The Jacksonville Jaguars announced Liam Coen as their new head coach after a strange saga last week that saw Coen withdraw his name from consideration, sign an extension with Tampa Bay, and ultimately take the job in Jacksonville after Jaguars GM Trent Baalke was fired.
Coen was asked why he changed his mind at his introductory press conference — his response was long and winding.
Liam Coen Responds to Question About How He Became Jaguars Head Coach
Coen withdrew his name from the Jaguars’ head coaching search and verbally agreed to an extension with Tampa Bay, becoming one of the highest-paid offensive coordinators in the NFL.
However, the next day, Coen never showed up to sign his agreement and the Bucs couldn’t reach him. After meeting in person with the Jaguars, Coen accepted their offer to become Jacksonville’s next head coach.
He was going to have to explain his decisions last week, but he seemed to beat around the bush when asked why he changed his mind and decided to leave the Bucs.
Liam Coen addressing his departure from Tampa Bay and if the firing or Trent Baalke had anything to do with changing his mind:
(Courtesy: https://t.co/AfmQNGiNgZ) pic.twitter.com/23ub6teeaR
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) January 27, 2025
The initial question — “Can you talk about what made you change your mind?” — sent Coen into a long response where he began by thanking the people and players he worked with in Tampa Bay. “Look, the opportunity to coach in Tampa was a phenomenal one to get my feet wet in the NFL as the offensive coordinator and I thank them so much for that opportunity.”
Coen went back and forth from the Rams to the University of Kentucky twice before landing in Tampa Bay for 2024. He’s already on to his next stop after just one season, and he tried to explain why.
“As you continue to do more research and gain more information as you go, it started to become more clear with every hour that this was an opportunity that you just can’t pass up, for so many different reasons.”
Coen didn’t speak on any of those reasons but continued, “And you ultimately want to do truly what’s best for you and your family. And that’s what this came down to.” He can’t be faulted for doing what’s best for his family as a head coaching salary in the NFL is life-changing money, but the way he handled it will stick with Coen for a long time.
Spurning the Jaguars to extend with Tampa Bay, then ultimately backing out of his agreement with the Bucs and ghosting them to circle back to Jacksonville — time will tell what kind of look it is for the 39-year-old.
With a small smile, Coen addressed his players and coaches in Tampa Bay again, “I will always love and remember those guys in Tampa, my players, those guys, love them to death. But this is an opportunity to go and do it with some new guys right, and go reach and touch people because that’s what coaching and teaching is.”
He tried to wrap up his answer positively by saying, “And that’s what this opportunity is all about. And extremely thankful for that, but head forward. Head and eyes up and we’re moving forward.”
Coen did an excellent job in his one year with Tampa Bay and will try to recreate his Baker Mayfield magic with Trevor Lawrence. Mayfield’s aDOT dropped from the fifth-deepest to the seventh-shortest (6.9 air yards) in 2024. His aDOT was dialed back by 18.6%, and he thrived on short passes (under 10 air yards):
- Short pass passer rating: 2nd (112.8, behind only Lamar Jackson)
- Short pass completion percentage: 2nd (79.5%, behind only Tua Tagovailoa)
- Short pass TD%: 2nd (6.8%, behind only Jackson)
Coen has proven he can make his quarterback better, but there’s more to being a head coach than fixing one guy. Yes, Lawrence’s play has been declining the last two seasons, but Coen will need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball, which was the biggest issue for Jacksonville in 2024. Having two short stints in the NFL will make it tough for him to assemble a top-notch staff.
Coen Was Asked About the Trent Baalke Firing
Reporter: “Just to be clear did this have anything to do with the change in the front office structure?”
Instead of answering “No,” Coen replied, “This was completely about an opportunity to work for an owner and a group of people with a group of players that needed some help. And that’s what coaching is right, coaching is all about, is trying to go help people, and be around people. So no, that was not the factor.”
From the outside, it seems clear the Baalke firing was the trigger for Coen to ghost the Bucs and become the head coach of the Jaguars. It’s a storyline that could linger, but for now, Coen has to focus on assembling as best a staff as he can.