James Gladstone enters his second season in 2026 as general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars and 11th in the NFL following nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (2016-24) as director of scouting (2022-24) and director of scouting strategy (2019-22).
In Gladstone's first season as general manager, the Jaguars finished 13-4 to more than triple their victory total from 2024 and won the AFC South. In doing so, Gladstone became the first GM in franchise history to claim the AFC South in his first season in the role. Gladstone's first draft with the Jaguars started with a trade to acquire, from the Browns, the No. 2 overall pick: WR/DB Travis Hunter, who started games on both sides of the ball. Fellow 2025 draftees RB Bhayshul Tuten, RB LeQuint Allen and C Jonah Monheim (PFWA All-Rookie Team) were each key contributors to a Jaguars offense that ranked sixth in the league at a franchise record 27.9 points per game. At the trade deadline, Gladstone acquired WR Jakobi Meyers from Las Vegas. From Weeks 10 to 18, Meyers ranked among the AFC leaders in first-down receptions (third), receptions (fourth), and receiving yards (seventh), all while the Jaguars went 8-1 and averaged 33.1 points per game. Defensive stalwarts CB Jourdan Lewis, S Eric Murray and LB Dennis Gardeck highlighted Gladstone's first free-agent class in Jacksonville. Late in the season, Gladstone signed Meyers and OL Cole Van Lanen to contract extensions.
During Gladstone's nine-year tenure in Los Angeles, the Rams secured four NFC West division titles and appeared in the postseason six times, including a Super Bowl LVI victory in 2021.
As director of scouting, Gladstone collaborated with General Manager Les Snead on strategic planning and oversaw the execution of day-to-day scouting processes. He was also responsible for scouting both current and prospective players, and for providing analysis on a variety of special projects. In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Rams selected OLB Jared Verse in the first round (19th overall) who went on to lead all rookies in pressures (77), hurries (56) and quarterback hits (20), tie for second in tackles for loss (11) and rank fifth in sacks (4.5). Verse was subsequently named the 2024 Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The year prior, the Rams drafted WR Puka Nacua in the fifth round (177th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft, who set rookie NFL records in receiving yards (1,486) and receptions (105). Nacua was named AP Second-Team All-Pro, earned All-Rookie honors by the Pro Football Writers of America and was nominated to the Pro Bowl.
Gladstone began his front office career with the Rams as senior assistant to the general manager from 2016-18 and personnel coordinator in 2018. In Gladstone's first NFL Draft in 2017, the Rams selected WR Cooper Kupp in the third round (69th overall) who was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after leading the team and ranking second in the league among rookies with 869 receiving yards. After eight seasons with the Rams (2017-24), he finished third in franchise history in receptions (634) and receiving touchdowns (57) and fourth in receiving yards (7,776). In 2021, Kupp posted the second most receiving yards in a single season in NFL history (1,947) and became the fourth player in NFL history to lead the league in receptions (145), receiving yards and receiving touchdowns (16). He was subsequently named Super Bowl LVI MVP, NFL Offensive Player of the Year and AP First-Team All-Pro and was voted to his first Pro Bowl.
Gladstone also played a role in key free-agent acquisitions in 2017, including WR Robert Woods and T Andrew Whitworth. Woods set a career-high in receiving yards (781) on 56 catches in 2017 and later went on to post back-to-back seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards in 2018 and 2019. Whitworth was named AP First-Team All-Pro in his first season with the team, helping the offensive line give up the ninth-fewest sacks in the league (28.0) after giving up the second most in the league (49.0) the season prior.
Before entering the NFL, Gladstone worked in educational administration as the student activities director and football coach at Clayton High School in his hometown of St. Louis, Mo., and as the media and literacy coordinator and football coach at St. John Vianney High School, also in St. Louis.
Gladstone graduated from Westminster College in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in education. While attending Westminster, he was a two-time captain of the football team, was awarded Athlete of the Year honors and was named to the BSN All-American team as a wide receiver. Gladstone also holds a master's degree in education administration.
Gladstone and his wife, Julie, have a daughter, Sabine, and a son, Julien.
