Former Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin "returned to the organization" yesterday, taking on the role of Exec VP/Football Operations, according to a front-page piece by Ryan O'Halloran of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. Coughlin’s hiring was "announced in conjunction" with the team promoting Doug Marrone to coach and signing GM Dave Caldwell to a two-year extension. Caldwell and Marrone will report to Coughlin, who will report to Owner Shahid Khan. Both Coughlin and Marrone "signed three-year contracts." Coughlin "will have the final say on the 53-man roster." The Marrone move "wasn’t a stunner considering his candidacy gained momentum during a 1-1 finish to the season and his interview with Khan and Co. last Thursday in Miami." However, the Coughlin move "was unexpected." Coughlin will "strictly be a front office cog" for the first time in his career (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 1/10). USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero notes the Coughlin hire "caught people in league circles off-guard for a variety of reasons." Most notable, sources said that Coughlin "wasn’t present for the team’s interviews with outside candidates for the head coaching job." What "isn’t surprising is Coughlin will be in the thick of things" (USA TODAY, 1/10).
POWER SHIFT: The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION's O'Halloran notes Coughlin’s hire "stripped Caldwell’s power over the Jaguars’ free agent and draft efforts and final say on the 53-man roster." Expect Caldwell to "help Coughlin navigate through the daily duties of an NFL executive and maybe do more on-the-road scouting during the season." Khan "clearly respects the work Caldwell has done building the roster so that’s why he remains with the team" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 1/10). ESPN.com's Mike DiRocco wrote the "extent of Coughlin’s duties and who has final say on personnel matters will become clearer over the next few days, but bringing Coughlin back to help was a good move by the Jaguars" (ESPN.com, 1/9). SNY’s Jonas Schwartz said, “I wonder if Coughlin can make a transition to being an executive.” The N.Y. Daily News’ John Harper wondered if the position is "a kind of consolation prize” for not being named coach. But the N.Y. Daily News’ Bob Raissman said, “He’s probably just happy to be back in football. He’s a great evaluator of talent. It’s good to see him back” (“Daily News Live,” SNY, 1/9).
GOING WITH THE SAFE PICK: In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette writes promoting Marrone "isn't going to be viewed as a splash pick or home-run hire." He will be "looked upon as a fallback choice" in a year where the candidate pool "lacked any real star power." Picking Marrone was a "safe option because it provides a semblance of continuity for the locker room and the whole organization." Meanwhile, bringing Coughlin into the front office -- at least from a "credibility standpoint -- could make the transition into a new era more palatable" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 1/10). SI.com's Chris Burke wrote retaining Marrone was the "least imaginative option for the Jaguars to take." Burke: "Were it not for Coughlin joining the mix, too, this easily could be viewed as a hire pushed by Caldwell to try to save his own skin" (SI.com, 1/9).
