Jaguars hire off. coordinator
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have hired former Minnesota offensive coordinator John DeFilippo to the same position.
Coach Doug Marrone announced the addition Wednesday along with five other assistant coaches. DeFilippo replaces Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired in late November and landed in Green Bay.
Butler graduate Scott Milanovich served as interim offensive coordinator for the Jaguars after Hackett was fired, calling the plays for the remainder of the season.
Milanovich is being retained as quarterbacks coach.
The Vikings parted way with the 40-year-old DeFilippo in mid-December, reportedly for failing to commit to the run ground game. DeFilippo spent less than a year in Minnesota. The Vikings hired him after two seasons in Philadelphia, where he was praised for his work as quarterbacks coach with Nick Foles and Carson Wentz. DeFilippo had one previous NFL stint as an offensive coordinator, in Cleveland in 2015.
“High energy on field, a tough football coach, going to hold people accountable,” Marrone said.
DeFilippo will be tasked with helping improve an offense that ranked 27th in yards and 31st in points in 2018. He also could play a role in developing the team’s next quarterback.
The Jaguars have failed repeatedly to find a long-term solution at the all-important position, coming up short with Byron Leftwich, David Garrard, Blaine Gabbert and Blake Bortles. The Jags are expected to move on from Bortles before March, draft a quarterback and sign a veteran.