- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,245,293
- Reaction score
- 59
In the NFL, success comes with a price.
Whenever you do something that works, whether it's a specific play, a formation, or anything else, other teams will try to take it for themselves.
But, nothing may be more valuable to other teams than your coordinators.
Successful teams often have either their offensive or defensive coordinator hired by another franchise as its newest head coach.
Sometimes, it's both. The Detroit Lions had offensive coordinator Ben Johnson poached by the Chicago Bears, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was hired by the New York Jets after Detroit's 15-2 season in 2024.
After losing both of their coordinators, the Lions struggled last season. One year after finishing as the NFC's top seed, Detroit lost its mojo, limping through a 9-8 campaign and missing the playoffs.
If the Jacksonville Jaguars have another playoff season in 2026, they could be the next NFL team to have its coaching staff ransacked by the rest of the league.
After last season, when the Jaguars stunned the league by going 13-4 and winning the AFC South, both OC Grant Udinski and DC Anthony Campanile earned head-coaching interviews with multiple teams, but both ultimately returned to Jacksonville.
Don't expect that to happen again.
PFF certainly doesn't, as both Udinski and Campanile were included in its new article highlighting 15 coordinators from around the league likely to become head coaches.
Even though head coach Liam Coen calls the plays for Jacksonville's offense, Udinski is still thought of as possibly the next Sean McVay, as PFF notes. Working under both Coen and Kevin O'Connell has given Udinski invaluable experience, and he is still only 30 years old. PFF thinks he could be the league's next great young offensive genius head coach.
"Scheelhaase is the most direct corollary to becoming The next McVay, but Udinski is building a pretty good case on his own.
"Over the last two campaigns, Udinski has learned under two of the league’s best offensive masterminds in Liam Coen and Kevin O’Connell. In tandem with Coen, Udinski brought out a career-best 83.7 overall PFF grade in Trevor Lawrence and saw Jacksonville go from 25th to sixth in touchdown drive rate.
"It’s true that Udinski has never technically called plays, but that doesn’t seem like enough to slow his roll as a coaching option. The 30-year-old fits the mold of the next wunderkind worth taking a chance, especially for franchises seeking an offensive boost."
Nothing has been a hotter trend around the NFL recently than teams seeking out young, offensive-minded HCs. Coaches like Coen, McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Klint Kubiak, Ben Johnson, and others have all fit that mold.
Udinski could be the next one.
Not to be outdone, Campanile also looks like he will become a head coach sooner rather than later. In his first year with the Jaguars, Campanile turned his defense into the best in the league against the run, while also developing linebacker Devin Lloyd into an All-Pro.
PFF also credits the Jags' defense with the 6th-best EPA in the league last year and believes Campanile will lead them to another successful season in 2026, even though Lloyd left in free agency.
"The Jaguars’ defense still feels underappreciated from last season, but its success was largely fueled by adding Campanile as defensive coordinator.
"The former Packers linebacker coach elevated Jacksonville to sixth in EPA per play and fourth in success rate. Part of the key was a stunt-heavy approach, as the team ranked fifth at 34.1%. The Jaguars’ coverage was also among the league’s best, compiling the sixth-highest grade thanks to Devin Lloyd and surges from Montaric Brown as well as Jourdan Lewis.
"Campanile may have lost his centerpiece Lloyd this offseason, but he brings back the foundation of a defense that projects as a stingy one yet again. This time around, he should land far more second interviews after only doing so with the Cardinals."
Luckily, the Jaguars may already have a potential DC replacement for Campanile on their staff.
Jacksonville will likely lose at least one, if not both, of its coordinators to head coaching jobs next offseason. If either goes, he will likely take a handful of assistants with him to his new team.
It is a lot to replace, and the Jaguars must be prepared for it. Any success the team has this season increases the chance that their coordinators will likely be leaving. It is the inevitable price of being a successful team.
