How Retaining Both Coordinators Provides Stability for the Jaguars
There were many fears surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars front office when entering this offseason. After overachieving and finishing out a fantastic 2025 season, there were many eyes around the league looking at offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile for their own open positions. Teams like the Cleveland Browns were very interested in Udinski’s capabilities of turning quarterbacks around into solid passers, and teams like the Baltimore Ravens were interested in Campanile’s ability to turn defenses into turnover machines. However, the Jaguars were able to retain both coordinators as they prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft. For head coach Liam Coen, keeping his initial staff was huge in maintaining a winning culture in Jacksonville.
However, it meant much more for the players. If the Jaguars were to have lost both or even just one coordinator, the team would have to adapt to an entirely new scheme under a new coordinator. Players in Jacksonville, like Trevor Lawrence, have experienced numerous new head coaches and coordinators with many schemes. None worked as well as the team played last season. For example, the offense under Udinski broke records in 2025. The team set its franchise record in points scored, touchdowns, and first downs. The team was sixth in points per game, seventh in first downs, and fifth in total touchdowns. Udinski came in and turned this unit into a top 10 offense in the league. General manager James Gladstone gave him the tools to succeed as well, such as trading for wide receiver Jakobi Meyers at the deadline. Keeping Udinski guarantees the Jaguars offense will be right back to being a threat in 2026.
For the defensive side of the ball, Campanile brought back fans to the nostalgia of Sacksonville. This time, it was Strapsonville, for the sheer amount of takeaways the defense was able to get, with 31 in total. Campanile had the Jaguars finish as the best run defense in the entire NFL. The defense would set franchise records in takeaways, interceptions, passes defended, and rushing yards allowed per game. Prior to Campanile, the team had fewer than 10 takeaways, which is an abysmal number. After Campanile, the team became the first in history to have more than 30 after having single digits the year before. The unit ended up being a top 10 defense in the NFL, being eighth in the league in scoring defense. Jacksonville hit the jackpot on both coordinators in 2025 and has secured them at least for now. With the team having this coaching staff together, the Jaguars have to win big in 2026.
