Latest news with #Boselli
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hall of Famer Tony Boselli adds intrigue to Jacksonville Jaguars' draft process
After mostly average to highly suspect drafting the last 25 years, the Jacksonville Jaguars have added a unique wild card in this year's process that will hopefully provide a decision-making upgrade — Tony Boselli. Owner Shad Khan, who has too often been reluctant to shake up his leadership structure, finally tried something different on Feb. 3 when he appointed the Jaguars' Hall of Fame offensive tackle to Executive Vice-President of Football Operations, firing GM Trent Baalke midway through a coaching search. Advertisement For only the second time in franchise history, the first being when former NFL quarterback James 'Shack' Harris and ex-linebacker Jack Del Rio were named GM and head coach, respectively, in 2003, the Jaguars made somebody with actual playing experience in the league a significant part of the draft process. In 2012, during Mike Mularkey's lone season as head coach, the ex-NFL tight end primarily deferred to GM Gene Smith. What makes Boselli especially unique, beyond being a Hall of Famer, is he's been emotionally invested in the Jaguars almost his entire football career. Nobody who has ever occupied a front-office or coaching position in Jacksonville, including Tom Coughlin, comes into a position of power with more personal stakes than Boselli. The Jacksonville Jaguars introduce General Manager James Gladstone, left, Monday morning February 24, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. He has a laugh with Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli, right, after the press conference. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]2025 More: Jacksonville Jaguars must prioritize drafting WR reinforcement for Brian Thomas Jr. | Frenette Advertisement This EVP gig, though his impact on draft day remains an unknown X-factor, is as much his baby as for any non-player who has collected a Jaguars' paycheck. 'I don't think about it in those terms,' Boselli told the Times-Union about his influence on who the Jaguars end up drafting. 'I don't even know how to answer that.' Boselli's input will be valued One thing is certain: Khan didn't hire Boselli out of the Jaguars' radio booth to the same position he did Coughlin back in 2017 for him to be a draft figurehead. While Boselli concedes the final draft calls lie with Gladstone, the feeling about the Jaguars' leadership tripod strongly suggests this is a team willing to listen to each other and have their opinion changed on player evaluation and acquisition. Advertisement 'I was involved in hiring the coaching staff,' said Boselli. 'How much I helped or didn't help, I have no idea. I just want to help make us better. Our job is to win games. That's all I care about. Who gets the credit, I don't care. 'In the NFL, we get so caught up in who has the final say. It's clear in our organization that James makes the decision on who we draft, but we're all working together to make the right decision.' My belief is Boselli's presence not only matters on draft-day decisions, but should carry greater weight with Gladstone and Coen when evaluating offensive linemen and defensive linemen because the Hall of Famer played alongside and against those players. When Boselli is looking at game tape, and he's done a lot more of it on college prospects than any time in his life, he understands the nuances of players in the trenches in a far different way than Gladstone or Coen. Advertisement At this point, it's difficult to gauge the extent of Boselli's influence on the draft and the Jaguars' entire organization after less than three months on the job. But you can bet the input of No. 71, arguably the most popular player in franchise history with running back Fred Taylor, will be highly valued by Gladstone and Coen on matters big and small. Tony Boselli has earned a high place at the Jaguars' leadership table because of his remarkable playing career and being the team's longtime lead ambassador. Over the long haul, don't be surprised if the franchise's draft fortunes significantly improve because of it. If not Mason Graham at 5, then who? Had it not been for backup quarterback Mac Jones engineering back-to-back, fourth quarter scoring drives in a 10-6 December road win over the Tennessee Titans, the Jaguars would have finished 3-14 and been picking No. 1 in the first round of the April 24 NFL Draft. Advertisement Instead, Jacksonville finds itself in the No. 5 slot, where it's difficult to find a slam-dunk selection. Unless Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter falls three or four spots to the Jaguars, there is not a no-brainer choice. With Gladstone and Coen being purposely, and smartly, vague about their inclinations, the truth is the Jaguars have at least four different viable position options. The could go interior D-line, edge rusher, offensive tackle, and if you believe the speculation smoke, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham (6-foot-4, 306) might be the safest pick, though there remains debate from talent evaluators whether questions about his size should take precedent over his ability to make plays. Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham celebrates after sacking Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer, in the background, during first-half action between Michigan and Minnesota at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. In NFL draft history, it's ironic the best No. 5 pick was cornerback Deion Sanders, who was Hunter's coach at Colorado. Advertisement On the longshot possibility that Hunter falls to No. 5, the Jaguars should make him a full-time cornerback and part-time receiver. For game-planning purposes, it'd be easier to utilize Hunter primarily as a defender than the other way around. But if the Jaguars select offensive tackles Will Campbell (LSU) or Armond Membou (Missouri) over Graham, which isn't out of the question, then you have to think Boselli had significant input. Jeanty would be boldest pick Is it possible the Jaguars would defy conventional wisdom and make Boise State's Ashton Jeanty the fourth top-5 pick running back in the last decade, which includes Jacksonville's Leonard Fournette at No. 4 in 2017? Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, US; Boise State Broncos running back (2) Ashton Jeanty tries to break past Penn State Nittany Lions safety Zakee Wheatley (6) during their Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup at State Farm Stadium. While many question the proper value of the RB position, the truth is the dozen backs taken in the top 25 since 2015 have either had a minimum two 1,000-yard seasons or been to multiple Pro Bowls. Advertisement The difference with Jeanty is he's the only back in that distinguished group who didn't play at a Power 4 school. He faced only four Power 4 opponents the past two seasons with mixed results, and questions remain how Jeanty might hold up as a pass-protector. That said, the Jaguars taking Jeanty can't be dismissed because Coen's one-year stint as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator shows how much he values a quality run game. One of the best ways to make Lawrence a better QB is to pour resources into an effective ground attack, as the Jaguars did with O-line additions in free agency. Jeanty (5-foot-9, 211 pounds) should have a solid NFL career, but is he worth a No. 5 pick? If so, he better be a lot closer to a Maurice Jones-Drew than Fournette. Look out if Titans hit HR with Ward At the moment, it's safe to say the Tennessee Titans' roster is the worst in the AFC South, but that can change quickly with one home run pick at the top. Advertisement If the Jaguars' long-time rivals hit it big by taking University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick, that franchise's fortunes could turn in a dramatically positive way. Just look at what happened with the Houston Texans after they landed quarterback C.J. Stroud in 2023 with the No. 2 overall selection. All Houston has done is win back-to-back AFC South titles, albeit behind a shaky offensive line. So imagine how difficult the Texans might be to deal with if Houston drafts some quality bodyguards to better protect Stroud. The Titans taking Ward means the entire AFC South division would likely have starting quarterbacks in 2025 who were top-5 picks in the last four drafts. Advertisement It's time for the Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence to step up, with the help of Coen's astute offensive mind, and start winning that high-profile QB race. Forget mock drafts, mostly useless noise Let's be honest about who actually has draft expertise: it's not people, media or otherwise, who start poring over college prospects after the Super Bowl because the draft is the most popular NFL offseason event. Not only is draft speculation (at least after the top-10 picks) an inexact science, but all these mock drafts put out by armchair GMs or people not paid to study tape year-round is pretty much throwing darts blindfolded. Advertisement Just because somebody watches a prospect's game tape, that doesn't mean they understand how that player's game translates to the next level or fits scheme-wise with any NFL team. That's why most mock drafts are just white noise, better to be ignored than taken seriously. Even the most dialed-in draft speculators correctly project only 5 to 12 first-round picks. Drafting the right players is incredibly hard, especially after the first round. The only way the Jaguars or any team can have success is to do their best possible homework and hope they get lucky along the way. Jaguars must trust their draft board Sure, there might be some trepidation that Gladstone, Coen and Boselli have never been in these positions of power before, but they must trust their own judgment and that of the Jaguars' scouts when making any draft call. Advertisement Looking back at the five previous drafts where the Jaguars had a new GM, including four times corresponding with a new head coach, only 1995 under coach/GM Tom Coughlin delivered reasonably good value, largely because of Boselli's presence at the top. It's a safe bet Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach Liam Coen (L) and general manager James Gladstone (R) will highly value the input of Tony Boselli, hired on February 3 as the team's Executive Vice-President of Football Operations. GM James 'Shack' Harris taking QB Byron Leftwich at No. 7 in 2003 was a meh pick. Gene Smith's 2009 draft, leading off with tackle Eugene Monroe, was so-so at best, and none of the eight selections