Lawrence wants Jaguars to hire 'young offensive coach'
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has a preference amid his team's latest head-coaching search.
"Obviously I'm biased, I'm an offensive guy. So I would love to have a young offensive coach that can have our system, and we can build on it for years to come," the former first overall pick told team reporter Kainani Stevens.
Jacksonville has already interviewed Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, among others.
The Jaguars have also requested to interview top offensive coaching candidates such as Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Philadelphia Eagles OC Kellen Moore, and Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady.
Jacksonville finished 25th in total offense and 26th in scoring this season.
Lawrence added that he wants his new coach to bring toughness back to the Jaguars - which he said they lost in 2024. But the 25-year-old franchise quarterback isn't getting overly involved in the hiring process.
"I have some opinions on all that, but I never want to overstep and try to do more than what my job is. ... Those are conversations that me and (owner Shad) Khan or (general manager) Trent (Baalke) will have," he said.
It will be Lawrence's third head coach as he enters his fifth NFL season. Jacksonville hired Urban Meyer ahead of Lawrence's rookie campaign but fired him before the end of his first year. The Jaguars then hired Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson before the 2022 season.
Jacksonville parted ways with Pederson at the end of a 4-13 campaign in 2024. The Jaguars went 22-29 over three years with Pederson and won the AFC South his first year. Lawrence said he was grateful for his former coach, who was a steady voice that helped him regain his confidence after a chaotic rookie season.
"Very appreciative of coach Pederson, as far as the stability he brought here at a crazy time. ... We had some great moments together," he said.
Lawrence played just 10 games this season, the fewest of his career. He sustained a concussion in December versus the Houston Texans and had season-ending shoulder surgery later that month with the Jaguars out of the playoff race.
"The whole year was challenging, just frustrating, seems like we can never get in a rhythm. And definitely didn't go the way we all thought it would," Lawrence said.