Story by
Jacksonville Jaguars name Tony Boselli Executive Vice President of Football Operations
- Story by
- Jacksonville Jaguars name Tony Boselli Executive Vice President of Football Operations
The Jacksonville Jaguars have named Hall of Fame left tackle Tony Boselli the team's Executive Vice President of Football Operations. Boselli has worked as a member of the Jaguars' game-day radio broadcast crew since 2013 and has been a team ambassador for many years since his retirement in 2003.
In speaking with local reporters shortly before the announcement was made Monday morning, Boselli called the opportunity a "dream come true."
Advertisement
Boselli, 52, was Jacksonville 's first-ever draft pick, selected second overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. He played for the franchise from 1995-2001 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 .
"Few people have better relationships throughout the NFL, know the game, and understand the value of strong team identity and culture as well as Tony Boselli," Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement. "Tony has a wealth of football acumen that we respect and need, and his counsel will be tremendously valuable to me and our football leadership team during this current rebirth and for many seasons to come."
Boselli will report directly to Khan, as will head coach Liam Coen. The team will search for a new general manager who will also report to Khan once that hire has been made in the weeks ahead, the Jaguars said in a press release.
MORE EXPERIENCE? Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly meet with former Commanders, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera
Advertisement
Tony Boselli's passion for Jacksonville Jaguars 'engrained in my family's legacy'
Boselli has been instrumental in Jacksonville's search for a head coach and general manager, stepping in during the second round of interviews for the team's head coach.
In addition to his role in football leadership, Boselli will be responsible for "player engagement, football technology, football travel and logistics, equipment, sports performance, team security and football communications," the team said. Boselli will also serve as the liaison between football operations and the business side of the Jaguars.
"My passion for this team, these fans and this city has defined my football life, to the point it is now engrained in my family's legacy," said Boselli via the team's press release.
Advertisement
"Today, that relationship has evolved to include this exciting opportunity, and I find my emotions remarkably similar to what I felt upon being drafted as a Jacksonville Jaguar in 1995. I am so excited and deeply humbled to work with and alongside Shad Khan, the Khan Family, Liam Coen, our new general manager and the entire Jaguars front office. We will come together to build a lasting foundation and winning tradition that Jaguars fans will be proud of."
During Coen's introductory press conference , the first-time head coach thanked Boselli as someone who was part of the process to bring him in. During Coen's press conference, Boselli was among the audience, sitting in the front row alongside Jaguars team president Mark Lamping and chief football strategy officer Tony Khan.
Khan said at the time the franchise planned to add Boselli as a permanent member of the team's football operations.
"We're going to have a position. We're checking with the league, what the rules are, what we have to follow. And then we'll take it from there," said Khan.
Advertisement
Boselli is the team's first EVP of football operations since Tom Coughlin manned the position from 2017-19. Coughlin was fired near the end of the 2019 season after the franchise drew criticism and vitriol for some of Coughlin's practices with player fines and other issues.
Tony Boselli named Jaguars EVP of Football Operations: What does it mean and what's next?
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Former Jacksonville Tiger Tony Boselli looks on during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Announcement on February 10, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The move to make Boselli the team's EVP of football operations comes after Khan and general manager Trent Baalke decided to "respectfully separate" during the team's search for a head coach .
Baalke was let go after the team's first round of 10 virtual interviews. Boselli worked behind the scenes then, before being fully integrated during the team's round of in-person interviews. Soon after, Coen was hired, though there was some turbulence getting there.
Advertisement
Naming Boselli as EVP gives Khan a right-hand man within the organization to lean on to make football decisions. The move appears similar to the one the Denver Broncos made in the past, hiring HOF quarterback John Elway as the team's EVP and general manager in 2011 and what San Francisco currently has with John Lynch as the team's President of Football Operations.
GENE FRENETTE FLASHBACK: Why Jaguars should consider Tony Boselli as next executive VP
The Jaguars will continue a search for the team's general manager, so Boselli will not take on that role, but hiring an EVP is something Khan has said in the past he was willing to do.
During Doug Pederson's introductory press conference in 2022, Khan said the franchise was looking to add an EVP before opting not to down the line.
Advertisement
Khan referenced the team's front office during the season-ending press conference shortly after firing Pederson, noting that the franchise was "lean" in that department.
"Well, it's got to be the right person. Frankly, we need to add some people. We're lean, but if you look at the football side, we've added people, we've changed some people and if we find the right person, definitely," Khan said at the time.
Jacksonville is undergoing a major renovation in all aspects of the football team with Khan going through his first major clean slate since becoming owner in 2012.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
Advertisement
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars' Tony Boselli named EVP of Football Operations
