The Jacksonville Jaguars employed Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen because the eighth head coach in franchise historical past Friday, capping a covert operation that included proprietor Shad Khan transferring on from normal supervisor Trent Baalke and Coen reversing course with the Buccaneers.
The perimeters formally agreed to phrases a day after Coen known as Bucs coach Todd Bowles and others to inform them he deliberate to signal with Jacksonville.
“To repeat my message earlier this week, I’m deeply dedicated to constructing a winner right here in Jacksonville,” Khan mentioned in an announcement. “I additionally imagine in being judged by motion, not phrases. That’s why I took swift and decisive motion this week to rent Liam Coen as the brand new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.”
How Khan made it occur can be remembered as one of many wildest teaching searches in NFL historical past.
Khan surprisingly fired Baalke on Wednesday to clear a path for Coen to wind up in Jacksonville. Coen initially declined an in-person interview with the Jaguars due to Baalke, a 60-year-old GM who has a less-than-ideal popularity in league circles and talked Khan into firing Tremendous Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson following his third season in Jacksonville.
Coen as a substitute agreed to a brand new, three-year contract with Tampa Bay that will have made him the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator, though it was contingent on him not taking a second interview with the Jags. However Coen by no means confirmed as much as signal the deal — he ghosted his Tampa colleagues for hours — and secretly traveled to Jacksonville to satisfy with Khan, interim normal supervisor Ethan Waugh, Corridor of Fame left sort out Tony Boselli and others Thursday.
Jacksonville met with Coen after a sit-down with former Las Vegas defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, a second interview that was wanted to fulfill the NFL’s Rooney Rule coverage.
Coen left Jacksonville with no deal, however everybody thought of it was carried out.
It had been trending that means for days. Coen crushed his digital interview with Khan final week and appeared to be the proprietor’s best choice, particularly after Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took the Chicago job.
However Baalke proved to be a roadblock, one Khan realized he wanted to take away to safe an up-and-coming offensive thoughts to pair with promising quarterback Trevor Lawrence and standout receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for the foreseeable future. And anybody questioning Khan’s dedication to profitable in Jacksonville ought to have a look at his behind-the-scenes efforts to get Coen.
“Turning into the pinnacle coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars is a chance of a lifetime, and one which I’m going to run with to instill a championship tradition and profitable custom right here in Duval,” Coen mentioned in an announcement.
Khan mentioned earlier this month he needed a head coach who would deliver extra creativity to Jacksonville, saying “being unpredictable is I believe trendy soccer, and we’ve to have the ability to present that on the sphere.”
The 39-year-old Coen was the architect of considered one of Tampa Bay’s most efficient offenses in its historical past in 2024. The Buccaneers ranked third within the NFL in yards (399.6 per sport) and fourth in factors (29.5).
Coen grew to become the primary NFL coordinator in at the least the final 25 years to common greater than 28 factors a sport, common greater than 6 yards a play, convert greater than 50% of the time on third down and rating touchdowns 65% of the time within the crimson zone. Tampa Bay was the primary in practically 800 offenses since 2000 to perform the feat.
He was so spectacular with veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield and rookie working again Bucky Irving this season that even diehard Bucs followers recommended transferring the 61-year-old Bowles into one other function and handing the reins to Coen to maintain him in Tampa.
As a substitute, Coen relocated 4 hours north to Jacksonville.
Some apparent inquiries to be answered subsequent: What sort of coach/GM construction will Khan make use of transferring ahead? Will Waugh stick round as GM or will Coen herald his personal man? Will Khan rent an govt vp — Boselli would make sense — to assist the first-time head coach?
Regardless, the Jaguars imagine they’d probably the greatest NFL jobs obtainable — particularly with Baalke out of the image.
They’ve a younger quarterback (Lawrence), a budding star at receiver (Thomas), just a few defensive constructing blocks (cornerback Tyson Campbell and move rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen), a comparatively new apply facility, a $1.4 billion stadium renovation upcoming and a hands-off proprietor with deep pockets.
They’ve the fifth total draft choose in April and roughly $50 million in wage cap area for 2025, play in arguably the NFL’s weakest division (AFC South) and work in a state with loads of sunshine and no earnings tax. Additionally they went 3-10 in one-score video games, a sign it could possibly be a fast repair.
It’s as much as Coen to make it occur.
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