5 coaching candidates of the Jacksonville Jaguars to replace Doug Pederson

The Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders both failed to sign Ben Johnson, and it won't be easy to lure the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator away. He wants a top salary and the right situation that will increase his chances of success. With a quarterback like Trevor Lawrence and offensive weapons like Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Etienne and Evan Engram, that's certainly possible.

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Johnson is one of the richest NFL owners, making it even more of a case for selecting Johnson as the Jaguars' coaching candidate. He could afford to have Jacksonville make Johnson one of the highest-paid NFL coaches. The Jaguars could even take an approach like the San Francisco 49ers by hiring a head coach (Johnson) first and then having him help select a general manager. Hiring Johnson would be the best thing for Lawrence's career.

It wouldn't be a list of Jacksonville Jaguars coaching candidates without mentioning the biggest name in the National Football League right now. The New Orleans Saints are the breakout team of the 2024 NFL season, and the architect behind the surprising success is offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

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There are more than enough reasons to believe Kubiak isn't just a flash in the pan. Among the insane NFL stats from Week 2 is that the Saints are only the fourth team since 1922 to score 91 or more points in their first two games. All other teams made it to the championship game. Kubiak also revived Derek Carr's career, and he would have much more talent at quarterback in Lawrence. Plus, Kubiak's year under Kyle Shanahan makes him an even hotter name for NFL owners.

The only thing better than the next Jaguars head coach releasing Lawrence would be if the move also hurt a division rival. CJ Stroud rightfully deserves a lot of credit for helping the Houston Texans become one of the best teams in football since the 2023 season. However, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik deserves a lot of credit and he is a hot name in the NFL.

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Slowik, 37, runs the offense in Houston, with head coach DeMeco Ryans focusing more on defense. In his first season as a playmaker, Stroud had one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history and Slowik's offense finished 13th in scoring (22.7 PPG), 12th in yards per game (5.4) and had the third-highest red zone touchdown rate (80 percent). The Texans' offense is even better in 2024, and Slowik was mentored by two of the NFL's best coaches (Shanahan and Ryans) for several years.

You have to give credit to Doug Pederson, because it was an outstanding decision to hire Ryan Nielsen as defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars for 2024. He spent the 2023 NFL season with the Atlanta Falcons and transformed one of the worst defenses in football in years into a top-12 defense.

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He's proving himself now in Jacksonville, helping the Jaguars' defense keep the team in the game even when the offense is unable to sustain attacks. Although offensive-minded coaches are at the forefront of our Jaguars coaching candidates, Nielsen is an attractive option. At the very least, he could become the Jaguars' interim coach in December if the team is out of the playoffs and Khan decides to fire Pederson early.

Frank Smith is probably the least known name among our Jaguars coaching candidates. While Mike McDaniel is the Miami Dolphins' playmaker, Smith serves as his top assistant and right-hand man when it comes to devising game plans. Jeff Howe of The Athletic has profiled Smith extensively, with McDaniel singing Smith's “unique ability to anticipate problems before they happen.” He is also known for his personality, bringing positivity, passion and humility to the Dolphins' locker room. Smith is also well-liked by the players, as evidenced by the NFLPA poll, which named him the most influential offensive coordinator in football.