by Dave Caldwell in 2013 were much of a factor. The 2021 draft with GM Trent Baalke, where he picked Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Tyson Campbell, Walker Little and Andre Cisco over the first two days, remains mostly a work in progress. Advertisement Now another new Jaguars' regime hopes its initial draft class can help this struggling franchise produce a turnaround that leads to elusive sustained success. They can't worry about who others think they should draft. The Jaguars have to trust their own instincts from watching tape. Besides, everyone will know in two, three or four years whether this new leadership structure made the right call. gfrenette@ (904) 359-4540; Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @genefrenette This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Tony Boselli brings intrigue to Jacksonville Jaguars draft in 2025
NBC Sports
14-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Tony Boselli says Jaguars will wear their throwback uniforms as much as the NFL allows
Jaguars Executive V.P. of Football Operations says the team wants to wear its 'Prowler' throwback uniforms — the uniforms Boselli himself wore during his Jaguars career as a Hall of Fame offensive tackle — as often as permitted under NFL rules. Boselli was asked on 1010XL about fans clamoring for the throwback uniforms to return permanently, and Boselli said he wants to see the return of the uniform design named for jerseys with a prowling jaguar on the sleeve. 'I'm with the fans. You know where I lie. I would wear those dang things every game if we were allowed. I think this year we're allowed to wear them up to four. We will maximize. Any time we can wear the power of the old-school jerseys, they will be on,' Boselli said. Boselli said the NFL doesn't allow teams to make too many changes to its uniforms and that the Jaguars couldn't immediately return to the old uniform design, but he indicated that the Jaguars could be heading to a time when the Prowlers are the main uniform and the current main uniform is the alternate. 'There are league rules of how often you can change the jerseys,' Boselli said. 'We will abide by those rules. We can't change them immediately to be a full-time jersey. Stay tuned. We'll communicate that as we have the opportunity to at our next jersey change. But for this year, expect us to maximize. I believe it's four times that we can wear the Prowlers, and we're going to maximize and wear those Prowlers as much as we can.' The Jaguars wore the original Prowler uniforms when the team first played as an expansion franchise, then slightly modified them in 1998 before a significant uniform change in 2009.
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tony Boselli recalls 2 things that separated Liam Coen during Jaguars head coaching search
Tony Boselli recalls 2 things that separated Liam Coen during Jaguars head coaching search In a recent interview, Tony Boselli recalled two things about Liam Coen that separated him during the head coaching search. Back when the Jacksonville Jaguars were going through their head coaching search, EVP of Football Operations Tony Boselli recalled recently two things that stood out about Liam Coen that separated him from the rest. The first thing that Boselli mentioned on an appearance on 'Jaguars Today' on 1010XL, was Coen's energy and his ability to command the room. "I think I have a different perspective as well as being a player, because players know immediately whether the guy's a fraud or not, and players know immediately, is this an authentic leader? Is he being himself?" Boselli said via Jaguars on SI. "And within 30 minutes, I'm like, Okay, this dude's got that because he has a presence about him. If I was a player, I would follow him. He can capture the attention of grown men who are a bunch of alphas that are striving, that are competitive and trying to be best they can." The second thing about Coen that caught Boselli's attention was his commitment to building the Jaguars' offensive and defensive units through the trenches. By Boselli's own admission, before getting to know Coen through the interview process, Boselli wasn't sure if Coen's vision for the offense was going to be more so centered around throwing the ball around the field, given his background as a quarterback and offensive play caller. However, that wasn't the direction that Coen went during the initial interview. "It starts up front," Boselli recalled Coen saying during his interview. "It starts with when you break the huddle and what that group looks like and their ability to control the line of scrimmage, and he went in depth and in detail." The trenches on both sides of the ball are two areas where this Jaguars team has to improve this season. When there is a steady push from the defensive front, the second and third-level defenders all benefit. Then, on offense, when there is a run game to lean on, the offense stays ahead of the sticks and out of predictable passing situations, while providing the quarterback with time in the pocket to throw is the name of the game. "I'm thoroughly impressed with everything, how he's done everything to date and going about leading our team," Boselli added.
USA Today
14-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Who have Jaguars interviewed for general manager job?
