Liam Coen to remain with Bucs as offensive coordinator

Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times on Jan 22, 2025

Published in Football

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TAMPA, Fla. — No promises were made to Liam Coen by the Buccaneers.

No coach-in-waiting stipulations were added to his contract, similar to what the New England Patriots did with Jerod Mayo.

He simply saw remaining in Tampa Bay as the best opportunity for his future.

So, rather than meet with the Jaguars Wednesday in Jacksonville to interview for a head coaching job that likely was his for the taking, Coen canceled that visit and will sign a new contract with the Bucs that will make him one of the highest-paid offensive coordinators in the NFL.

The deal is believed to be worth as much as $4.5 million per year, which the Eagles pay defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

Coen, 39, simply believes he has a window to win a Super Bowl with quarterback Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay and possibly will have better head coaching opportunities in the future.

It’s a similar approach to that taken by former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson a year ago, when he returned to Detroit for the 2024 season.

The Lions lost to the Commanders in a division-round game Saturday. Three days later, Johnson was named head coach of the Bears.

By keeping Coen, the Bucs can build on a historically productive offense that improved from 23rd (313 yards per game) in 2023 to third (399.5) in total offense and averaged 29.5 points, fourth-best in the NFL.

It also prevents the Bucs from having to find a fourth offensive coordinator in as many years. Dave Canales left after the 2023 season to become head coach of the Panthers.

Nobody will be more pleased with Coen’s decision than Mayfield, who set career marks last season with 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, and completed 71% of his passes.

A few weeks ago, Coen indicated that while his dream is to become an NFL head coach and he believed he was ready for that role, he was willing to wait for the right opportunity.

“Does that need to happen when I’m 39 years old and having probably the most fun of my life coaching and working and being here? No, that doesn’t mean that needs to occur right now,“ he said. ”But yeah, that is the goal. That is absolutely the goal. But like I said before, that goal can hold off for a while here and continue to do what we’re doing. That would be pretty special."

Coen’s offense was pretty special this past season.

In addition to Mayfield’s improvement, the Bucs enjoyed great development from their rookies, such as running back Bucky Irving, who became the first Tampa Bay player to rush for 1,000 yards since Doug Martin in 2015. Receiver Jalen McMillan had seven touchdown receptions in his final five regular season games to lead the NFL during that stretch.

Coen was considered the favorite to land the Jaguars head coaching job and was among three scheduled to meet in Jacksonville with the team this week. The Jaguars have second interviews scheduled with Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham on Thursday and former Jets coach Robert Saleh on Friday.

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