Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is expected to interview next week for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head-coaching vacancy, the Florida Times-Union and NFL Network reported Friday.
O’Brien, who signed a two-year contract with Alabama last offseason, will complete his first season in Monday’s national championship game against Georgia.
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The Jaguars fired coach Urban Meyer last month after a 2-11 start to his first season. The Jaguars have already interviewed Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, former Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell and former Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson, according to reports.
Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus are other candidates on the Jaguars’ radar.
O’Brien coached the NFL’s Houston Texans from 2014 until his firing early in the 2020 season, winning the AFC South four times and finishing with a 52-48 record.
O’Brien was asked this week how he has approached job opportunities in college or the NFL in recent weeks.
“It’s one of those things that happens all the time,” he said. “It’s part of the career, part of what you sign up for. My focus has always been on the task at hand and that’s just the way I operate.
“I just think that this is a great opportunity for this program. And we’ve put so much work into this. And really if you’re here, if you’re able to follow us around for a week, your focus is completely on Georgia and your team and what you have to do to try to help do your part to help your team win. So that’s what the focus is.”
Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.
