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According to a report by NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the Jaguars are set to hire long-time wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal, seemingly marking an end to Keenan McCardell’s tenure in Jacksonville as its receivers coach. McCardell originally joined the franchise as a coach in 2017 and has coached receivers ever since, with multiple offensive coordinators.
The #Jaguars are hiring veteran wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal, source said. An experienced staff coming together under Urban Meyer and Darrell Bevell.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 28, 2021
Lal, 51, most recently coached with the Seattle Seahawks as a senior offensive assistant. Prior to that, Lal coached with the Dallas Cowboys as the team’s wide receivers coach h from 2018-19. While at Dallas, Lal oversaw the development of receiver Michael Gallup who made tremendous gains from his rookie season in 2018 to his second year in 2019.
As a rookie, Gallup hauled in a respectable 33 receptions for 507 yards and two touchdowns. By year two, Gallup was cemented as a go-to target for quarterback Dak Prescott, hauling in 66 receptions for 1107 and six touchdowns. Under the guidance of Lal, veteran receiver Amari Cooper was able to net a career-high in touchdowns in 2019, too, hauling in eight in 2019.
A long-time assistant coach, Lal has been in the NFL for quite some time, getting his first opportunity with the Oakland Raiders in 2007 as the team’s offensive quality control coach. He would go on to coach receivers in Oakland from 2009-11 before moving on to the New York Jets (2012-14), Buffalo Bills (2015-16), Indianapolis Colts (2017) and finally with the Cowboys.
Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer has consistently preached finding the right coaches for his staff since he was hired a couple of weeks ago. While the process has been long, Meyer has been consistent in his message of finding not just good, but great coaches.
“First of all, I’ve got to get a great staff, not a good staff, a great staff,” Meyer said at his introductory press conference nearly two weeks ago.
“And when people are recommended, I’ve had a multitude of people calling and my comment is to save the recommendation unless you feel that person is elite in all areas. Because that’s what Jacksonville deserves and that’s what we’re going to have on our staff.”
It appears that Lal fits that bill, and he is just the third offensive staff member Jacksonville has reportedly hired or is set to hire/retain. It was reported earlier this week that former Detroit Lions interim head coach and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell would be hired as Jacksonville’s offensive coordinator. It was also reported that Meyer will be retaining offensive line coach George Warhop.
Last week, Meyer indicated that he would like to get the staff finalized this week, and it appears Lal will be next in line to be hired, continuing the development of future star receiver DJ Chark Jr., and young talents such as Laviska Shenault and Collin Johnson among others.