Big Cat Country
After possibly the wildest 72-hour cycle in Jaguars history, Jacksonville has a new head coach, per multiple reports.
Another odd, chaotic, and for many, frustrating coaching search for the Jacksonville Jaguars has finally closed with the team landing on Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen as its new head coach, per multiple reports. While the news has yet to be confirmed by the team, Jeff Howe of The Athletic, Greg Auman of Fox Sports, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, and others all confirm that Liam Coen has informed Tampa Bay of his intent to accept the role in Jacksonville.
The innovative first-year NFL coordinator quickly rehabilitated the 2024 Tampa Bay offense from its 2023 numbers under Dave Canales (as discussed in Coen's coaching profile article). Coen helped the Bucs reach a 10-7 regular season record despite wide receiver Chris Godwin missing 10 games and receiver Mike Evans and tight end Cade Otton missing several more.
Perhaps a larger achievement is that Coen reignited a previously struggling run game, improving the Bucs’ 27th-ranked 2023 rushing EPA to sixth in 2024, the rushing success rate from 32nd to sixth, and the rushing yards per attempt from 32nd to second.
He will be similarly tasked with quickly turning around the Jaguars’ rushing attack, which in 2024 was 26th in rushing yards per game, 19th in EPA per play, and 22nd in success rate, per rbsdm.com.
After firing Doug Pederson, but initially retaining general manager Trent Baalke, Jaguars owner Shad Khan interviewed many of the top names on the market. Meanwhile, Khan seemed in his year-end availability to outline a primary goal of building upon the base of this Jaguars' roster and front office instead of the expected full tear down after a four-win season. After fan-favorite candidate and former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson accepted a head coaching role in Chicago, Coen initially accepted an offer to return to Tampa as one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL.
However, that news lasted less than 24 hours. The Jaguars then mutually parted ways with Baalke and added Hall of Fame offensive tackle Tony Boselli to the hiring committee. Jacksonville’s last-second sales pitch solidified things with Coen, who becomes the Jaguars' next head coach.
An Xs & Os football guru from the Sean McVay coaching tree, Coen will next look to build out his coaching staff in the coming weeks. The primary question for fans is who will be his defensive coordinator. The team previously interviewed former Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham for the head coaching role, so that name immediately comes to mind as a possible DC candidate. It's been a wild ride, but we made it. Stay tuned, Duval.
Jaguars fans, what are your thoughts on the hire? Let us know in the comments below!
