Mike Smith is way in front of the other candidates when it comes to the hunt for Jacksonville’s new head coach. Mike Smith is easily the better, or safest if you will, choice as the Jag’s next head coach. Jaguars GM, Dave Caldwell, has ties to Mike Smith, as he had spent time on Atlanta’s staff during Mike Smith’s time as head coach of the Falcons. The fact that Caldwell has seen Mike Smith win more games than he has lost in ATL, definitely gives Smith the leg-up on the other candidates. Knowing each other doesn’t hurt either.
If Mike Smith does leave Tampa, I would expect the team to hire from within the organization, and I would think Jay Hayes would be the top candidate in that situation.