Who have the Jacksonville Jaguars interviewed so far for their general manager opening? Interviews started earlier this week and are taking place virtually. CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones would report that the Jaguars hope to have a new general manager in place by the end of next week, prior to the NFL Combine. During a recent interview on 1010XL, Executive Vice President Tony Boselli highlighted what the Jaguars are looking for in their next GM: – The character of the individual and understanding who they are. – What is their vision and philosophy of football? – And lastly, what's their process for establishing that vision and then executing on it? Boselli also added that the search committee said Boselli will be himself, owner Shad Khan, head coach Liam Coen, and team President Mark Lamping. With help from the Jaguars team site, here is who Jacksonville has completed interviews with up to this point: Former Titans GM Jon Robinson: The Titans had a record of 66-48 from 2016-2022 during Robinson's tenure. They made the playoffs four times and reached the AFC Championship Game once. However, Robinson also traded away star receiver AJ Brown on draft night in 2022 to the Philadelphia Eagles as well. Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown: Brown has been in this role with the Giants since the 2022 season. He got his start at the NFL level as a scout in the Colts' organization in 2015 before joining the Eagles as the assistant director of pro scouting and then being the director of pro scouting. Bills Director of Player Personnel Terrance Gray: The 2024 season was Gray's third in his current role with the Bills. He's been in the Buffalo organization for the last eight seasons. His background is largely rooted in college scouting. Bengals senior personnel executive Tre Brown: Brown has been in Cincinnati since 2021 and was a finalist for the Jets GM opening this offseason. He's also been apart of the Philadelphia and New England organizations in scouting roles. Bengals on Sports Illustrated wrote that Brown has worked closely with GM Duke Tobin during his tenure. Brown has interviewed for a few different GM openings over the years. Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander: The 2024 season was Alexander's first as the assistant GM with the Chargers. Before that, he spent five seasons with the Jets as their director of player personnel. Alexander's career started in Baltimore's organization where he spent 20 seasons, including as a pro scout. The Chargers went from missing out on the playoffs to a playoff team in 2024 thanks to revamping their roster in free agency and hitting on a number of draft picks. 49ers Director of scouting Josh Williams: Williams has been with the 49ers the last 14 seasons and has a scouting background. He's worked on both the college and pro scouting sides. In his current role, which he was promoted to last offseason, Williams has worked closely with 49ers' general manager John Lynch and 'directs pro and college scouting efforts,' according to the 49ers team site. Rams Director of scouting strategy James Gladstone: Gladstone has been with the Rams for eight seasons and in his current role for four years. During that span, the Rams organization has finished with a combined record of 37-31, which includes three 10-plus win seasons, three playoff appearances, and a Super Bowl win, hitting on a number of draft picks and often operating aggressively in free agency. Still to interview, based on the initial requests that the Jaguars made for this role, is Ian Cunningham, the Chicago Bears assistant GM and someone Adam Schefter believes will be 'in contention' for this job. Also of note, current Jaguars interim GM Ethan Waugh, who was the assistant GM under Trent Baalke, is reportedly a 'strong' candidate for this role. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler would also mention Packers VP of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan as a name to watch–although no formal interview has been reported.
USA Today
12-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
3 Things Jaguars are looking for in next general manager
The Jacksonville Jaguars' search for their next general manager is underway. So what specifically are they looking for as they now fill this important role? Executive Vice President Tony Boselli was recently on 1010XL's 'The Drill' and went through what he and the rest of those involved in the search are looking for. In short, there are three boxes that the candidates have to check: – The character of the individual and understanding who they are. – What is their vision and philosophy of football? – And lastly, what's their process for establishing that vision and then executing on it? 'What I'm looking for first and foremost is the individual,' Boselli. 'From a character and integrity standpoint, what kind of ego does this individual has because just the way I'm wired, and probably because of the position I played, you got to be in it for each other, and it's not about you as an individual. 'I'm not looking for the smartest guy, and to let everyone know they're the smartest guy because how great they did when they pick good players, and if they don't, if it's not a good player, it's someone else's fault. And we're just not going to have that in this building.' ICYMI#Jaguars EVP and Hall of Famer Tony Boselli on what he wants from the future General Manager of the Jags Watch the full video⬇️ — 1010 XL / 92.5 FM (@1010XL) February 10, 2025 A part of this search committee said Boselli will be himself, owner Shad Khan, head coach Liam Coen, and team President Mark Lamping. 'For me, it's looking at the type of character and the individuals they are, and then what's their vision?' added Boselli. 'How do they how do they see building the team? What's their philosophy? And then the process, how do you get to that answer? How do you work in a collaborative method?' During Coen's introductory press conference, he would also mention when discussing the GM role the importance of communication and alignment from top to bottom so that all are on the same page when it comes to not only roster building but establishing a strong culture as well. At this time, there are eight reported candidates who will be interviewing for the general manager role. Josina Anderson would also report that the Jaguars' may have interest in a former GM candidate, although no formal interview or discussions have happened. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports would report that this week the candidates are interviewing virtually and that the Jaguars hope to have the role filled sometime next week ahead of the NFL Combine.
