Trent Baalke, Jaguars Part Ways After Missing on Ben Johnson, Liam Coen in HC Search

The Jacksonville Jaguars made the stunning decision to part ways with general manager Trent Baalke on Wednesday in the middle of their head-coaching search.

Team owner Shad Khan released the following statement regarding the decision:

"Following several discussions with Trent Baalke this week, we both arrived at the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interests to respectfully separate, effective immediately. Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons. Ethan Waugh will serve as interim general manager and play an important role, with others, as we continue the process of interviewing candidates to serve as our new head coach. I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville and look forward to introducing a new head coach who will make that happen for our players and fans alike."

The move comes as one coaching candidate, Ben Johnson, chose to take the Chicago Bears' vacancy instead, while another, Liam Coen, decided to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and remain the team's offensive coordinator.

Wednesday's decision looks like a terrible process by the Jaguars, but not necessarily because they fired Baalke.

It was Baalke who led the coaching search as the interim general manager back in 2021 that led to the disastrous decision to hire Urban Meyer as head coach. It was Baalke who chose defensive end Travon Walker over burgeoning superstar Aidan Hutchinson—who likely would have been in the running for Defensive Player of the Year this season if a broken left leg didn't cut his campaign in half—with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

As ESPN noted, "nine of Baalke's 38 draft picks from 2021-24 have become full-time starters, including [quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the top overall pick in 2021], running back Travis Etienne Jr. (25th overall in 2021), cornerback Tyson Campbell (33rd overall in 2021), Walker, linebacker Devin Lloyd (27th overall in 2022), right tackle Anton Harrison (27th overall in 2023), and [wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. with the 23rd overall pick in 2024]."

But only one of Baalke's picks, Lawrence, has made the Pro Bowl. And while Lawrence has shown flashes, only Thomas, Lloyd (three seasons with over 100 tackles) and Walker (two seasons with double-digit sacks) have shown star upside to this point.

It was also Baalke in 2024 who signed defensive lineman Arik Armstead to a three-year, $51 million contract (two sacks, three tackles for loss this past season); wideout Gabe Davis to a three-year, $39 million deal (20 catches for 239 yards and two touchdowns); and also brought aboard offensive lineman Mitch Morse and Ezra Cleveland (the Jags rushed for 101.7 yards per game in 2024, 26th in the NFL) and safety Darnell Savage (51 tackles, one interception).

The bigger issue with Jacksonville's process is the timing of Baalke's firing. Rather than cut ties with him earlier in the offseason and seek out his replacement, they waited until midway through a coaching search that had already seen some of the best available options sign elsewhere, potentially in part because they didn't want to work with Baalke.

So it's back to square one for the Jags at both general manager and head coach, which is where they should have been two weeks ago, not now.