Following the firing of first-year head coach Urban Meyer in December, the Jaguars are searching for their third head coach in three seasons. While it remains to be seen if current general manager Trent Baalke will be around for his sixth head coach in as many seasons, he has sat in on the initial round of interviews.
Here are the candidates known to have interviewed already or reported to be interviewing in the weeks ahead.
Doug Pederson
UPDATE, February 2, 11:50 P.M. ET: The Jaguars and Pederson met for a second time on Tuesday in South Florida, nearly five weeks after their first, reported meeting. Since that initial meeting, Pederson has also interviewed with the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears for their head coaching positions.
The Super Bowl-winning head coach sat the 2021 season out after being fired by the Philadelphia Eagles in January 2020. Pederson led the Eagles from 2016-2020, taking over a team that was in shambles following the brief reign of head coach Chip Kelly. Under Pederson, the Eagles drafted quarterback Carson Wentz second-overall and proceeded to win the Super Bowl the following season (albeit under the direction of super sub quarterback Nick Foles). Pederson has a 42-37-1 record as an NFL head coach.
The former NFL quarterback served as the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator from 2013-2015. He was the Eagles quarterback coach from 2011-2012.
Kevin O'Connell
UPDATE, February 2, 11:55 P.M. ET: Multiple outlets are reporting that O'Connell is expected to become the next head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. The deal cannot be finalized until after the Super Bowl on February 13.
The Jaguars turned plenty of heads on Conference Championship Sunday when the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Jaguars would suddenly enter the O'Connell Sweepstakes, despite not interviewing him in the initial interview window. Because the Rams advanced to the Super Bowl, Jacksonville could not interview O'Connell until after the big game.
A journeyman, back-up quarterback, O'Connell has spent the past two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. He previously spent 2017-2019 with the Washington Football Team, 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers and 2015 with the Cleveland Browns. He played for five different teams from 2008 to 2012.
Rich Bisaccia
When ESPN reported the Monday following Conference Championship Sunday that Bisaccia would be interviewing, it was reported that the interview was for the vacant head coaching position. However, there is speculation that Bisaccia, a long-time special teams coordinator, was actually interviewing for the latter.
The Raiders interim head coach became the first interim head coach to ever guide his team to the postseason. The 61-year old Bisaccia has been in the NFL since 2002, spending time with the Raiders (2018-2021), Cowboys (2013-2017), Chargers (2011-2012), and Buccaneers (2002-2010). Bisaccia has had "assistant head coach" in his title at all four stops.
Vic Fangio
While many believed it was Nathaniel Hackett the Jaguars had flown their private jet to Denver to meet, it was actually the now-former Broncos coach that the Jaguars reportedly met with. It was also reported he subsequently flew to Jacksonville for an in-person meeting. It is unclear at this time if these meetings were concerning the head coaching vacancy or a potential coordinator position.
One of the most highly-respected defensive coordinators of the past two decades, Fangio finally got the call to be a head coach when he was hired by the Denver Broncos in 2019. However, his tenure lasted just three seasons; Fangio finished 19-30 as the Broncos' head coach.
Fangio was the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator from 2015-2018, the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator from 2011-2015, the Houston Texans' defensive coordinator from 2002-2005, the Indianapolis Colts from 1999-2001), and the Carolina Panthers from 1995-1998.
Darrell Bevell
The Jaguars interim head coach will interview in-person for the full-time gig on Tuesday, January 11, sources confirm to First Coast News. The Jaguars' first-year offensive coordinator went 1-3 at the helm of the Big Cats; he also served as the Detroit Lions interim head coach in 2020.
Bevell was asked if he believed he had done enough to warrant consideration for the head coaching position.
"I would liked to have won some more games, but with the progression that we made in those last four games and really culminating with that last opportunity...to be able to get those guys when a lot of people think that there wasn’t a lot to play for, to play, I think that’s really what I’d like to hang my hat on.”
Bevell's first OC opportunity came in Minnesota from 2006-2010. He then served as Pete Carroll's offensive coordinator in Seattle from 2011-2017 before spending two seasons in Detroit. He was the Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach from 2000-2005, his first foray into the NFL.
