Report: Jaguars to hire head coach before GM

The Jacksonville Jaguars had a late change of heart about their general manager, but it's not expected to delay their search for a head coach.

Jacksonville will continue its coaching hunt before kicking off a search for a new GM, sources told Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

The Jaguars fired coach Doug Pederson at the end of the regular season but decided to retain general manager Trent Baalke at the time. Jacksonville began its coaching search with Baalke and conducted several interviews. However, on Wednesday - two weeks after Pederson's exit - the team parted ways with Baalke.

The decision was announced shortly after two top candidates became unavailable. Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took the Chicago Bears' head coaching job Monday and Buccaneers OC Liam Coen withdrew from the Jaguars' coaching search Wednesday to remain with Tampa Bay.

With Baalke out, Hall of Fame offensive tackle and Jaguars legend Tony Boselli is now part of the Jaguars' coaching search to help in the process, sources told Jones. A five-time Pro Bowler, Boselli started 90 games for the Jaguars from 1995-2001.

Coen was set for an in-person interview with the Jaguars this week. The team also scheduled in-person interviews with former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham this week. The Jaguars are still expected to speak to other candidates, including Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Philadelphia Eagles OC Kellen Moore, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Jacksonville has missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The AFC South team has the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after posting a 4-13 record.