The Jacksonville Jaguars were able to retain both of their coordinators after the 2025 season, keeping offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. Both Udinski and Campanile received multiple interviews to take over as head coach for other teams, but elected to stay in Jacksonville.
This was a great turn of events for the Jags, who have dealt with a lot of inconsistency and instability over the years. Retaining the core coaching staff will help the players continue to develop under their leadership, and — at least in Campanile’s case — attract new talent.
In January, Jacksonville hired Mathieu Araujo as the new defensive pass game coordinator, a decision which Coen said has drastically improved the defense.
“I feel like the secondary’s improved drastically from where we were,” Coen said. “I think the combination of Matt Araujo and Anthony Perkins have done a phenomenal job in the secondary, collaborating with what Campy’s vision is back there. But what Matt brought has been some swagger, some confidence.”
In a new interview with John Shipley of SI.com, Araujo said reuniting with Campanile was a big factor in his decision to join the team. He and Campanile have a long history together, and he called working for Campanile again a “no-brainer.”
Araujo spent the past four years with the Miami Dolphins, working as their cornerbacks coach and assistant defensive backs coach, part of which overlapped with Campanile’s tenure there as linebackers coach. The two also worked together at Boston College, and it was that experience that drew him to the Jaguars.
“I was a graduate assistant for him 10-11 years ago, and stuff I still coach today, I learned from him that time at Boston College, and we coached those guys the same way we coach these guys,” Araujo previously said. “It’s worked, you know, throughout the entirety of our careers.”
In his new interview with Shipley, Araujo said he still feels like there is a lot he can learn from Campanile.
I think for me personally, the same way players want to get better, coaches want to get better, and I know he’s one of the best coaches on this earth. He’s unbelievable. He coaches every position from top down. He is just extremely detailed. He’s a great leader, he’s a great mentor. So, you know, one I knew what this team on defense would be, being led by him, and then two, the opportunity to continue to learn under him, and then hearing from him how great the players were, it was a no-brainer.
Araujo’s comments underscore the respect Campanile has earned throughout his coaching career. As Campanile continues to establish himself as one of the league’s rising defensive minds, Jacksonville will continue to benefit from the relationships and reputation he built long before arriving with the Jaguars.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Why new Jaguars coach wanted to work with Anthony Campanile again
Reporting by Casandra Chesser, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Casandra Chesser, Jaguars Wire | USA TODAY Network
