Though it remains to be seen whether Mike Mularkey’s second stint as an NFL head coach will turn out any better than his first one, he recently unveiled a plan that is nothing short of brilliant.
For every touchdown scored by the Jaguars that isn’t followed by a celebration, he’ll donate $250 to the local Ronald McDonald’s House. The Jaguars will match the amount, driving the total to (carry the one) $500.
So Jaguars players now have an even stronger incentive to hand the ball to the official after scoring. While those who choose to nevertheless celebrate will likely feel plenty of local pressure to donate the $500 out of their own pockets, it’s the kind of no-I-in-team exercise that could truly help bring the Jaguars together in a way that will cause them to perform better as a unit.
Some may say that, in the end, it won’t matter because they won’t be scoring many touchdowns. But every year there are teams that surprise us, and that often happens when a collection of individuals decides to behave like a team.
Mularkey’s strategy is the kind of thing that possibly could make that happen in Jacksonville. If it does, look for plenty of other coaches to consider doing the same thing.