Jaguars to interview Bill O'Brien for head coaching job after Week 18, per report

O'Brien could find himself in the AFC South again

The Jacksonville Jaguars are considering hiring an old rival to take over as head coach. On Friday, John Reid of The Florida Times Union reported that the Jaguars will be interviewing Bill O'Brien for their head coach opening next week. 

O'Brien is currently the offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama, and is gearing up for the College Football Playoff National Championship game that will take place on Monday night against the University of Georgia. He's helped engineer one of the best offensive attacks in the nation, and had a hand in supporting quarterback Bryce Young, who won the Heisman Trophy.

O'Brien, of course, is also the former head coach and general manager of the Houston Texans. He was fired in 2020 after an 0-4 start despite winning the AFC South in each of the prior two seasons. According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, O'Brien got into an argument with star defensive end J.J. Watt and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver on the practice field, along with verbal altercations with other staff members in his final weeks before being fired.

Overall, O'Brien went 52-48 during his time with the Texans, and won the AFC South in four out of his first six seasons. He got his start in the NFL under Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots, working as an offensive assistant, wide receivers coach, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator from 2007-11.

It appears Shad Khan and the Jags are interested in coaches who have experience as head men at the highest level. Two other candidates they are considering are Jim Caldwell and Doug Pederson.