Jacksonville Jaguars Hire James Gladstone as New General Manager

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars officially named James Gladstone as their new general manager on Friday, marking a significant shift in leadership for the franchise.

Gladstone, who previously served as the Los Angeles Rams‘ director of scouting strategy for three seasons, will assume the position as the sixth full-time general manager in Jaguars history. The announcement comes just days before the NFL Combine, pushing the Jaguars into a pivotal phase of player assessment and recruitment.

“It’s my honor to introduce James Gladstone as the new general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars,” said Jaguars owner Shad Khan. “James emerged as my choice, and our choice, following a painstaking but energizing interview process that left nothing to doubt.”

During the search, the Jaguars interviewed 11 candidates over two weeks, a process that included five in-person interviews in the final three days. Khan emphasized the caliber of candidates interviewed and expressed gratitude for their preparation and commitment.

“Every candidate delivered, and I am grateful to them all for their time spent with us this week in Jacksonville,” Khan added. “In the end, we found James to be a class ahead and exceptional in every regard—vision, new ideas, communication, chemistry, and a keen understanding of the league and our team, to name a few.”

Gladstone’s background includes nine seasons with the Rams, where he played an integral role in strategic planning related to player evaluation and daily scouting processes. Under his guidance, the Rams secured four NFC West titles and made six postseason appearances, culminating in a Super Bowl victory after the 2021 season.

Before joining the Rams, Gladstone was the Student Activities Director and football coach at Clayton High School in St. Louis, Missouri. A former wide receiver at Westminster College, he graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and later earned a Master’s Degree in Education Administration.

Gladstone has a track record of talent evaluation, having led the Rams’ recent draft processes, where he was responsible for critical player selections that bolstered the team’s roster. Notably, the Rams managed to replenish their talent pool without relying on first-round draft picks, showcasing his ability in strategic roster management.

Citing his confidence in Gladstone’s capabilities, Khan mentioned, “It’s going to be fun watching James work with our football leadership team of Liam Coen, Tony Boselli, and Tony Khan. I am confident of that.”

Coen, the Jaguars’ head coach, previously worked with Gladstone during their time with the Rams, creating a familiarity that may benefit their collaboration moving forward. Khan also expressed hope that fans would warmly welcome Gladstone to Jacksonville as the organization moves toward a promising future.

With Gladstone in place, the Jaguars’ leadership team is starting to solidify, aiming to capitalize on the opportunities ahead of the upcoming NFL Combine and the draft. The team will now work swiftly to adjust its scouting strategies and personnel decisions in preparation for the next season.