The Jacksonville Jaguars are conducting a wide-ranging search for their next head coach.
Firing Urban Meyer in his first season was never the plan, so the team must get it right this time around.
Every day seems to bring news about a new candidate being interviewed by the Jaguars.
The latest update may some fans furious at ownership.
The #Jaguars plan to interview former #Texans coach Bill O’Brien for their vacant HC job next week after #Bama team plays in the National Championship on Monday, source said. @JohnReid64 had the timing first.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2022
Bill O’Brien is reportedly getting an interview after spending a year on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama.
He has had success in the NFL with the Houston Texans, but the way he left was shocking and seemed to tank that franchise’s hope of success in the near future.
Jaguars fans might now be wondering what ownership sees in O’Brien as he tries to rebuild his reputation.
Bill O’Brien’s NFL Resume
O’Brien made a name for himself by spending several years on Bill Belichick’s coaching staff in New England.
He then led Penn State for two seasons before landing the head coaching job with the Texans.
Overall, O’Brien did well on paper with the Texans.
Bill O'Brien actually makes plenty of sense for the Jags. Made the playoffs four times in six-plus years in Houston. Also, transitioned Deshaun Watson from the Clemson spread into the NFL—a transition that was rockier than expected for Trevor Lawrence.
Jax casting a wide net. https://t.co/o81AA3sthl
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 7, 2022
He took the team to the playoffs four teams, winning two postseason games.
The problem came at the end of his tenure.
He got more power within the organization and made the infamous trade that sent DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona in exchange for running back David Johnson.
The move was widely panned, killed team morale, and resulted in O’Brien getting fired after an 0-4 start in 2020.
He has seemingly built his reputation back up at Alabama and the Jaguars may just want to interview anyone out there with prior success as an NFL head coach.
That is not a bad strategy in theory.
Ownership just needs to make sure they land a coach who can get along with Trevor Lawrence and be the opposite of what Meyer was.
O’Brien has enough past drama attached to his name to warrant serious questions about his fit with the lowly franchise.
NEXT: Jaguars Can Make History And Help Themselves In Week 18