The Jacksonville Jaguars are riding the highs of a successful season, but with success comes the inevitable attention from the rest of the league - and that spotlight is now squarely on their coaching staff.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile is drawing serious interest, having just completed a second interview - this time in person - with the Arizona Cardinals. That’s a clear sign he’s a legitimate contender for a major role elsewhere.
But Campanile isn’t the only name on the radar. Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski is also making waves - and not just as a rising assistant.
The Buffalo Bills, fresh off parting ways with their head coach, have reached out to Udinski as they search for their next leader.
At just 30 years old, Udinski is already being talked about as a future head coach. Around the league, he’s viewed as one of the brightest young offensive minds - a coach who’s helped shape an offense that turned Trevor Lawrence into an MVP finalist this season. That kind of résumé gets attention, and Buffalo is clearly intrigued.
But here’s where things get interesting.
Udinski hasn’t called plays in Jacksonville. He’s been part of the offensive gameplanning, no doubt - working alongside the Jaguars’ staff to build a system that’s gotten the most out of Lawrence and the weapons around him.
But there’s a difference between crafting the plan and pulling the trigger on game day. That in-the-moment decision-making - knowing when to dial up a shot play, when to stick with the run, when to adjust on the fly - is a skill that only comes with experience.
And that’s something Udinski hasn’t had to do yet.
We’ve seen how this can play out. Take Brian Callahan, for example.
In 2024, the Titans hired him away from Cincinnati, where he was the offensive coordinator but didn’t call plays. He had an impressive background - worked with Peyton Manning, helped guide Joe Burrow - and was instrumental in building gameplans.
But once he became the guy making the calls, the learning curve was steep. It’s one thing to prepare during the week; it’s another to make the right call with 40 seconds on the play clock and the game hanging in the balance.
That’s the challenge Udinski would be stepping into in Buffalo - a franchise with high expectations and a fanbase hungry for postseason success. The Bills’ next head coach won’t be walking into a rebuild; he’ll be expected to win now. That’s a lot to put on someone who hasn’t yet had the chance to develop that feel for live play-calling.
That’s not to say Udinski can’t eventually become a strong head coach. The tools are there - intelligence, leadership, creativity.
But in today’s NFL, where head coaches are often the primary play-callers on offense, not having that experience can be a real hurdle. It’s not just about X’s and O’s - it’s about rhythm, timing, and instinct, all of which are honed through reps in the moment.
So while Buffalo’s interest in Udinski is understandable - and his future in the league looks bright - this might be a case where a little more seasoning could go a long way. Gaining play-calling experience, whether in Jacksonville or elsewhere, could not only prepare him for the demands of a head coaching role but also set him up for long-term success once he gets there.
For now, the Jaguars may be bracing for change. And if Udinski does move on, it’ll be another sign that Jacksonville’s rise is turning heads - even if it means losing key pieces of the staff that helped make it happen.