One of the more important developments for the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason did not come in the form of an addition, but rather, it was what the team didn’t lose.
Both defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski had opportunities to interview for head coaching jobs. But for at least one more season, they will each remain with the Jaguars, helping Jacksonville to hit the ground running in 2026.
“It was really important not to have re-teach systems and schemes and techniques,” Liam Coen said at the NFL league meetings, via Ryan O’Halloran. “It will hopefully allow us to start a little faster this offseason.”
After the Jaguars established a strong foundation in 2025 under Coen, Udinski, and Campanile, that continued continuity in scheme moving forward can be a catalyst behind both the offensive and defensive units taking another step forward this year.
In Campanile’s first season as the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator, his unit was one of the best at forcing takeaways, along with this unit surrendering under 15 points per game during Jacksonville’s eight-game winning streak.
Udinski, meanwhile, played a key role in Trevor Lawrence’s growth and in the success the Jacksonville offense had over the second half of the season, averaging almost 33 points per game during their eight-game winning streak.
Coen will put a bit more on Udinski’s plate this season.
“He’ll probably do a little more in terms of the preseason (game) calling (plays) and giving him more of those ops,” Coen said. “I gave him one (game) last year and a little bit of Pittsburgh.”
It feels like it’s only a matter of time before Campanile and Udinski are head coaches in the NFL. So for Coen, he always has to be mindful of who else might be out there, whether it’s someone already on the Jaguars staff or an outside addition, in the event that he does have to find a new coordinator at some point.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Liam Coen on importance of Jaguars retaining Udinski, Campanile
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
