CLEVELAND, Ohio \u2014 The Browns once again might try to tap into one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve requested a head coach interview with Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, a league source told cleveland.com.<\/p>\n
The Jaguars\u2019 2025 season ended in dramatic, heartbreaking fashion with a 27\u201324 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card round at EverBank Stadium, bringing an otherwise impressive campaign to a close. Despite finishing 13\u20134 and capturing the AFC South title, the Jags could not advance past the postseason, as Bills quarterback Josh Allen engineered the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter to lift Buffalo into the Divisional Round. The defeat marked Jacksonville\u2019s first home playoff loss since the 1999 AFC Championship and capped a season of significant progress under new leadership.<\/p>\n
At the center of the Jaguars\u2019 offensive coaching staff was offensive Udinski, who spent the 2025 season implementing schemes and guiding Jacksonville\u2019s attack in his first year as an NFL coordinator. The Jaguars brought Udinski aboard on February 5, 2025, as a key hire by first-year head coach Liam Coen. At just 29 years old, Udinski entered the role with minimal coordinator experience but a reputation as one of the league\u2019s fastest-rising young coaches.<\/p>\n
Udinski\u2019s path to Jacksonville was swift. A native of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and a former college player at Davidson and Towson, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Baylor in 2019. His work there caught the attention of NFL scouts, and when Matt Rhule ascended to the Carolina Panthers\u2019 head coaching position in 2020, Udinski joined him as a coaching assistant \u2014 his first NFL gig.<\/p>\n
After two seasons in Carolina, Udinski\u2019s trajectory took a significant turn when he was hired by the Minnesota Vikings in 2022. Initially brought in as assistant to the head coach\/special projects, he soon proved his worth in a variety of offensive responsibilities. In 2023, he transitioned to assistant quarterbacks coach, navigating a tumultuous season that featured four different Vikings starting quarterbacks due to injuries and strategic changes. He remained a trusted presence in the quarterback room, helping guide veteran and young signal-callers alike.<\/p>\n
Udinski\u2019s steady climb continued in 2024 when he was elevated to assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach. He played a supporting role in one of the NFL\u2019s more efficient offenses that season, as the Vikings finished ninth in scoring and 12th in total offense, while ranking sixth in passing yards per game. Minnesota\u2019s success underlined Udinski\u2019s growing reputation as a capable strategist at the professional level.<\/p>\n
The Jaguars lured Udinski to Jacksonville with the promise of his first full coordinator title. While head coach Liam Coen retained primary play-calling duties, Udinski was entrusted with shaping the Jaguars\u2019 offensive identity, working closely with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and a talented skill group. The hire was part of a broader youth movement for Jacksonville\u2019s coaching staff, signaling a commitment to creativity and long-term development.<\/p>\n
Before turning to coaching, Udinski\u2019s playing days saw him as a defensive end at Towson University from 2016-2018, following an initial season at Davidson as a tight end. His collegiate career was marked by both on-field contributions and academic excellence, including All-America recognition for his scholastic achievements.<\/p>\n
As the Jaguars dissect their 2025 campaign \u2014 one that showed promise but ended in playoff frustration \u2014 Udinski\u2019s emergence as a young offensive mind is a major takeaway. His journey from graduate assistant to NFL offensive coordinator underscores both his adaptability and the rapid ascent that has made him one of the league\u2019s most intriguing coaching prospects. With lessons learned from a season that ended just short of deeper postseason success, Udinski and the Jaguars\u2019 offense will look to build toward sustained competitiveness in 2026 and beyond.<\/p>\n