Jim Caldwell
Another candidate with NFL head coaching experience, Caldwell led the Detroit Lions from 2014-2017, leading them to three of the four winning seasons they've had since 2000. That followed a stint as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator (2012-2013) in which the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII. Caldwell was also the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2009-2011 after serving as assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach the six seasons prior. The Colts claimed Super Bowl XLI in 2006. Caldwell is 62-50 as a head coach.
The University of Iowa graduate spent two decades coaching in the college ranks before making the jump to the NFL as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks coach in 2001.
Todd Bowles
With the Jaguars reportedly seeking stability in the form of a head coach with prior NFL head coaching experience, Pederson and Caldwell have been the go-to names. But don't forget: Bowles was the head coach of the New York Jets from 2015-2018. Of course, the Jets went 26-41 under Bowles, but he has bounced back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the past three seasons.
A long-time defensive coordinator, Bowles has spent time as the Bucs DC (2019-Present), Arizona Cardinals (2013-2014), and Philadelphia Eagles (2012). He also served as assistant head coach and, eventually, interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins (2008-2011).
Byron Leftwich
The Jaguars' first-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft has gone onto make quite a name for himself as an offensive coordinator. Leftwich has spent the past three seasons under Bruce Arians in Tampa, winning the Super Bowl last season. He served as Cardinals quarterbacks coach and interim offensive coordinator from 2017-2018.
Leftwich spent four seasons with Jacksonville, winning 24 games in 38 starts. After he was abruptly cut, Leftwich spent the next five seasons bouncing around the league as a back-up.
Kellen Moore
The career back-up has transitioned seamlessly to coaching. He has only been coaching since 2018, serving as the Cowboys' quarterbacks coach and, now, offensive coordinator. But many around the league refer to Moore and Leftwich in the same breathe as the next "up-and-coming" offensive whiz kids to take on head coaching roles.
The Boise State legend spent six seasons in the league as a back-up, splitting his time equally between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. He appeared in just three career games, all in 2015 for the Cowboys.
Bill O'Brien
The former Houston Texans head coach-turned Alabama offensive coordinator is the latest product to attempt to springboard from the "Nick Saban character rehabilitation center" to a head coaching role.
While O'Brien guided Bryce Young to the Heisman Trophy and Alabama back to the National Championship in his lone season in Tuscaloosa, his tenure in Houston ended in turmoil. While O'Brien was 54-52 in six seasons, he was fired after just four games into the 2020 season, months after adding roster control to his list of responsibilities. He infamously traded All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for an aging David Johnson and Day Two draft picks, while feuding with Texans legend J.J. Watt on his way out the door. Still, the Texans won the AFC South four times in six years under O'Brien.
Before his time in Houston, O'Brien was the first coach hired following the firing of Joe Paterno in 2012. In two seasons in Happy Valley, and in the wake of some of the strongest sanctions in college history, O'Brien finished 15-9. Previously, O'Brien spent five seasons with the New England Patriots in a variety of roles.
Nathaniel Hackett
You again!? Since being fired as Jaguars offensive coordinator in 2018, Hackett has bounced back tremendously as offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. With head coach Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers, Hackett's offense has continued to churn out Top-15 finishes, with Rodgers claiming 2020 MVP honors and the Packers making it to the NFC Championship game both seasons.
Before jumping to Jacksonville in 2015, Hackett spent two seasons as the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator under Doug Marrone. He also served as Marrone's coordinator from 2010-2012 at Syracuse. Hackett also had stints as an offensive quality control coach with both the Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Matt Eberflus
An under-the-radar name that many have predicted will become a hot one in the months to come, Eberflus has overseen the evolution of the Indianapolis Colts' defense over the past four seasons. Upon arrival, the Colts ranked No. 30 in scoring and total defense. In one season, Eberflus had turned the Colts into the No. 10 defense in both categories. He's overseen the growth of homegrown talent, including Darius Leonard, Rock Ya-Sin and Kenny Moore II.
Before Indianapolis, Eberflus was the linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 2011 to 2017, adding passing game coordinator to his duties in 2016. He got his start in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns as linebackers coach in 2009 after spending almost two decades in the college ranks.