Liam Coen’s Surprising Move to Jacksonville: A New Era for the Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In a whirlwind of events that could rival any dramatic sports saga, Liam Coen, the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has decided to take on a new challenge as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. This decision, confirmed by a source to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, marks a significant shift in Coen’s career and a new chapter for the Jaguars.
The journey to this decision was anything but straightforward. Initially, Coen had withdrawn from consideration for the Jaguars’ head coaching position. He even agreed to a lucrative contract extension with the Buccaneers, which would have made him the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL. However, the Jaguars’ decision to part ways with general manager Trent Baalke on Wednesday afternoon prompted them to reach out to Coen once more, asking him to reconsider.
Coen’s visit to Jacksonville on Thursday afternoon was pivotal. He met with owner Shad Khan and interim general manager Ethan Waugh, and later that evening, he informed Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles of his renewed interest in the Jaguars’ position. Interestingly, Coen did not communicate with anyone else in the Buccaneers’ front office about his decision.
The Jaguars had been actively searching for a new head coach, having interviewed Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham earlier on Thursday. They were also scheduled to meet with former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh on Friday. A league source mentioned that the Jaguars were prepared to expand their search if Coen declined, but they were hopeful of re-engaging with him following Baalke’s exit.
Coen’s initial hesitation to join the Jaguars was partly due to the inability to work with a general manager of his choice, although this was not the primary reason for his initial withdrawal. Now, with Baalke out of the picture, Coen is set to become the eighth head coach in the franchise’s history, replacing Doug Pederson, who was fired by Khan on January 6 after three seasons.
At 39 years old, Coen will be the fourth-youngest active head coach in the NFL, trailing only the Seattle Seahawks‘ Mike Macdonald (37), Chicago Bears‘ Ben Johnson (38), and Los Angeles Rams‘ Sean McVay (38).
Coen’s coaching career spans 15 seasons, including a decade at the collegiate level. His NFL experience includes four seasons with the Rams under McVay, where he served in various roles, including assistant wide receivers coach, assistant quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator in 2022. Most recently, he was with the Buccaneers under Bowles.
During his time with the Buccaneers, Coen reunited with quarterback Baker Mayfield, whom he had coached with the Rams in 2022. Together, they crafted one of the most formidable offenses in Buccaneers history. Mayfield’s passer rating of 106.8 set a franchise record, and the team ranked in the top five in several offensive categories, including passing yards per game (250.4) and rushing yards per game (149.2).
- Mayfield’s career highs in passing yards (4,500), passing touchdowns (41), and completion percentage (71.4%) all ranked in the top three in the NFL.
- The Buccaneers were the only team in the NFL to rank in the top five in total offense (399.6 yards per game), scoring (29.5 points per game), third down conversions (a league-high 50.9%), and red zone efficiency (66.7%).
Coen’s previous stint with the Rams in 2022 was challenging due to quarterback Matthew Stafford missing eight games because of a concussion and spinal cord contusion. The Rams struggled, finishing last in total offense (280.5 yards per game) and 27th in scoring (18.1 points per game), rushing (97.7 yards per game), and passing (182.8 yards per game).
Coen’s collegiate coaching experience includes two separate stints as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2023. His hiring is a crucial move for Khan, who is seeking long-term stability for franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence will be working with his third full-time coach and fourth playcaller in just five NFL seasons.
The Jaguars’ 2024 season ended with a 4-13 record, marking the 10th time in Khan’s 13 seasons as owner that the team has posted double-digit losses. With Coen at the helm, the Jaguars are hoping for a turnaround and a brighter future.
Originally Written by: ESPN
