Shad Khan is having an outspoken Black Monday. His end-of-season press conference is all over the internet, and the billionaire owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars took a not-so-subtle jab at New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers during it.
Shad Khan References Aaron Rodgers’ Role in Team Decisions
Khan was addressing questions about Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s involvement in hiring the team’s next head coach when he said, “Let’s be clear — this isn’t a second coming of Aaron Rodgers 2.0.” He made clear that the Jaguars’ coaching search will be a collective decision, not a quarterback-driven one.
Asked about if Trevor Lawrence will have a say, Shad Khan says he talks to all players — not just Trevor — regularly.
"Let's be clear — this isn't a second coming of Aaron Rodgers 2.0."#Jaguars | #DUUUVAL
— Mia O'Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) January 6, 2025
The comment appears to take aim at Rodgers’ perceived influence over the Jets, where he reportedly had a hand in decisions such as hiring offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and pursuing trades for his former teammates — Davante Adams in particular.
While the extent of Rodgers’ sway remains debatable, Khan’s remark shows a firm stance against similar dynamics in Jacksonville. The owner revealed that he regularly consults all players, not just Lawrence, reinforcing his intent to keep decision-making firmly within the organization’s leadership.
Lawrence, 25, has been the face of the franchise since being drafted first overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Lawrence is a mainstay at Jacksonville despite a disappointing 2024 campaign, during which he played just 10 games due to injury. He completed 60.6% of his passes for 2,045 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
The Jaguars rewarded him with a five-year, $275 million extension in early 2024.
Khan’s press conference wasn’t without drama. The team announced the dismissal of head coach Doug Pederson. The front office needs “new leadership” after a 5-12 season. The Jaguars owner said, “I had the difficult task this morning of informing Doug Pederson of my intention to hire a new head coach to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars.”
However, general manager Trent Baalke will stay on, a decision Khan defended by praising Baalke’s “body of work” in assembling the roster. “We don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater,” Khan said.
“There are other things that are not working that need to be fixed. The coaching, that is an area that we need to fix now. But certainly over the last few years, we’ve built a football administration and things are working well there.” He’s proud of the organization’s belief in its foundation while pinpointing coaching as the primary issue.
That said, the Jaguars are entering yet another offseason of uncertainty. Lawrence is locked in, but he awaits a new head coach. Khan wants his team to deliver results right from the start of the 2025 NFL season.