MMQB: Jaguars' Shad Khan 'Expressed Some Flexibility' to HC Targets About GM Baalke

The future of Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke appears to be dependent on the team's next head coach.

According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, Jaguars owner Shad Khan hasn't been committed to Baalke when speaking to head coaching candidates.

"Jaguars owner Shad Khan has expressed some flexibility to coaching candidates on his decision to retain GM Trent Baalke," Breer wrote on Monday. "And my read on that is this: If a coach has the leverage to get what he wants from the team, then Khan could still pull the plug on Baalke."

Jacksonville fired head coach Doug Pederson on Jan. 6 after the team finished with a 4-13 record in 2024. The Jaguars chose to retain Baalke, who has served as their general manager since 2021.

Khan previously told reporters that he didn't believe keeping the general manager would negatively impact the hiring process of a new head coach.

Jacksonville has already interviewed several candidates for the vacancy including Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Johnson may be a coach who wants a new general manager, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Thursday that "the sentiment in some league circles is that Johnson is intrigued by this job but might want his own general manager in place" of Baalke.

The Jaguars have gradually regressed following a trip to the divisional round of the playoffs during the 2022 season, and Khan appears to be willing to give Jacksonville's next coach more front-office control in order to help sway their decision to join the team.

That could mean the end of Baalke's tenure.