JACKSONVILLE – Tony Boselli made this much clear:
The idea is to win now – and to win a Super Bowl. The journey toward that goal will begin immediately – and be a daily focus. And the Jaguars' new executive vice president of football operations left no doubt:
He believes winning can happen soon.
"I don't think we're far; I really don't," he said.
Boselli, the first player in Jaguars history named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the first Pride of the Jaguars inductee, was named to his new position Monday. Speaking to the media that morning, he covered multiple Jaguars-related topics including his new role in an organization which he played from 1995-2001 and with which he long has been affiliated.
"All that matters to me is winning," Boselli said.
His first task: Along with Owner Shad Khan and Head Coach Liam Coen to find a general manager, with former General Manager Trent Baalke and the team parting ways January 22. Khan said last week he expects to hire a general manager by the end of February.
"The first thing is we're going to start this GM search," Boselli said. "Just like we got the guy we wanted for head coach in Liam Coen, now we want to make sure we get the best GM that fits this organization and fits the vision for what Shad has first and foremost and what Liam has."
Boselli, 52, will report to Khan – has will Coen and the team's general manager. He also will be responsible for player engagement, football technology, football travel and logistics, equipment, sports performance, team security and football communications – and he will serve as liaison between football operations and the business side of the Jaguars.
"We are going to hire a GM whose responsibility will be to pick players, go through free agency, the draft," Boselli said. "Liam is going to have a very, very big role influence voice in that process. We are going to make sure we are always aligned. I love football and I will assist them how they need, but that's not my job.
"My job is not to pick players. My job is not to coach. My job is to support them and that's what I'll do."
Boselli said his responsibilities after the GM search will focus on supporting Coen, who he said will set the tone and culture of the organization.
"We are committed to make sure we have a strong building, a strong culture," Boselli said. "It'll be Liam's culture. He is the voice, he's the head coach of this organization, it's his team. He's going to dictate how we do things on the field, what the culture is.
"We're here to support him. When our GM gets named, we will work together. We will be aligned. When we pick a player, it's our player. He's a Jaguar. It's not that guy's pick or this guy wanted him. That's not how we're going to operate.
"It's going to be our player and when we win, we won. When we lose, we lost. We're not going to blame, we're not going to point the finger."
Boselli on Monday also discussed the team's roster, speaking highly of players such as rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., defensive ends Travon Walkerand Josh Hines-Allen and right tackle Anton Harrison – and saying he believes strongly in quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
"He's the guy," Boselli said of Lawrence. "I've said it multiple times, that he will help us bring the Lombardi trophy to Jacksonville."
The Jaguars in 2024 finished 4-13 after finishing 9-8 the previous two seasons with an AFC South title in 2022. The Jaguars not only parted ways with Baalke following the season, Head Coach Doug Pederson was dismissed the day after the regular-season finale.
Boselli, when asked about how far the Jaguars are from winning and what is needed for the organization to have sustained success, said, "Sustained success in the NFL is ultimately the goal, but the real goal is winning a championship."
"That's what we're all doing this for, to bring a Lombardi trophy to Jacksonville," he said. "Make no mistake: You have sustain. We want to have sustained success because usually when you have sustained success, that gives you the best and most opportunities to go win the big one.
"I feel very good and really confident that we're going to get this right and we're going to win a lot of football games here in the near future."
