AP

Of all the offseason coaching transactions, none was more surprising than Bills head coach Doug Marrone opting out of his contract, failing to land another head-coaching job and eventually signing on as the Jaguars’ offensive line coach/assistant head coach-offense.

At a Thursday press conference, Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley said he did not know Marrone well before the beginning of the interview process in January. However, in the discussions, Bradley noted that “we found out in many ways, we’re similar.”

During the interviews, Bradley said Marrone expressed interest in again working with offensive linemen — and that Marrone signaled he wanted to continue growing as a coach.

“I felt really a strong sense of humility,” Bradley told reporters, referring to Marrone’s willingness to continue learning.

However — and perhaps surprisingly — Bradley did not press Marrone for details about his departure from Buffalo.

“I really didn’t,” Bradley said.

Ultimately, Bradley said his interviews with Marrone were the basis for his decision on how the former Bills coach would fit in Jacksonville.

“I went more on me and my time I spent with him,” Bradley said.

In the end, Marrone made the right impression on Bradley, who seemed focused on what Marrone would do for the Jaguars’ coaching staff, not necessarily what he had done elsewhere.