JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

I assume this references the Jaguars and General Manager Trent Baalke mutually parting ways, news that came in the following statement from Owner Shad Khan around 3 p.m. Wednesday: “Following several discussions with Trent Baalke this week, we both arrived at the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interests to respectfully separate, effective immediately. Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons. 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. 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.” This is a franchise-altering move that ended Baalke’s tenure after four seasons, a tenure that featured two consecutive winning seasons – 9-8 seasons in 2022 and 2023 – and a memorable AFC South title in 2022. It also was a tenure that ended with this past season’s 4-13 record, with Head Coach Doug Pederson dismissed the morning following the regular-season finale. The move came after reports that former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, once a candidate for the Jaguars’ head-coaching position now the head coach of the Chicago Bears, did not want to work with Baalke – and similar reports that Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, also a candidate for the Jaguars’ head-coaching position, wanted to bring in his own general manager. Those are the facts – and the accompanying significant reports. I expect this Thursday O-Zone to be Baalke-centric and celebratory. I’m not here to celebrate. I’m here to answer questions. Away we go.

Cary from Montreal, Quebec

WTF????? This move smacks so hard of desperation! It now seems plausible that candidates truly didn’t want to work with Trent. Now that the team waited so long to make this move, they’re way behind. Two coaches you interviewed have been hired elsewhere and another spurned the Jags to stay a coordinator! You also now need a new general manager at a time when other teams have already hired potential candidates. Just truly disastrous. I’ve supported Mr. Khan in most of what he has done, but I can’t in this.

This is an understandable reaction. The intense focus on this, and the face that other teams have filled roles, makes observers understandably anxious. And make no mistake: not having a general manager/head coach as mid-January turns to late-January is not ideal. But it in no way guarantees disaster. The issue now isn’t that it’s mid-to-late-January. Nor is it the candidates who aren’t coming to Jacksonville. The issue now is finding the right general manager and head coach – or the right head coach and general manager. They’re out there. They may not be on Top 10 lists. But they’re out there.

So, is a VP next before a GM? It sure should be as it took this long to figure out our GM was part of the problem also.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

“He’s our rock, man. He is.” After a divisional round upset loss, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff on Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell. That’s the NFL head-coach stuff you’re looking for. I can see former Jaguars left tackle and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Boselli invoking this from players. I get no coaching experience by and large locks him out of NFL head coaching consideration. The question is “Boselli at head coach, general manager or executive vice president of football operations?” The answer is a resounding “yes, please.” Does he want it? I can’t say. But he’s got what it takes. Period. New paragraph.

I’m all for Boselli being involved with the Jaguars at any level or role Khan might see fit. Whether that will happen, or in what role or level it might happen, I can’t yet say.

Charles from Savannah, GA

Referring to parting ways with Baalke, is it a little too late?

In an effort to “be nice,” I can proudly say “Better late, than never (or later).” So, a new search now begins. Personally, it makes the most sense to hire the right general manager first – and fast, I might add. Let that general manager bring in his top head-coaching candidate. Shad, give Louis Riddick a call!!

What’s done, as they say, is done. What’s important now is to get what’s next right. The Jaguars don’t necessarily have to hire a general manager before a head coach. They do necessarily have to make sure the next head coach is the right head coach – and that the next person/people overseeing decision-making is/are the right person/people. There’s no reason that can’t happen. I’m expecting good things. Maybe really good things. Stay tuned.

Better late than never? Probably not in this case. Khan has shown that he is a bit slow and certainly a poor judge of talent when it comes to football. Maybe now he will seek help from somebody that knows what he is doing. Is there hope, John?

I was told by someone very close to the situation Wednesday to “have hope.” I do.

Khan decided to fire Baalke only after being rejected by the top coaching candidates. Watching this play out, I can understand why some coaches are hesitate to work for Khan. So now, the Jaguars won’t get one of their top choices and will likely have to settle for someone else. It’s hard to see any positives coming from this coaching search, no matter how it plays out.

There’s no reason head coaches would be hesitant to work for Khan, and I’ve never had the impression that this is a significant thing. There are plenty of positives that can still happen during this head-coach search.

So, it took losing put on some of the top prospects this offseason to finally convince Shad to get rid of Baalke. I’m very appreciative of what Khan has done for purge city, but his need to be nice and drag out bad situations has cost us a couple times now. I really do wish he’d hire someone who actually knows the ins and outs of running a team and stepped back from being involved in these kinds of decisions. Maybe I’m just frustrated and tired of watching us never make the right moves in a timely manner.

Ed from Boynton Beach, FL

So, does this mean Coen could be back in the running.

When a general manager leaves the way the Jaguars’ general manager left Wednesday, in the middle of a head-coaching search, it makes a lot of things “fluid.” This is fluid.

Ian from Ormond Beach, FL

Two questions. First one yes/no. Does your gut tell you if ownership would have fired the GM on black Monday, would Ben Johnson be our head coach? Question 2. Since Liam Coen returned to his job as only an offensive coordinator, could he in fact now accept the Jaguars head-coaching job if our previous general manager was indeed the obstacle? I realize this would be unconventional and be perceived as perhaps a little bit weaselly, but could it happen?

Two answers. First: Perhaps. Second: Yes, he could.

Better late than never, but never late is better. Why not do this two weeks ago?

Fair question. The process played out, and Khan and Baalke realized a change needed to be made. Should it have been done earlier in retrospect? It’s hard to argue otherwise. It’s done now. That’s where we are.

Wow. Just a big Thank You to Shad for changing the course of this team by letting Trent go. It does show how much he really does want to win and truly is a proud NFL owner.

Tony from Johns Creek, GA

O, I guess Khan finally realized that potential head coaches didn’t want to work with Baalke. Meanwhile, some good candidates got away. Typical Jaguars.

Some good candidates may have been hired elsewhere. There is also a league full of good candidates still there. The idea is to hire the right head coach, not the first coach.

Big Jags Fan from Jacksonville

Do you think Liam Coen ending his interest in continuing the interview process the final push was for Shad to move on from Trent?

It’s hard to say otherwise.

OSH. We hear so much about changing the culture. But then we wait until every team hires a new coach and we fire Baalke and it seems like the whole process is set back again! No wonder nobody knows what direction the Jags are going. What a mess again! Your thoughts?

What was needn’t be what shall be.