Hopefully, Udinski and Campanile have done enough in their short time with the club that the cultures they have created will remain even if they are no longer around.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
Whenever you do something that works, whether it's a specific play, a formation, or anything else, other teams will try to take it for themselves.
But, nothing may be more valuable to other teams than your coordinators.
Successful teams often have either their offensive or defensive coordinator hired by another franchise as its newest head coach.
Sometimes, it's both. The Detroit Lions had offensive coordinator Ben Johnson poached by the Chicago Bears, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was hired by the New York Jets after Detroit's 15-2 season in 2024.
After losing both of their coordinators, the Lions struggled last season. One year after finishing as the NFC's top seed, Detroit lost its mojo, limping through a 9-8 campaign and missing the playoffs.
If the Jacksonville Jaguars have another playoff season in 2026, they could be the next NFL team to have its coaching staff ransacked by the rest of the league.
After last season, when the Jaguars stunned the league by going 13-4 and winning the AFC South, both OC Grant Udinski and DC Anthony Campanile earned head-coaching interviews with multiple teams, but both ultimately returned to Jacksonville.
Don't expect that to happen again.
PFF certainly doesn't, as both Udinski and Campanile were included in its new article highlighting 15 coordinators from around the league likely to become head coaches.
Grant Udinski
Even though head coach Liam Coen calls the plays for Jacksonville's offense, Udinski is still thought of as possibly the next Sean McVay, as PFF notes. Working under both Coen and Kevin O'Connell has given Udinski invaluable experience, and he is still only 30 years old. PFF thinks he could be the league's next great young offensive genius head coach.
"Scheelhaase is the most direct corollary to becoming The next McVay, but Udinski is building a pretty good case on his own.
"Over the last two campaigns, Udinski has learned under two of the league’s best offensive masterminds in Liam Coen and Kevin O’Connell. In tandem with Coen, Udinski brought out a career-best 83.7 overall PFF grade in Trevor Lawrence and saw Jacksonville go from 25th to sixth in touchdown drive rate.
"It’s true that Udinski has never technically called plays, but that doesn’t seem like enough to slow his roll as a coaching option. The 30-year-old fits the mold of the next wunderkind worth taking a chance, especially for franchises seeking an offensive boost."
Nothing has been a hotter trend around the NFL recently than teams seeking out young, offensive-minded HCs. Coaches like Coen, McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Klint Kubiak, Ben Johnson, and others have all fit that mold.
Udinski could be the next one.
Anthony Campanile
Not to be outdone, Campanile also looks like he will become a head coach sooner rather than later. In his first year with the Jaguars, Campanile turned his defense into the best in the league against the run, while also developing linebacker Devin Lloyd into an All-Pro.
PFF also credits the Jags' defense with the 6th-best EPA in the league last year and believes Campanile will lead them to another successful season in 2026, even though Lloyd left in free agency.
"The Jaguars’ defense still feels underappreciated from last season, but its success was largely fueled by adding Campanile as defensive coordinator.
"The former Packers linebacker coach elevated Jacksonville to sixth in EPA per play and fourth in success rate. Part of the key was a stunt-heavy approach, as the team ranked fifth at 34.1%. The Jaguars’ coverage was also among the league’s best, compiling the sixth-highest grade thanks to Devin Lloyd and surges from Montaric Brown as well as Jourdan Lewis.
"Campanile may have lost his centerpiece Lloyd this offseason, but he brings back the foundation of a defense that projects as a stingy one yet again. This time around, he should land far more second interviews after only doing so with the Cardinals."
Luckily, the Jaguars may already have a potential DC replacement for Campanile on their staff.
Final Thoughts
Jacksonville will likely lose at least one, if not both, of its coordinators to head coaching jobs next offseason. If either goes, he will likely take a handful of assistants with him to his new team.
It is a lot to replace, and the Jaguars must be prepared for it. Any success the team has this season increases the chance that their coordinators will likely be leaving. It is the inevitable price of being a successful team.
Hopefully, Udinski and Campanile have done enough in their short time with the club that the cultures they have created will remain even if they are no longer around.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
