The Jaguars are still in training camp, but Grant Udinski is already getting a meaningful preseason assignment.
Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen is giving his offensive coordinator the full preseason play-calling workload, a notable step for a coach who is entering his second year with the team and has been drawing interest around the league. Udinski returned to Jacksonville despite heavy recruiting for head coaching openings, including with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills.
The chance matters because Udinski has had limited experience in that role. In 2025, he called the offense only in the final preseason game, while Coen handled the rest. Before coming to Jacksonville, Udinski also worked in a non-playing calling role during his time in Minnesota.
Coen said he wanted to create the same kind of opportunity he once received from Sean McVay in Los Angeles. “(Rams coach) Sean (McVay) provided me that experience in (Los Angeles) and I want do the same for Grant,” Coen said.
He also made clear that preseason play-calling is not some easy tune-up. “Obviously, you want to do enough (with the game plan) to give your players a chance to win the game because that’s the goal, but Grant will be picking from a tighter menu,” he explained. “It’s actually harder to call plays in the preseason - everybody thinks it’s easier - because you have that limited menu and you don’t want to show too much.”
For Udinski, it’s another move up the ladder in his development, and it could be a significant one as his future in Jacksonville remains a real storyline. He is already viewed as a breakout candidate for 2026, and he helped build an explosive Jaguars offense last season alongside Coen. Trevor Lawrence turned in one of his best years, the attack caught fire in the second half, and Lawrence finished with an MVP nomination.
If Udinski handles the preseason well and Jacksonville’s offense stays on that same track in 2026, next year could wind up being his final one with the Jaguars.
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