Black Monday brought news for Jacksonville Jaguars fans as the franchise fired head coach Doug Pederson while retaining general manager Trent Baalke. The move was announced by Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who has struggled with finding the right leadership during his ownership tenure.
Albert Breer Can’t Fathom Doug Pederson Getting Fired But Trent Baalke Keeping His Job
Fans and analysts aren’t surprised over Pederson’s dismissal despite him having won a Super Bowl in his career, but they were surprised that Baalke was allowed to retain his role as general manager.
NFL insider Albert Breer highlighted an intriguing trend in Baalke’s career.
“Trent Baalke got both his GM jobs, in San Francisco and Jacksonville, after his boss was fired. And in those jobs, he survived the firings of Mike Singletary, Jim Harbaugh, Jim Tomsula, Urban Meyer, and now Doug Pederson.”
Trent Baalke got both his GM jobs, in San Francisco and Jacksonville, after his boss was fired. And in those jobs, he survived the firings of Mike Singletary, Jim Harbaugh, Jim Tomsula, Urban Meyer, and now Doug Pederson.
If you're familiar with the term "managing up" …
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 6, 2025
Breer’s observation about Baalke’s uncanny ability to “manage up” doubts Khan’s decision.
Pederson exits Jacksonville after three seasons, finishing with a record of 22-29. He wouldn’t have thought that he’d have nothing to show for his three-year tenure at Jacksonville, especially when the Jaguars started strong in 2022, boasting an 8-3 record. However, fast-forward to the 2024 NFL season, and a disastrous 4-13 campaign sealed his fate.
Meanwhile, Baalke’s job security seems to defy logic. He has a polarizing reputation, and the Jaguars’ inability to sustain success during his tenure begs the question of why Khan opted to wipe the slate half clean.
Khan’s statement on Monday stressed the need for a new head coach to “restore the winning environment” in Jacksonville. During their 2022 coaching search after Urban Meyer’s firing, multiple candidates wanted to take on the responsibility of transforming the Jaguars but were hesitant to join the franchise due to Baalke’s presence in the front office.
“I strongly believe it is possible next season to restore the winning environment we had here not long ago. I will collaborate with General Manager Trent Baalke and others, within and close to our organization, to hire a leader who shares my ambition and is ready to seize the extraordinary opportunity we will offer in Jacksonville,” Khan said in his statement.
It’s not a secret that the Jaguars lack consistency on and off the field under Khan’s ownership. His 67-150 record since purchasing the team in 2012 is the second-worst among NFL owners, the first being Woody Johnson of the New York Jets.
Baalke once again faces the daunting task of hiring his third head coach in Jacksonville. Khan’s statement suggests that the 74-year-old billionaire is optimistic about the future, but fans are growing impatient with the team’s perennial losing streak.