Multiple NFL experts and commentators are surprised Trent Ballke, General Manager for the Jacksonville Jaguars, has not been fired alongside head coach Doug Pederson. Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement on Monday, January 6, that he had informed Pederson of his “intention to hire a new head coach” and that Baalke would help in the search for his replacement. Given the Jaguars finishing 4-13 in the 2024 NFL season, Pederson being fired has been seen as writing on the wall, but the retainment of Baalke has been called “insane.”

Why are NFL experts surprised Trent Baalke is still the Jaguars GM?

In addition to Baalke being partially responsible for the poor performance of the Jacksonville Jaguars, experts believe many head coaches don’t want the now open position specifically because Baalke would still be GM.

FOX Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz said on X that the Jaguars would struggle to hire a new head coach if they kept Baalke, and that Khan, despite speaking “with many people,” remained “unmoved” about the decision. As a reminder, he relays that Jaguars have already faced similar challenges in the past when trying to look for a new head coach. One source speaking with Schultz said this decision was “f******* insane.”

Sportscaster Adam Schein went even further, posting on X that Baalke keeping his job is “insane, absurd, wrong.” He points out that Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, is likely looking at this situation carefully as he could be a prospective head coach for the Jaguars.

Likewise, sports commentator Peter Schrager explained in a segment on Good Morning Football that it was “interesting” that Baalke is keeping his job while Pederson has been let go. He believes the position isn’t “as attractive when you have an incumbent GM that you’re inheriting if you’re one of these big names.”

This is particularly relevant for head coaches looking at the job and don’t have a relationship with Baalke, especially in contrast to the open positions at the New York Jets, which has a clean slate after firing both head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas.