Report: Jacksonville Jaguars interested in retaining GM Trent Baalke, reuniting him with Bill Belichick

Jobs could be on the line now in Jacksonville after the Jaguars fell to 2-9, which is last in the AFC South, with one of the worst losses in franchise history on Sunday. So, where does that leave them coming into their bye week?

Mike Florio discussed the latest surrounding Jacksonville on NBC’s Football Night in America ahead of Sunday Night Football. He noted how the Jags could soon fire Doug Pederson, who has been head coach there for the last three seasons, considering the disappointment that this season has been.

“Before the season started, Shahid Khan said this is the best team that the Jaguars have ever assembled. Let’s prove it by winning now,” Florio recalled.

“So here we are – 2-9, worst loss today in franchise history. Bye week coming up,” said Florio. “Doug Pederson was asked after the game about the possibility of being fired. He said, ‘If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen’. And it could happen soon.”

Pederson now has a record of 20-24 through three seasons in Jacksonville. That includes this year’s record that already exceeds their loss total of eight apiece in each of his first two seasons there despite having played six fewer games to this point. They lost four to open the year, are on a four-game losing streak currently, and have lost their nine games by an average margin of over two touchdowns.

As for their general manager, though, Florio had an interesting report regarding Trent Baalke. Rather than removing him after four years at the position, he says there are some around the league who think that he could remain there in connecting him with a head coach that he has a history with – Bill Belichick.

“Now, what about the guy that put together the best team ever assembled, General Manager Trent Baalke? I’ve talked to several people throughout the league. There’s a belief in some circles. He could potentially survive into next year as part of a package deal that would reunite him with someone he worked with back in 1998-1999 with the New York Jets,” Florio said. “That coach is available, he’s won a few Super Bowls, and his name is Bill Belichick.”

Belichick is not coaching currently after the end of his tenure last season with the New England Patriots. It was a poor end to his time there through the 2020s after being the head coach of their dynasty in the early 2000s and throughout the 2010s. However, no team hired him in the last cycle after that and he has instead been making media appearances since throughout this season.

Changes could be coming to end this season in Jacksonville. It’ll now be interesting to see which ones are and aren’t made, though, and how that affects the future of their franchise.