Adam Schefter Announced Jaguars Hiring Ryan Nielsen While Live on Pat McAfee Show

The Jaguars' newest defensive coordinator was ordained live on the Pat McAfee Show.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a new defensive coordinator in former Atlanta Falcons coordinator Ryan Nielsen -- and most of the NFL world found out the same way.

ESPN's Adam Schefter, who broke the news of Nielsen's hiring, first did so while live as a guest on the Pat McAfee Show. 

This is the second time something like this has happened to the Jaguars in recent months. Earlier in 2023, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson was a guest on McAfee's show when the news of a trade for Minnesota Vikings guard Ezra Cleveland became public. 

BREAKING NEWS: The Jacksonville Jaguars have hired Ryan Nielsen to be their DC #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/YS89wTeiOJ

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 22, 2024

The Jaguars have not formally announced Nielsen as Pederson's newest defensive coordinator, but the Jaguars can now rest assured knowing they have a new voice leading their defense into the future.

Nielsen, 44, just finished his first year with the Falcons as defensive coordinator, with the Falcons finishing No. 18 in points allowed, No. 12 in EPA/Play, No. 5 in success rate, and No. 1 in rushing EPA/Play.

Nielsen has been in the NFL since 2017, when the New Orleans Saints hired him from NC State. After four years as the Saints' defensive line coach, Nielsen was promoted to assistant head coach in 2021 and then co-defensive coordinator in 2022. Nielsen was also looked at by LSU as a defensive coordinator candidate in 2021.

The Jaguars started looking for a new defensive coordinator after firing former coordinator Mike Caldwell two weeks ago. The Jaguars also fired seven other defensive assistants, leaving only three of Pederson's 11 defensive staff members left.