The Jacksonville Jaguars are currently in Phase 2 of their head coaching search after firing Urban Meyer in December, and according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, there is one known finalist. That candidate is a familiar face from the AFC South division in Matt Eberflus.
The #Jaguars will conduct a second interview Thursday with #Colts DC Matt Eberflus, source said. The first known finalist for the head coaching job in Jacksonville.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 18, 2022
Eberflus, 51, has been a coach in the NFL to some capacity since 2009. He started his NFL coaching career as a linebackers coach in Cleveland (2009-10) and Dallas (2011-17), and spent his last two seasons in Dallas as a defensive passing game coordinator, too. Then in 2018 he was hired to be the Colts coordinator and has held the role ever since.
Before leaping to the NFL, Eberflus started his career as a coaching assistant at Toledo in 1992, which is his alma mater. He held various roles there and worked his way up to roles as a linebackers and defensive backs coach at the end of his stint with the Rockets, which ended in 2000. He then spent the following eight seasons as the defensive coordinator for the University of Missouri.
During his time with the Colts, Eberflus has coached some solid players like defensive lineman DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, linebacker Darius Leonard, and cornerback Kenny Moore, to name a few. Additionally, he helped the Colts to finish the season as the No. 10 ranked rushing defense.
Of course, with Trevor Lawrence being the focal point of the Jags organization, the team could have their sights set on an offensive-minded coach as their No. 1 candidate. However, even after the Colts’ loss to the Jags Week 18, Eberflus has achieved great things in Indianapolis and has been getting interviews from others for vacancies, so he’s clearly well respected.
As for any other potential finalists, some of them may be still in the playoffs like Nathaniel Hackett and Byron Leftwich, which has affected the Jags’ ability to have second interviews with both. However, both could become available after the weekend, which gives Jags fans another pair of reasons to watch Round 2 of the playoffs.
