Report: Jaguars plan to hire 49ers exec Ethan Waugh as assistant GM

According to a report from ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, the Jacksonville Jaguars and general manager Trent Baalke are expected to hire long-time San Francisco 49ers executive Ethan Waugh as the team’s assistant general manager.

Wagoner states that Baalke has sent an offer to Waugh for the position and he is expected to take it following the draft, barring any snags.

Waugh is entering his 17th season with the 49ers and is currently the team’s Vice President of Player Personnel. Previously, Waugh was the team’s director of college scouting and football systems for three years. Prior to that, Waugh served as the organization’s senior player personnel coordinator (2015-17).

He has worked with Baalke in the past, too, from 2005-16 as the former 49ers GM rose up the ranks within the 49ers organization, working alongside Waugh as a scout initially in 2005.

It was always expected that the Jaguars would hire more personnel for its front office, likely following the draft.

In March, Jaguars owner Shad Khan brought the organization’s EVP search to a screeching halt, indicating that he felt strongly about the core of the team’s decision-makers, including Baalke and head coach Doug Pederson. He did indicate, however, that the team would be exploring the addition of personnel to other areas of the football operation.

“In just over three weeks, Doug Pederson has instilled a structured and disciplined approach that is clearly making a difference in our culture and mindset,” Khan said in a statement in March.

“I feel we’re best served at this time by allowing Doug, [General Manager] Trent [Baalke] and their assistants to take ownership of our path moving forward. We will continue to explore the addition of personnel to other areas of our football operations to provide everyone the best chance to win.”

Now, it appears that Waugh is slated to be the first of those additional resources, at least if he does opt to take the gig as expected following next week’s draft.