Jaguars dodge a bullet in chaotic coaching carousel 🏈🔄

According to Mike Garafolo, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski has withdrawn from the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching search after agreeing to a new deal with Jacksonville. The Jaguars are allowing Udinski to pursue the Buffalo Bills’ head coaching job, with the understanding he would return to Liam Coen’s staff if Buffalo does not land him.

Udinski’s value isn’t limited to play-calling; even with Coen handling those duties in 2025, Udinski’s influence across the offense helped shape the unit. Jacksonville finished sixth in scoring, 11th in total offense, and 12th in passing, with Trevor Lawrence delivering a career-best season that included 29 passing touchdowns and 38 total touchdowns in a 13-4 record.

At 30 years old, Udinski has quickly risen as a prominent name in this coaching cycle, having interviewed twice with Cleveland and emerging as a reported finalist. The Browns’ interest was substantial, and the notion of losing him was a real consideration for a franchise evaluating its direction.

The new Jacksonville contract features a raise for the 2026 season if Udinski does not land the Bills’ head coaching job, reflecting his rapid ascent and value to the Jaguars’ offense. His career path—from Panthers assistant in 2020 to a Vikings assistant in 2022 and into a full-time coordinator role in 2025—underscores the speed of his rise.

The Bills remain a live possibility, but until Buffalo makes a final hire, Jacksonville can’t fully exhale. If Buffalo goes another direction, the Jaguars would head into 2026 with their offensive brain trust intact, avoiding a broader coaching reset amid questions about roster decisions and Lawrence’s long-term trajectory.

Overall, Udinski’s decision to stay in play with Jacksonville while pursuing Buffalo helps stabilize the franchise’s coaching leadership this offseason, reducing potential upheaval and preserving continuity for Trevor Lawrence and the offense as the 2026 plan unfolds.