Officials with the Jacksonville Jaguars have contacted the Carolina Panthers for permission to interview offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski for the Jaguars' head coaching job, a person familiar with the negotiations said Monday.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because neither team had publicly announced Jacksonville's request.
Chudzinski's future is the biggest issue facing the Panthers (6-10) as they head to the offseason. With 20 of 22 projected starters and 57 players in all under contract for next season, the Panthers have very few key personnel issues. But losing Chudzinski could be a big loss given the team's turnaround on offense.
The Panthers went from last in the league in total offense in 2010 to a top-five ranking most of this season. They finished seventh after a poor showing in the season finale against the New Orleans Saints, but still set the franchise record with 6,237 yards. The Panthers scored 47 touchdowns on offense — after scoring only 16 last season — after selecting quarterback Cam Newton with the No. 1 pick.
The Jaguars fired Jack Del Rio earlier this season and replaced him with interim coach Mel Tucker but are considering outside candidates.
Chudzinski would appear to be a solid replacement given how well he has done mentoring Newton, who became the first NFL quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards and run for 500 yards in the same season. The Jaguars are building around another talented first-round draft pick, Blaine Gabbert.
Wide receiver Steve Smith said he spoke with Chudzinski on Monday before his exit interview with the coaching staff.
"As far as what his next move is, I'm pretty confident his next move will be one that helps him, because it's a business...," Smith said. "(But) I think whatever decision he makes is not going to be one where anyone is blindsided by the decision."
Center Ryan Kalil said losing Chudzinski would be rough.
"I think we've all voiced to him how we feel about him and tried to make it as awkward as we can to make sure he stays," Kalil said with a laugh. "But man, he's a heck of a coach, and I think he's going to be a great head coach — just hopefully not anytime soon."
Offensive tackle Jordan Gross said the Panthers loved playing for Chudzinski because of his creativity.
"I didn't know what to expect coming in, and I didn't know a lot about him," Gross said. "But each week, he got better and better. Our game plans got more fun to watch and opened up. As Cam Newton grew, we grew. I told him (Monday) that I want him back. We're not going to be the same offense without him."
But Gross said he would understand if Chudzinski leaves, saying, "he's got to do what he's got to do."
When asked if he had a sense that Chudzinski was eager to leave, Gross said: "I think he's like everybody else — he wants to win a Super Bowl, and he wants to be a head coach, and I don't think he cares what order that comes in. I believe the Panthers will win a Super Bowl with coach Ron Rivera here. Hopefully it's while I'm still here. But I think Chud knows we have something special here on offense, too."
Notes
The Panthers will have the No. 8 or No. 9 pick in the first round of April's draft, and a 2012 home schedule that includes games against four teams in this season's playoffs — the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and Denver Broncos.
The NFL announced the draft order for non-playoff teams and 2012 opponents Monday. A coin flip will determine the 8-9 order between the Panthers and Miami Dolphins.
The Panthers home opponents will be Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa, Dallas, the Giants, Seattle, Denver and Oakland. The away opponents will be Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Kansas City and San Diego. Playing dates have not been set.
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