Jaguars fan echoes a widespread desire to take Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence in NFL DraftGetty Images
The Jaguars and team Owner Shad Khan today fired coach Doug Marrone after the "worst season in franchise history with a 1-15 record," according to John Reid of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. Marrone lost 21 of his last 24 games, including going 12-36 since leading the Jaguars to the AFC championship game in '17, and yesterday's loss to the Colts extended the team's losing streak to a "franchise-record 15-games." The Jaguars' head coaching vacancy is "considered an attractive job, especially with the franchise having locked up the No. 1 overall pick," likely to be used on Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars are expected to have more than $95M in "available cap space to upgrade their roster with veteran free agents." Khan fired GM Dave Caldwell on Nov. 29 (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 1/4). YAHOO SPORTS' Frank Schwab writes Lawrence "isn’t a sure thing because nobody is," but he is a "high-level prospect." That alone "makes the Jaguars job attractive." There is "not a lot else propping up that job, other than Marrone setting the bar low." Whoever takes the Jaguars' job "will be going to a franchise that has lost double-digit games nine of the past 10 seasons." The Jaguars "had to purge a lot of talent due to salary cap reasons," so a new coach "will be mostly starting from scratch" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/4).
URBAN MEYER TOP OF LIST: CBS’ Jason La Canfora said the Jaguars “remain interested in Urban Meyer” as their next head coach (“The NFL Today,” CBS, 1/3). CBSSN’s London Fletcher said the Jaguars are in a “small market (and) you need to put fans in the stadium. You have the No. 1 overall pick, you draft Trevor Lawrence and you do whatever it takes to get Urban Meyer. He’s already popular in north Florida, he’s a proven winner, you do those things and you marry them and you’ll (have) that stadium sold-out in no time” (“That Other Pregame Show,” CBSSN, 1/3). NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Meyer “believes the job is his if he wants it," and it is a “highly coveted job.” Rapoport said luring Meyer to Jacksonville has been “something that they have been plotting for some time” (“Good Morning Football,” NFL Network, 1/4). PFT’s Mike Florio said Meyer “has the job if he wants it” but he is “still deciding whether or not he wants to get into the NFL.” Florio: “He’s been calling around to potential candidates to join his coaching staff and also, he’ll be hiring the general manager if he gets the job” (“FNIA,” NBC, 1/3).
STARTS FROM THE TOP: ESPN.com's Michael DiRocco notes Khan has been a "hands-off owner" since he agreed to purchase the Jaguars from Wayne and Delores Weaver in November '11. Now It is "beyond time for Khan to get more involved." The 70-year-old has "not ignored the Jaguars and is involved behind the scenes, but the franchise needs him to be out front and heavily involved." He "should make his voice heard more frequently in every aspect of the organization, from marketing to ticketing to nutrition." He "should educate himself more on how successful owners operate," and he should "demand more and hold people more accountable." He "should be heavily involved in the coaching search and make the final call." None of that "will be easy for Khan because he has so many other projects that demand his attention," but in order to "truly turn one of the NFL's worst franchises into a consistent winner, he needs to somehow find the time" (ESPN.com, 1/4).
