As of Saturday, the Jacksonville Jaguars have interviewed 10 candidates for their head coaching opening, including current Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who had a very impressive initial interview.
In an exclusive over at Jaguars on Sports Illustrated, one senior NFL executive told John Shipley that Coen was “nothing short of outstanding.” The NFL executive would add that everyone he spoke to within the Jaguars’ organization was not “anything other than impressed.”
This past 2024 season was Coen’s first as the Bucs’ offensive coordinator and the Tampa Bay offense was one of the most productive in football.
Along with making the playoffs, the Bucs’ would finish fourth in points per game during the regular season and were the only offense in the NFL to finish top five in both passing yards per game and rushing per game.
In an interview with the Bucs’ team site, some elements of Coen’s offense include a heavy usage of motion and shifts, giving the quarterback autonomy to make decisions with multiple play-calls, “different types” of runs, and more 11 personnel, among other things.
In addition to impressing the Jaguars’ with his Xs and Os prowess–both offensively and defensively–the NFL exec told Shipley that how Coen will handle the responsibilities of the head coaching role was also “eye-opening.”
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was recently asked what he would like in a next head coach. And while, admittedly, he’s biased towards an offensive play-caller, more than anything Lawrence wants a leader and culture setter.
“I think from a leader standpoint, whether it’s an offensive coach or defensive coach just a guy that’s going to instill that culture,” Lawrence said.” That toughness into our team and just that confidence that it doesn’t matter when we’re playing, who we’re playing, just spot the ball and we can beat anybody. And just a tough team that other teams don’t want to play against.”
