The Jacksonville Jaguars joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1995. However, Jacksonville remains one of the few teams in the NFL never to make a Super Bowl. Despite the team's struggles, several head coaches still brought Jacksonville within striking distance of a Super Bowl appearance.
During the team's 25 years of existence, the Jaguars played under six different head or interim coaches. All seven of the franchise's playoff appearances came under three head coaches, singling the trio out as the best head coaches in franchise history.
3. Doug Marrone
Marrone got his first head coaching job with the Buffalo Bills in 2013. However, Marrone only stayed in Buffalo for two years, controversially opting out of his contract with the team.
The embattled coach's next opportunity came in 2015, when he took over as the assistant coach and offensive line coach for the Jaguars. However, in 2016 Jacksonville fired Gus Bradley toward the end of the season. Marrone took over as the interim head coach and later became the full-time head coach.
In 2017, Marrone oversaw Jacksonville's first ten-win season since 2007. The Jaguars won the AFC South, snuck past Buffalo in the Wild Card Round, and outgunned Pittsburgh in the Divisional Round. However, Marrone's team could not overcome Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
Since losing the AFC Championship game, Jacksonville has traded away the vital defensive pieces which made the 2017 squad dominant. Coming off of a 5-11 campaign in 2018 and a 6-10 season last year, Marrone's days with the Jaguars seem numbered. His career record with the organization is 22-28.
2. Jack Del Rio
In 2003, Del Rio became the second head coach in Jaguars history, taking over for Tom Coughlin. During nine seasons in Jacksonville, Del Rio led the Jaguars to two playoff appearances and a 68-71 record. His 139 games coached are still the most in team history.
Assuming the first head coaching role of his career, Del Rio quickly turned the Jaguars around. After a 5-11 season spent retooling the team, Del Rio led the Jaguars to nine wins in 2004. It was the franchise's best season since 1999.
During the remainder of his time in Jacksonville, Del Rio coached the team to two seasons with over ten wins and two 8-8 seasons. Jacksonville made the playoffs in 2005 and 2007, losing in the Wild Card and Divisional Rounds.
In 2011, the Jaguars fired Del Rio after the team went 3-8 to start the season. The former linebacker went on to coach the Oakland Raiders for three seasons.
1. Tom Coughlin
Coughlin became the first head coach in Jaguars history in 1995. After a rocky first season, Coughlin surprisingly lifted the team to a 9-7 record in its second year. For reference, it took the Houston Texans eight years from the time they entered the NFL to win nine games in a season.
The period from 1996 through 1999 became the most successful four-year stretch in franchise history. Coughlin led Jacksonville to four consecutive playoff appearances. In 1996 and 1999, the Jaguars reached the AFC Championship game only to fall short of their ultimate goal.
After three losing seasons from 2000 through 2002, the Jaguars parted ways with Coughlin. He went on to win two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. Coughlin's 68-60 record is the only winning regular season record by a head or interim coach in franchise history.
Coughlin did return to Jacksonville as the Executive Vice President of Football Operations in 2017. After the team's miraculous run to the AFC Championship game that year, things began to fall apart, and the Jaguars fired Coughlin last December.
“I take great pride in our accomplishments, especially in 2017,” Coughlin said in an issued statement. “I'd like to thank Shad Khan for the opportunity to come back to Jacksonville, all the players and staff for their efforts, and the great fans here for their support. I was the first coach of this franchise and I will always be supportive of the Jaguars.”
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