JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Boselli had thought about a role in the Jaguars front office for years.
It finally happened on Monday.
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Boselli is heading to the team’s front office as the executive vice president of football operations, the realization of a dream for the longtime Jaguars icon.
“It’s really exciting. And I love this organization. I love being part of it. And this is just a new role and it’s a role I’ve thought about and dreamt about and it’s pretty exciting that Shad Khan gave me the opportunity to do it,” Boselli said. “And I look forward to being a part of it and the goal is the same goal Shad talked about at the press conference, that’s to go win football games and win a championship. That’s what we’re all striving for.”
Boselli helped owner Shad Khan during the team’s recent head coaching search that ended with the hire of Liam Coen, and that led to Khan carving out a role for Boselli.
Boselli had sought a role to help his team for years, serving in various capacities like for the team’s radio and broadcast productions. But he longed to move into a more substantial role, mainly because of his love for the franchise.
“I’ll say it this way, I would not have taken this role with any other team,” Boselli said. “I took this role because it’s the Jacksonville Jaguars. … The only job I was leaving for was this job right here.”
Khan said the team had been talking to the NFL about adding that spot to the team’s front office. NFL teams must inform the NFL of their power structure intent. The team hasn’t had an EVP since Tom Coughlin in 2019.
Khan hired Coughlin in 2017 to serve as the EVP, albeit in a different capacity than Boselli will serve in. Coughlin lasted two years before being fired in controversy after he drew the ire of the NFL Players Association. According to the Jaguars Boselli will be responsible for “player engagement, football technology, football travel and logistics, equipment, sports performance, team security and football communications.” He’ll also be part of the team’s leadership unit, but Boselli said
“I’m not picking players. I’m not coaching. We’re going to hire the best people. We got the best coach, we believe. We’re going to find the best GM. And my job is to support those guys and I can be a sounding board, give my advice as they need it, help them have success. That’s my role and I look forward to it,” he said.
Boselli has been a lifetime Jaguars staple after he was the No. 2 selection out of USC in 1995 by the expansion franchise. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time All-Pro, helping lead the Jaguars to the AFC championship game in just their second season. Boselli was poised for a decade or more of greatness with the Jaguars at the left tackle position until shoulder injuries derailed his career.
Boselli was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022, the only Jaguars player in the hall.
“Few people have better relationships throughout the NFL, know the game, and understand the value of strong team identity and culture as well as Tony Boselli,” Khan said. “Tony has a wealth of football acumen that we respect and need, and his counsel will be tremendously valuable to me and our football leadership team during this current rebirth and for many seasons to come.”