Did new Jaguars coach Liam Coen feel 'strong-armed' by the Bucs?

Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times on Jan 24, 2025

Published in Football

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TAMPA, Fla. — Even as Liam Coen was officially being named the Jaguars' head coach Friday afternoon, there was a twist from the typical playbook.

An NFL insider said that Coen felt “strong-armed” into agreeing to a deal to withdraw his name from consideration for the Jacksonville job by agreeing with the Bucs to become the highest-paid coordinator in football at more than $4.5 million annually.

“I think his side feels like they were being strong-armed into a deal,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

In exchange for the new contract, the Bucs made Coen pledge he would not interview a second time with the Jaguars.

The Bucs were unable to reach Coen from about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday until around 5 p.m. Thursday when he called head coach Todd Bowles to tell him he had a family matter to attend to but was thinking about visiting the Jaguars.

The Bucs later learned that Coen was already in Jacksonville.

“Becoming the coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars is the opportunity of a lifetime, and one that I’m going to run with to instill a championship culture and winning tradition here in Duval,” Coen said in a statement Friday to the NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.”

“This doesn’t happen without the support and opportunities that my family and I have been afforded throughout my career, especially this past season in Tampa Bay. We thank Todd Bowles for his continued support and the entire Buccaneers organization for the experience and know that they will have success ahead.”

Coen is the second Bucs offensive coordinator in as many years to become a head coach in the NFL after only one season in Tampa Bay.

Dave Canales, who had never called plays in college or the NFL until 2023, was named the Panthers' head coach in January 2024. But there was no acrimony in that departure.

Schefter carefully described how both sides felt wronged by the other in Coen’s departure to the Jaguars.

“Right or wrong, he felt like the Buccaneers strong-armed him into this deal,” Schefter said. “And he signed the deal and the Buccaneers would say, ‘We made him the highest-paid coordinator in NFL history and then when we tried to figure out where he was, we could not find him throughout the course of the day on Thursday to get him to sign that contract.’ And they say they reached out multiple times. He says he was in touch with Todd Bowles and informed him of his decision to interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Again, there are two different versions.

“Liam Coen has his thoughts, and the Buccaneers have their thoughts, and you can believe whoever you want.”

One thing is certain, the Jaguars are getting a great offensive mind to help quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Under Coen, quarterback Baker Mayfield set career marks with 4,500 yards passing and 41 touchdowns while completing 71% of his passes.

The run game, which had been 32nd in the league the previous two seasons, finished fifth in 2024 by averaging 146.5 yards per game. The Bucs 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.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan said he took “swift and decisive action” to lure Coen. That included firing general manager Trent Baalke Wednesday afternoon.

“To repeat my message earlier this week, I’m deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville,” Khan said in a statement. “I also believe in being judged by actions, not words. That’s why I took swift and decisive action this week to hire Liam Coen as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I’m pumped that Liam is accepting the challenge and opportunity to build the winner that Jaguars fans and partners fully deserve. I know our players feel the same.”

Terms of Coen’s head coach deal have yet to be disclosed.