The Jacksonville Jaguars are locking in Grant Udinski as their offensive coordinator for 2026-and they’re not just keeping him around, they’re rewarding him. Udinski has signed an extension and is set to receive a raise, a clear sign of how much the organization values what he's brought to the table. But while the Jaguars are making moves to secure their offensive brain trust, the situation is far from settled.
Udinski remains in the running for the Buffalo Bills’ head coaching job-a role that could dramatically shift the trajectory of his career. According to reports, even with the new deal in Jacksonville, the Jaguars are giving him the green light to continue pursuing the opportunity in Buffalo. That’s a rare level of flexibility, and it speaks volumes about the mutual respect between Udinski and the organization.
Earlier on Monday, Udinski withdrew from consideration for the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching vacancy, narrowing his focus. That move only adds fuel to the speculation that Buffalo could be where this is headed next.
The Bills interviewed Udinski on Championship Sunday, and by all accounts, he’s now in the final stages of the process. If an offer comes, it could be tough to pass up-even with a secure and promising role in Jacksonville.
Let’s be clear: if Udinski were to take the reins in Buffalo, he’d be stepping into one of the most high-pressure situations in the league. At just 30 years old, with no prior head coaching experience, he’d be tasked with replacing Sean McDermott-a coach who led the Bills to the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons.
McDermott’s downfall? Never getting the team over the Super Bowl hump.
That’s the bar Udinski would be measured against from day one.
But if you’ve followed Udinski’s coaching journey, you know he’s no stranger to climbing the ladder quickly. His coaching roots trace back to 2019 when he worked as a graduate assistant under Matt Rhule at Baylor.
He followed Rhule to the NFL, joining the Carolina Panthers as a coaching assistant in 2021 and 2022. From there, he made the jump to the Minnesota Vikings, where he worked under Kevin O’Connell as an assistant quarterbacks coach and assistant offensive coordinator for three seasons.
In 2025, Liam Coen brought him to Jacksonville to serve as the offensive coordinator-though not the play-caller. Even so, Udinski’s fingerprints were all over the Jaguars’ offensive resurgence. His impact was immediate and significant, helping to reshape a unit that had struggled to find consistency in recent years.
So while the Jaguars have done their part to keep Udinski in the fold, the NFL coaching carousel waits for no one. Jacksonville fans should enjoy the stability while it lasts-but they’d be wise not to get too comfortable. If the Bills come calling, and Udinski believes the timing is right, he may be leading a different team come fall.