Jaguars coaching search: Gus Bradley leaves Seattle for Jacksonville

Gus Bradley is wasting no time filling out his coaching staff.

Per Ryan O’Halloran, Bradley and Babich worked together at North Dakota State. Bradley served as Babich’s defensive coordinator when Babich was the head coach for the Bison between 1997-2002.

Gus Bradley hired someone he’s worked with before to be his offensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars, bringing in the University of Miami’s offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Fisch had previously worked alongside Bradley when Bradley was defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and Fisch was the team’s quarterbacks coach in 2010. This is Fisch’s first coordinator job in the NFL, having served as an assistant coach in various roles with the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos as well as many college teams. His Hurricanes averaged 31.4 points per game this past year, the team’s best output since 2008.

The first task for Bradley is to assemble a staff of assistant coaches, something he said he does not want to move too quickly in doing. When it came to expectations and timelines, Bradley kept things simple. He reiterated time and again that the focus will be to get better every day and that everything else would take care of itself.

Despite his defensive background, Bradley let it be known that he “doesn’t want all games to be 10-7,” and that he understands the need to be explosive on offense. As the Jaguars ranked in the bottom four of the league in both offense and defense, there is plenty of room for Jacksonville to meet Bradley’s goals and “get better.”

Tucker interviewed before the 2012 season, but was passed over by the front office in favor of Mike Mularkey. Mularkey was fired after just one unsuccessful season, giving Tucker another chance to interview for the job, but once again, he was passed over, this time for Gus Bradley.

Tucker, who may feel a little unappreciated at this point, could look to find employment elsewhere within the league. As of yet, he has no interviews, though.

Last season, under Bradley, the Seahawks finished with the top-ranked scoring defense in the NFL, allowing only 15.3 points per game. Seattle also finished fourth in total defense, allowing 306.2 yards per game. In 2008, the season before Bradley came to Seattle, the Seahawks ranked 25th in scoring defense and 30th in total defense. Since Bradley became defensive coordinator, the Seahawks total defense ranking has gone from 24th in 2009, to 27th to ninth and finally to seventh last season.

Bradley, 46, got his coaching start at North Dakota State as a graduate assistant coach in 1990 and ‘91. He played his college ball at NDSU from 1984-1988 as both a free safety and punter and was a four time academic All-North Central Conference selection.

The Jaguars are also reportedly interested in both Seattle coordinators and have interviews scheduled with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. There is a chance neither will make it to Jacksonville as both are finalists for other jobs. Bevell is one of three finalists in Chicago while Bradley is considered to be the favorite in Philadelphia.

The list of potential candidates could expand to include San Francisco offensive coordinator Greg Roman and defense coordinator Vic Fangio, but Jacksonville is unable to interview either until after the NFC Championship game.

Gruden, 45, has been the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati for two seasons but has already become a top head coaching candidate. Following the 2011 season, after just one season with the Bengals, he turned down all head coaching interviews and received an extension with the Bengals.

A prolific passer with the Louisville Cardinals, Gruden wound up playing professional football in NFL Europe and the Arena Football League. He was the 1992 MVP of the AFL and was named the fourth best player in AFL history by the league in 2012.

Bradley spent the last four seasons as the defensive coordinator in Seattle, with the Seahawks improving nearly every season. After finishing seventh in scoring defense last season, the Seahawks allowed a NFL-low 15.3 points per game this season.

Jacksonville didn’t fire head coach Mike Mularkey until Thursday, so their head coaching search is just now getting properly started. Mularkey was only able to lead the Jaguars to two wins this season, and the team also brought in a new general manager in David Caldwell.

Tucker has been the team’s defensive coordinator since he was hired in 2009, and was given the title of assistant head coach prior to the start of the 2012 season. While the team struggled mightily this year, he had the Jaguars as the No. 6 defense in the league in 2011.

New Jaguars general manager David Caldwell fired Mike Mularkey after just one season in Jacksonville. Under Mularkey, the Jaguars went 2-14 -- tied for the worst record in the league.

If the Broncos defeat the Ravens on Saturday, it appears the Jaguars will have to wait at least another week before interviewing McCoy. Denver enters Saturday’s Divisional round contest as nine-point favorites.

Jacksonville is moving quickly after firing head coach Mike Mularkey on Thursday. Mularkey spent just one season at the helm of the Jaguars, winning just two games. He has a career 16-32 record as an NFL head coach.

The Jaguars haven’t had a winning season since 2007, when the team finished 11-5 and advanced to the Divisional playoffs. That year was just one of two trips to the playoffs for the franchise since going four straight years from 1996 to 1999.

Mularkey lasted just one season as Jacksonville’s head coach, and led the Jaguars to a meager 2-14 record -- tied for worst in the league. The Jaguars didn’t play well in any particular area, ranking 21st in the league in passing offense, 30th in rushing offense, 22nd in pass defense and 30th in rush defense.

Between his tenure as Bills and Jaguars head coach, Mularkey owns a career 16-32 record.