Here's the latest on the Texas wide receivers coaching search...
* OB can confirm that Jacksonville wide receivers coach Chris Jackson has emerged as the name of the hour in the search.
The 47-year old Jackson is in his first season as wide receivers coach for the Jaguars after having served as an assistant wide receivers coach with the Chicago Bears in 2020. Prior to his work with the Bears, Jackson was coaching high school football at Peoria (Az.) Liberty High School.
Jackson got his big break in the coaching community in 2018 when he was an assistant for the Bears during training camp as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. The following year, he joined the Bears as a defensive assistant.
* From what we have gathered, Jackson has not yet officially interviewed for the job and that only initial contact has been made. With the Jaguars still in the playoffs, Jackson's sole focus has been on his work with the Jaguars. The general protocol in the NFL in these types of situations would see Steve Sarkisian ask Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson for permission to interview Jackson for the job. That's isn't expected to happen until after Jacksonville's season ends.
* The big connection between Jackson to the Texas staff is with Jeff Banks. Both played at Washington State in 1996-97.
* It's likely safe to call Jackson the favorite for the position, but there are obviously still steps in the process to take.
* Sarkisian has deeply vetted a number of candidates for the position, as sources close to Arizona State wide receivers coach Ra'Shad Samples and Washington State wide receivers coach Joel Filani both confirmed to Orangebloods that conversations with Sarkisian occurred this week. In the case of Filani, he actually interviewed in Austin with Sarkisian this week. Sources with knowledge of the conversations that took place between Sarkisian and both coaches suggest that the conversations went to the point where potential contract figures were discussed.
* One NFL source of ours reported that the word has been getting out that Sarkisian was searching the NFL ranks for a possible hire, although that source hadn't heard of any specific names.
* While there's been speculation that Sarkisian would like to make a hire before the upcoming Junior Day next weekend, Sarkisian won't likely have the hire in place to take part in next weekend's festivities if the desire is to go after Jackson.
If we don't hear about a new coach going into next weekend, all signs will point to Jackson at that point unless Sarkisian plans to talk to an NFL coach from one of the other eight teams that will still be playing in the playoffs at the end of the weekend.
* Another source told us on Sunday that the word he had directly received from one source close to the situation is that Sarkisian has interviewed three people for the job at this point.
* Click here for Anwar's update from Saturday.
* OB can confirm that Jacksonville wide receivers coach Chris Jackson has emerged as the name of the hour in the search.
The 47-year old Jackson is in his first season as wide receivers coach for the Jaguars after having served as an assistant wide receivers coach with the Chicago Bears in 2020. Prior to his work with the Bears, Jackson was coaching high school football at Peoria (Az.) Liberty High School.
Jackson got his big break in the coaching community in 2018 when he was an assistant for the Bears during training camp as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. The following year, he joined the Bears as a defensive assistant.
* From what we have gathered, Jackson has not yet officially interviewed for the job and that only initial contact has been made. With the Jaguars still in the playoffs, Jackson's sole focus has been on his work with the Jaguars. The general protocol in the NFL in these types of situations would see Steve Sarkisian ask Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson for permission to interview Jackson for the job. That's isn't expected to happen until after Jacksonville's season ends.
* The big connection between Jackson to the Texas staff is with Jeff Banks. Both played at Washington State in 1996-97.
* It's likely safe to call Jackson the favorite for the position, but there are obviously still steps in the process to take.
* Sarkisian has deeply vetted a number of candidates for the position, as sources close to Arizona State wide receivers coach Ra'Shad Samples and Washington State wide receivers coach Joel Filani both confirmed to Orangebloods that conversations with Sarkisian occurred this week. In the case of Filani, he actually interviewed in Austin with Sarkisian this week. Sources with knowledge of the conversations that took place between Sarkisian and both coaches suggest that the conversations went to the point where potential contract figures were discussed.
* One NFL source of ours reported that the word has been getting out that Sarkisian was searching the NFL ranks for a possible hire, although that source hadn't heard of any specific names.
* While there's been speculation that Sarkisian would like to make a hire before the upcoming Junior Day next weekend, Sarkisian won't likely have the hire in place to take part in next weekend's festivities if the desire is to go after Jackson.
If we don't hear about a new coach going into next weekend, all signs will point to Jackson at that point unless Sarkisian plans to talk to an NFL coach from one of the other eight teams that will still be playing in the playoffs at the end of the weekend.
* Another source told us on Sunday that the word he had directly received from one source close to the situation is that Sarkisian has interviewed three people for the job at this point.
* Click here for Anwar's update from Saturday.
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