Jaguars Casting Wide Net With HC Search

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the Jaguars have hired headhunter Jed Hughes, who has previously worked on the Browns and Falcons coaching searches, to identify candidates for their head-coaching vacancy.

League sources tell La Canfora that the Jaguars are interested in veteran HC Tom Coughlin and are likely to reach out to Patriots OC Josh McDaniels and Buccaneers DC Mike Smith at some point. However, La Canfora’s sources have said that Hughes is high on Falcons OC Kyle Shanahan and several college coaches including Ole Miss HC Hugh Freeze.

Jaguars interim HC Doug Marrone reportedly has “little shot” of being hired full time, according to La Canfora.

In regards to Coughlin, La Canfora says it remains to be seen if he would be a fit as head coach. Although, Jacksonville could still consider him in a team president-type of position, according to La Canfora.

Last night, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, reported that the initial interest in the Jaguars’ head-coaching job has been “overwhelming.”

According to Florio, Jacksonville is not expected to do anything unconventional with their coaching search in the coming weeks. However, it sounds like there will be a long list of coaching candidates for the job.

Florio listed Coughlin, Smith, McDaniels, Steelers OC Todd Haley, Cowboys OC Scott Linehan, and Bills OC Anthony Lynn as external candidates worth watching for the Jaguars.

In regards to what they’re looking for in their next head coach, Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell explained last week that there “won’t be any mandates” in terms of starting QB Blake Bortles. He also added: “I still believe in Blake very much. The head coach will have a lot of input into who the QB will be.”

Caldwell mentioned that ownership expects big things from this coaching search and stressed that NFL head-coaching experience is “critical” for them in their search.

We’ll have more regarding the Jaguars and Coughlin as the news is available.