson, but like his Lions counterpart, he's turned his unit into one of the best in the league. You could make the case that his predecessor, Dave Canales also had success the year prior but his offense wasn't nearly as good as it was with Coen running the show.
The one thing working against Coen is that he doesn't have nearly as much experience holding prominent positions like other candidates. However, he's spent ample time in college and the pros and has had success nearly everywhere he's gone.
Coen has a demanding personality. That could come in handy for a Jaguars team that was unprepared and routinely played uninspiring football in 2024.