According to reports, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone will be returning to his role with the team in 2020. General manager Dave Caldwell will be, too.
Marrone’s return comes after some fans were calling for a shake-up after he registered his second consecutive double digit-loss season in 2019 (6-10). In his first season in 2017, the Jags compiled a 10-6 record where they would go on a lengthy playoff run only to fall to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game. However since that season, they’ve gone 11-21, with a 5-11 season occurring in 2018.
The move comes after the Jaguars also let go of former football executive Tom Coughlin prior to Week 16’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. It was reported by several media insiders that owner Shad Khan preferred to keep both Marrone and Caldwell with Coughlin out of the picture, and that’s exactly what happened Tuesday for the veteran head coach and general manager.
Marrone was well respected by the Jaguars locker room despite a tumultuous season. Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette was one of many players to praise his former head coach a few weeks ago when asked about him after Coughlin’s firing:
“I don’t know [if it’s an organizational problem with the NFLPA],” Fournette said. “As far as the money part, I think it’s kind of extreme sometimes. To see what I seen today [with the grievance situation] was crazy. Individually, I don’t know what happened to cause it, but I’m glad [Dante Fowler jr.] got his money back, or will be getting his money back. Whatever the case may be. I think that Doug is doing an excellent job of trying to communicate with the players and build a better relationship with the players No. 1. That’s all I can speak on is coach Doug.”
Of the Jags’ top personnel members, many fans have long held the belief that Marrone deserved the least amount of blame for the Jags’ shortcomings and most believed Caldwell and Coughlin deserved more of the blame than anyone. However, Marrone didn’t make any excuses and issued a heartfelt apology to the fans and sponsors early last week.
Marrone was initially brought into the organization in 2015 as the teams assistant head coach and offensive line coach in 2015 under Gus Bradley. When Bradley was fired, he was promoted to the head coaching role in 2017.
