On Sept. 5, Jacksonville Jaguars chairman and CEO Wayne Weaver was quoted in the Daily Record in a Labor Day feature.
He said his most important workplace lesson was:
“Learn how to evaluate risk/reward decisions. Good decision-makers understand there is always risk, but those who can evaluate the upside reward that outweighs any downside risk, and make decisions timely, will make better decisions.”
Asked how he could have avoided his biggest mistake, he responded: “Never let emotion cloud your judgment on making important decisions.”
Weaver has been clear about his workplace wisdom and his expectations, and he acted decisively Tuesday by announcing the firing of head coach Jack Del Rio and an agreement to sell the team to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan.
Regarding Del Rio, Weaver said in a January news conference at EverBank Field after the 2010 season that he saw progress in his organization, but he expected the organization to continue to improve from last year’s 8-8 record and “compete at the very highest level. We will be in the playoffs next year. I don’t think there is any doubt about it.”
Although he said then that Del Rio would remain as head coach, he also said there would be changes.
“I believe very strongly that it is hard for a head coach to be a coordinator and call the plays. I’ve asked Jack to step back on that and take charge of game day the way head coaches need to,” said Weaver.
“I think he will have a better overall view of making sure that he is on top of the game during the game. I’ve been critical of our football team in the past of not making adjustments during the game, and it will give Jack a chance to be more aware of everything that is going on the field,” he said.
Weaver also challenged Mel Tucker, as defensive coordinator, to be more creative with the blitzes by disguising them better and not being so “vanilla.” Tucker was named Tuesday as interim head coach.
In an interview with Daily Record reporters published Aug. 24, 2010, Weaver, then 75, talked about an eventual sale.
There’s been a lot written about selling the team. What do you see happening?
At some point, I will sell the team. There’s no question about it, because I don’t have any family members that are going to take it. My plan would be to find someone that has the same passion I have for the market, and would be good stewards. But who knows? Things change over time. The rest of my family, my son, my daughter, they might decide that this is something they want to do, but more than likely, we do have to have an exit strategy. I hope and believe passionately that I’m going to find someone that believes that this is going to be one of the great markets.
We’ve just got to start winning more football games and build that energy and passion. I think our market is going to recover here. Maybe we’ll recover quicker (than) some other markets, and we’ll continue to grow.
Do you have a time frame for an exit strategy?
No. It’s going to be finding the person that has that passion for our community, and wants to be a great steward and wants to accomplish the same goals that we have for the organization. That opportunity may come sooner than later. You know, the truth is I’m having fun.