The coaching staff on NFL teams needs to be filled with talented coaches from top to bottom.

Sure, the head coach usually gets most of the credit, or most of the blame, for how his team performs. However, the coordinators and positional coaches have a tremendous impact on the team and often forge closer and more personal relationships with the players than the head coach.

The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Liam Coen to be their new head coach before the 2025 season. Coen then brought in Grant Udinski as offensive coordinator and Anthony Campanile to run the defense.

Needless to say, the Jags got it right this time, as they may already be the best coaching trio in the NFL. Campanile turned the Jaguars' defense into the league's best against the run, and Udinski (and Coen) transformed the offense into one of the league's most explosive while turning quarterback Trevor Lawrence into an MVP finalist.

Both Udinski and Campanile, after only one season as coordinators, earned multiple head-coaching interviews this offseason. Both are expected to be head coaches sooner rather than later.

While Udinski saw his stock skyrocket in 2025, he is expected to have even more success this season. Jordan Rodrigue, a senior writer at The Athletic, picked one assistant coach from each NFL team to have a breakout 2026 season.

It is fair to say Udinski already broke out last year, but Rodrigue believes he will take another step forward this season and chose him as her pick for the Jaguars.

Udinski came to Jacksonville from the Minnesota Vikings, where he worked under Kevin O'Connell. Rodrigue notes that both Coen and O'Connell have nothing but praise for Udinski's work ethic.

"Udinski’s first season under Jacksonville coach Liam Coen was already the subject of much interest in league circles following a successful stint with the Vikings and coach Kevin O’Connell. He drew head coaching interest after the Jaguars’ exceptional 2025 season, and ultimately received a contract extension in Jacksonville in the spring. Both coaching mentors have heartily praised Udinski’s work ethic and attention to detail in developing the offensive plan each week."

It is that work ethic that has Udinski generating interest as a head coach around the NFL. Even with all the success the Jaguars' offense enjoyed in 2025, they are expected to be even better in 2026.

Now that the offense has already learned Udinski's (and Coen's) offense, everyone should be more comfortable in 2026 and be able to fine-tune the details, which should lead to even greater success. Mastering those small details could be the difference between just making the playoffs and going on a Super Bowl run, something Jacksonville is hoping to accomplish for the first time in franchise history.

It is interesting (and a bit surprising) to see Udinski being the assistant coach chosen by Rodrigue. The success he had last year has already made him a hot name around the NFL. 

However, it is a testament to just how highly he is thought of that many are expecting even bigger things from Udinski in 2026.

Personally, I would have picked either run-game coordinator Brian Picucci or defensive pass-game coordinator Mathieu Araujo. Both were added to Coen's staff this year, and both are already making an impact on their players.

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