JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars’ seemingly never-ending search for a new head coach is expanding on Monday.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jaguars were set to interview former Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia on Monday for the job.
Bisaccia took over earlier this season for the Raiders following the resignation of Jon Gruden, who became embroiled in scandal. The Raiders went 7-6 under Bisaccia, including a wild-card loss to Super Bowl-bound Cincinnati two weeks ago.
Bisaccia, 61, was in the running to be the permanent head coach in Las Vegas, but the franchise reportedly hired New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels over the weekend.
Bisaccia, a long-time NFL special teams coach who is well-respected, is the latest candidate for the Jagaurs’ head coaching job.
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NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo said Monday evening the Jaguars are also set to interview former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson for the second time on Tuesday.
The #Jaguars will interview Doug Pederson for their head coaching job tomorrow, sources say. That’ll be his second interview with Jacksonville as their search continues.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 31, 2022
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio along with a handful of other candidates are also in the mix.
Other candidates targeted by the Jaguars were hired by other teams, including former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who were hired by the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears, respectively.
“It’s a search that’s derailed and really derails if the Byron Leftwich deal does not get done and now we’re on day five of it like, what’s the hold up?” said 1010 XL Jaguars beat reporter Hays Carlyon.
Carlyon said one of the hold issues that’s getting a lot of attention is Trent Baalke the Jaguars’ general manager. Baalke is making a lot of headlines as a polarizing figure. It’s hard to say if he’ll stay with the team.
“He’s the issue. This was already an open secret when Urban Meyer’s coaching tenure here spectacularly failed. The first question was well they’ve got to get rid of Trent Baalke, right?” Carlyon said.
Fans told News4JAX they want the team to take their time to find the best coach.
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While some are excited about a new hire, there are some fans out there who think Meyer should not have been fired.
“We’ve been firing a lot of coaches. I mean, I don’t know what to think,” said Antwan Ingram. “I think they should have given him a couple more years to see how things worked out. I think it was too early to fire him right now.”
There are still difficult dynamics in play as the search for a new coach continues.
For instance, with Leftwich, he reportedly wants to bring in his own general manager in the Arizona Cardinals’ Adrian Wilson, meaning Baalke would have to be fired. In the case of O’Connell, because his Rams are going to the Super Bowl, the Jaguars aren’t allowed to interview him until after the game on Feb. 13.
The franchise has been trying to find a replacement since the firing of Urban Meyer in December following a series of blunders and a 2-11 record.
