Jaguars request interviews with eight head-coaching candidates

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke requested interviews with eight candidates to replace Doug Pederson as head coach.

The team released the names of the coaches on Tuesday, including former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, Detroit Lions coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and a handful of offensive coordinators: Kellen Moore (Philadelphia Eagles), Todd Monken (Baltimore Ravens), Joe Brady (Buffalo Bills), Liam Coen (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

Saleh, 45, worked with Baalke when they were with the San Francisco 49ers. He also worked as linebackers coach in Jacksonville from 2014-2016. As a head coach, Saleh was 20-26 over the past three seasons with the Jets before being fired after a loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5. For the past several months, he's worked in a volunteer capacity as a consultant to Packers coach Matt LaFleur.

Johnson, 38, is a coveted interview subject as the maestro behind this season's highest-scoring offense in Detroit. The Lions scored 564 total points in the regular season, which is fourth-most all-time. Johnson reportedly accepted requests from the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears for interviews during the Lions' open week as the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

A part of the Lions' coaching staff since 2019, Johnson was interviewed last offseason for head-coaching openings with the Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers. He pulled his name from consideration last January to remain in Detroit despite being considered the favorite for the Commanders' job.

Glenn, 52, who played for the Jaguars in 2007, is also highly sought-after this coaching cycle. He booked virtual interviews with the New Orleans Saints, Jets, Bears and Jaguars. All are scheduled to take place before Sunday.

Graham, 45, will reportedly interview with the Cincinnati Bengals to become defensive coordinator and replace Lou Anarumo, who was fired on Monday from a position he held since 2019.

Coen, 39, bounced between Kentucky's coaching staff and various roles under Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay before rerouting from Lexington to Tampa Bay a year ago to replace current Panthers coach Dave Canales as Buccaneers' offensive coordinator.

Coen directed an offense that ranked in the top five in most major categories in 2024. The Buccaneers were third in total offense (399.5 yards per game) and passing offense (250.4 yards per game) and No. 4 in scoring at 29.5 points per game.

--Field Level Media