The Jacksonville Jaguars made small waves at the start of the 2026 NFL Combine, joining the Los Angeles Rams as the only two teams not headquartered in Indianapolis for a week.
The Jaguars did not send their general manager, James Gladstone, nor did head coach Liam Coen and the rest of the coaching staff attend the annual medical check-up and athleticism testing event. EVP of Football Operations Tony Boselli also stayed home.
It marked the first time in recent Jaguars’ history that the team’s top brass did not make the trip to Indy. Many pundits and some NFL executives and coaches opined on Jacksonville not making the trip. It became a talking point, Times-Union sports columnist Ryan O’Halloran opined.
New Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady had this to say earlier this week: “Anytime we can have an interaction and see them or talk to them, I don’t know why you wouldn’t take advantage of that.”
“To each his own,” summarized Denver Broncos general manager George Paton.
So, the Jaguars won’t have those extra data points with players that other teams may have with their coaching staff, general manager and sometimes owner Shad Khan. Though, it is arguable whether a 15-minute, full-prepared sit-down with a player who you just met is fruitful.
On Friday, Gladstone provided some context as to why the team didn’t show up, offering fans, media and — if they’re so inclined or concerned — other NFL teams clarity.
James Gladstone explains Jaguars NFL Combine decision
Jacksonville’s reluctance to send coaches and top-level executives to the Combine this year isn’t because they believe the event is worthless. In fact, the Jaguars understand the importance of any event that provides access to players who could eventually make the team.
Speculation regarding how Jacksonville feels about the Combine was, in fact, put to rest with Gladstone’s statement.
“The Combine is a significant annual event on the NFL calendar, one that we value greatly. The information and data gathered in Indianapolis are integral to our process. We have significant and influential personnel in Indianapolis, inclusive of our scouts conducting interviews with a full allotment of prospects, and our medical staff is, of course, present and gathering player data,” Gladstone explained.
“Every piece of information or video that we need from the NFL Combine is at our disposal, which allows us to make appropriate decisions on behalf of the Jaguars organization. I look forward to continued collaboration between our scouting and coaching staffs as we build our team for 2026 and beyond.”
The Combine provides all 32 NFL teams with everything they’d need to know about a player in terms of their medicals, measurements and on-field testing metrics. Setting aside the fact that most players these days opt not to participate in most on-field drills, the Jaguars are not being short-changed here.
Jacksonville’s coaches also now get an opportunity to continue working through what just occurred during the 2025 season and are getting started on what to expect during the 2026 season. Meanwhile, the team has a host of scouts at the event, able to conduct interviews and get proper evaluations of what the team deems necessary in Indy.
Perhaps one day the Jaguars will reverse course. Or maybe they’ll opt to send even fewer people — like the Rams do — moving forward.
But, for now, this is how the team is choosing to operate, and their decision is based solely on what is best for the team moving forward rather than the case that they have any apprehension toward the event itself.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky at Demetrius.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars’ James Gladstone explains why top brass skipped NFL combine
Reporting by Demetrius Harvey, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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