Jaguars promote Shane Waldron and Heath Farwell, adding assistant head coach and associate head coach titles

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced new expanded titles for two members of their coaching staff, assigning added seniority to the team’s pass-game coordinator and special teams coordinator. Pass-game coordinator Shane Waldron will carry the additional designation of assistant head coach, while special teams coordinator Heath Farwell will be titled associate head coach, according to Pro Football Rumors’ staff update reported July 1, 2026.

Waldron’s promotion reflects how NFL organizations use “assistant head coach” language to report broader responsibility beyond a single unit. As pass-game coordinator, his day-to-day focus typically centers on offensive passing structures, game-planning input for the passing attack, and weekly development with quarterbacks and receivers. The extra head-coach title generally indicates he will also be more involved in overall in-season coordination and planning across coaching responsibilities.

Farwell’s associate head coach designation similarly points to a larger leadership footprint within the staff. Special teams coordinators are responsible for all kickoff, punt, and field-goal phases, along with the player roles and weekly tendencies that drive performance in those high-leverage moments. Adding an “associate head coach” tag suggests Jacksonville wants Farwell to play a more prominent role in staff management and preparation beyond special teams on game day.

The Jaguars’ staff update comes as teams move through the offseason with an emphasis on continuity and clearer internal hierarchy. In the NFL, assistant head coach and associate head coach titles are often used to formalize who acts as a top internal bridge between the head coach and the rest of the coaching group, particularly during preparation periods and during weeks when multiple units are adjusting schemes.

While the reported change is an important statement about roles, it is also the kind of transaction that does not automatically translate into on-field results. The impact will ultimately depend on execution, how the staff’s decision-making is organized, and whether the added leadership responsibilities align with the Jaguars’ operational priorities for offense and special teams.

For Jaguars fans, the most practical watch point is whether Waldron’s expanded remit results in clearer passing-game emphasis and faster implementation of weekly adjustments, and whether Farwell’s seniority helps the team carry a more consistent, disciplined identity in kickoff and punt execution. Jacksonville’s coaching leadership structure is now more clearly defined, and the regular season will reveal how that structure supports the team’s performance goals.