Amidst the confusion and controversy surrounding the Jaguars’ head-coaching search, there has been a development of the front office side of the organization. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the team conducted an in-person interview with former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman on Monday (Twitter link).
Rapoport details that Spielman interviewed for a “high-level front office position.” However, as his colleague Mike Garafolo tweets, the role he is potentially taking on is not that of GM. That would mean incumbent Trent Baalke, who has been the source of much dismay in the Jags’ fan base and is thought to be an impediment to the teams’ search for a head coach, is likely to remain in place.
Further to that point, Mark Long of the Associated Press reports (via Twitter) that Baalke was thought to be looking for an executive “to take on an assistant GM role to handle day-to-day operations.” The reason for that, he continues, would be to allow Baalke “to be more hands-on with players on the field.” It would appear, then, that a hire like this would alter, but in a sense, expand, Baalke’s duties in Jacksonville.
Spielman was fired along with HC Mike Zimmer on "Black Monday." That brought his 16-year tenure with the team – which included the last 10 seasons as GM – to an end. While the team is clearly set to move in a new direction, there was a good deal of success during the 59-year-old’s time there. If he were to come to Jacksonville, he would at a minimum represent an experienced voice in front office decisions and potentially even quell the concerns of interested candidates wary of having to work under Baalke.
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