The Jacksonville Jaguars opted to move on from general manager Trent Baalke on Wednesday as the team struggles to find its head coaching for the 2025 NFL season

Just weeks after Jacksonville Jaguars team owner Shad Khan teased that the franchise could “reevaluate” their front office if a coaching candidate wishes, the team fired longtime general manager Trent Baalke.

Baalke, who was hired in 2021, seemed poised to remain with Jacksonville throughout their pursuit of a new head coach. Now, Khan and company will proceed without him.

The Jaguars are fresh off a 4-13 campaign where starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence both took a step back and struggled with injuries. Head coach Doug Pederson, who took Jacksonville to the playoffs in 2022 and led them to an 8-3 start to the 2023 campaign, was let go.

In an early January interview, Khad was asked: “If a head coaching candidate were to say…I’d like to reevaluate the front office and general manager, what would your response be?”

Despite Baalke being present with him on the call, Jacksonville’s mustached owner was straight to the point. “My response would be how would you improve it, and then if it is credible, you [would] want to do it.”

However, Khad simultaneously expressed confidence in his beleaguered general manager moments later. “I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.”


“We have a lot of things that are working that can always be improved and will improve, and there are other things that are not working that need to be fixed. The coaching, that is an area that needs to be fixed now.”

It was rumored that some head coaching candidates – namely new Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen – rejected the Jacksonville gig because of Baalke’s presence.

Now, Khad and the Jaguars are both without a head coach and a general manager fairly late into the hiring cycle. “Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons,” Jacksonville’s owner said in a statement on Wednesday.

“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,” the statement continued.

“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.”