Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen has reversed course after agreeing to stay in Tampa – as the coach is now expected to accept the Jaguars’ head coaching job.
Coen, 39, was set to stay on in Tampa Bay as the league’s highest-paid coordinator after talks with the franchise. He had been scheduled to interview with the Jaguars on Wednesday but withdrew his name from consideration.
A day later, according to multiple reports, Coen went to Jacksonville after all to discuss becoming the team’s new head coach, and that will now happen pending final negotiations, according to The Athletic’s Diana Russini.
In a stunning series of events, it was widely reported on Thursday that Coen was ignoring the Bucs’ attempts to get in touch with him.
ESPN’s Jenna Laine later added that Coen did call Bucs head coach Todd Bowles on Thursday evening to inform him of his interest in the Jacksonville job, but Bowles already knew he was interviewing with the franchise.
Coen’s U-turn notably comes after the Jaguars decided to part ways with general manager Trent Baalke a day before.
And Russini later reported that Coen’s reversal came after he was offered the chance to pick his own GM by the Jaguars, who also offered him ‘Ben Johnson’-level money.
Liam Coen is reportedly in discussions to become the head coach of the Jaguars
Coen reportedly informed Bucs coach Todd Bowles that he was interviewing for the Jaguars job, but only after Bowles had already known. Coen is now in discussions with the Jags and their owner Shad Khan.
The decision to part ways with Baalke came at an unusual time for Jacksonville, as the 60-year-old had been helping the Jaguars interview head coaching candidates.
By the same token, Coen’s potential move to Jacksonville could leave the Bucs scrambling to find a new offensive coordinator, as three of the seven head coaching vacancies heading into this offseason have been filled, with those coaches now working to fill out their staffs.
Former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has accepted the Jets’ head coaching job, Mike Vrabel returned to New England as their head coach and ex-Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson stayed in the NFC North to take the Bears job.
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The Raiders, Cowboys and Saints have yet to make new hires.
Coen, who has also served as the Rams’ offensive coordinator, has been with the Bucs for just one season in the role.
Despite injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who only played seven games, the Bucs finished with the fourth-highest scoring offense in the league under Coen’s guidance.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield also finished with a career-high 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns.
In Jacksonville, Coen would be tasked with reviving the career of former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, who has regressed following a strong sophomore year in 2022.
Lawrence, in 10 games this season, averaged a career-low 204.5 passing yards per game and threw 11 touchdowns against seven interceptions.