Jaguars Change Major Course by Firing General Manager Trent Baalke

The Jacksonville Jaguars were having a tough time finding a new head coach, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen was the most recent top candidate to pull out. Multiple reports indicated the reason for the organization having trouble was due to the retention of general manager Trent Baalke.

Read more: Buccaneers OC Liam Coen Withdraws From Jaguars Head Coach Consideration

Though the Jaguars ownership decided initially to retain Baalke, they have changed course completely and have now fired the general manager.

NFL insider Ari Meirov reported the news that Baalke has now been fired.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan released an official statement on Baalke being fired.

"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 other, 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 fane alike," the statement reads.

In a matter of weeks, the Jaguars have fired head coach Doug Pederson, and Baalke now joins that list. The organization is set to go through a complete rebuild, but have already missed out on candidates like Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was hired by the Chicago Bears and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who was hired by the New York Jets.

Losing Coen might have been the final straw for Khan and the organization, and they chose instead to part ways with the presumed problem keeping the Jaguars from finding a top head coach. That does not mean there are not other solid candidates the team is looking at.

Former Jets head coach Robert Saleh is set to meet with the Jaguars again, and is now viewed as the top choice to replace Pederson. Though it has not been stated and is pure speculation, Baalke's exit could possibly be tied to candidates that are left and wanting to lead the team.

Either way, Baalke is now out as the general manager, and the Jaguars will have to make some big hires in the coming weeks.

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