Starting today, the Jacksonville Jaguars can start their search for a new coach thanks to a new rule that allows head coaching interviews to be conducted two weeks before the regular season ends.
However, when it comes to a new general manager, the team will be retaining Trent Baalke, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That means the Jags won’t be fully resetting the top of their football operations as Baalke would be a holdover from the past two regimes.
The move is puzzling for many reasons, starting with the fact that Baalke’s team building résumé hasn’t been that impressive as a general manager (his postseason 49ers team consisted of several holdovers). The Jags witnessed this first-hand as the roster has only been able to add one more win over the last season (largely due to the front office not putting much around rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence this offseason).
Additionally, the Jags’ decision to keep Baalke is likely to affect the head coaching search. Most top candidates aren’t going to want to be forced to work with Baalke and would prefer to have a say in the general manager candidate. The reason for that is because the general manager and head coaches relationship is one of the most important in football operations, and if the two don’t see eye-to-eye, it leads to dysfunction.
Needless to say, the news of Baalke being retained came with a lot of reactions from the football community, and almost none of them were good. Here are some of those reactions from both fans and reporters who are familiar with the Jags:
“Since 2012, Baalke’s teams have gone 17-51 with him as GM.” pic.twitter.com/UqUU7znG1F
— nubz (@J_Nubz) December 28, 2021
.@JimCaldwell_NFL don’t take the Jaguars job. It’s toxic with Trent Baalke involved.
— madebytim (@MadeByTim) December 28, 2021
Baalke has 75million in cap to spend this off-season??? pic.twitter.com/dHV8pMCL6h
— ChillTakes 🧊 (@chilltakes_) December 28, 2021
#Jaguars are closing in on a 3-30 record in two seasons with Trent Baalke in the front office.
That’s all I have to say about that.
— Matt Hayes (@MattHayesCFB) December 28, 2021
It’s wild ain’t it? Baalke’s last team had fans who LOATHED him. The media around the league knows. Other personnel people know. Coaches know. But, Shad Khan knows better than all of them, folks. Shad has proven that he can identify the right people to lead this org!
— Cap (@BoldCityCap) December 28, 2021
Still at a loss for words. There’s no rationalizing keeping Trent Baalke, that is, if winning is the goal. Struggles to hire good coaches and maintain relationships with them. Very little success in free agency. Very little success in the Draft. Jags are 3-28 with him as DPP/GM.
— Jordan de Lugo (@jordandelugo) December 28, 2021
What is one thing Trent Baalke has done in Jacksonville that exhibits why he should keep his job? #Jaguars
— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) December 28, 2021
The Jaguars always find a way to disappoint me. I don’t how much more of this I can do. Trent Baalke? @Jaguars
— DeMoe (@DeMoeRoberson) December 28, 2021
Baalke and staff interviewing coaching candidates pic.twitter.com/HVAudqRzj7
— Jagsdrew (@jagsdrew) December 28, 2021
Baalke prob calls the us the Jagwires
— UCF Jaguar (@UCF_Jaguar) December 28, 2021
Baalke was the GM in San Francisco that gave a draft pick for Blaine Gabbert.
— TFF (@TSHARE18) December 28, 2021
If you’ve got any dirt on Baalke, now’s the time to leak. @CoachUrbanMeyer
— Dan (@ThatStatBoy) December 28, 2021
Dave Caldwell >>>>>> Trent Baalke
— Andy Drew (@ndy_willis) December 28, 2021
Didn’t have a feel for what Shad Khan was going to do with Trent Baalke. Thought best approach would have been to start over completely, but Khan has been patient with hires (except Urb). Is Lawrence a big enough draw to overcome new coach not having input on GM?
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) December 28, 2021
If the Jags retain Trent Baalke, that will certainly affect the candidate list for the HC job. https://t.co/tIcaTYI1Y2
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 28, 2021
What is the justification for keeping Trent Baalke outside of "he's not Urban Meyer". That's something Shad Khan will have to answer for and it's pretty clearly hard to offer up some actual evidence.
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) December 28, 2021
No one worth a damn should want the Jaguars HC job with GM Trent Baalke staying in place (of course someone will take it because it’s one of 32 and people are desperate).
Seriously, how hard is it to ask around and get the real story on a guy with a horrible NFL reputation?
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) December 28, 2021
I don’t get the Jaguars keeping Baalke. Start over.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) December 28, 2021
If you own a business and have people employed in jobs that nobody else in the business would have in those jobs, it’s either a bad idea or a genius idea. Point being, Baalke wouldn’t be the GM of any organization in the league other than Jaguars in 2022 if report is true.
— Brent Martineau (@BrentASJax) December 28, 2021
Trent Baalke recent history in NFL:
2014: Harbaugh
2015: Tomsula
2016: Chip Kelly
2020: Marrone
2021: Urban Meyer
2022: ?6 coaches in 6 seasons as GM or assistant GM.
One thing Shad Khan likely isn’t signing up for – continuity.— Brent Martineau (@BrentASJax) December 28, 2021
Trent Baalke Kicked Me
— Nick Elenis (@NickElenis) December 28, 2021
