Liam Coen to Become Jaguars’ Next Head Coach After Tumultuous Hiring Process

Liam Coen is set to become the next head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, as the two sides work toward finalizing a deal that could make it official as early as Friday, according to NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo.

After an eventful few days that saw Coen briefly withdraw from consideration for the job, opting to stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a pay raise, the Jaguars made a dramatic move. Following the firing of general manager Trent Baalke, the team reopened discussions with Coen, who quickly regained interest in the job. Just one day after meeting with Jaguars officials, Coen visited Jacksonville while the Buccaneers scrambled to get in touch with him.

Once the dust settled, Coen agreed to become the Jaguars’ next head coach, replacing Doug Pederson, who was dismissed after a three-year tenure. The move comes after an impressive coaching stint with the Buccaneers, where Coen revitalized the team’s offense and helped quarterback Baker Mayfield reach new heights, setting career-high marks in passing yards and touchdowns.

Coen’s ability to turn around Tampa Bay’s offense was particularly evident in the revitalization of their rushing attack, which surged from the bottom of the NFL rankings to a fourth-place finish in rushing yards per game, thanks to rookie Bucky Irving and a committee of running backs. Coen’s work as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator helped guide the team to an NFC South title, demonstrating his knack for optimizing offensive performance, even without key players like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

The Jaguars’ interest in Coen grew out of their desire to fix their offensive woes and get quarterback Trevor Lawrence back on track after a disappointing 2024 season. With Lawrence being the centerpiece of the Jaguars’ future, pairing him with a coach who has shown the ability to maximize offensive talent was an appealing move. Coen, who comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree, previously worked with McVay in Los Angeles before bouncing between the Rams and the University of Kentucky. His success with Tampa Bay made him a top choice to lead the Jaguars’ rebuild.

Owner Shad Khan’s decision to fire Pederson and then part ways with Baalke was a clear sign that the Jaguars were serious about landing Coen. Now, with a new coach in place, the team will turn its attention to finding a general manager who can collaborate with Coen to help rebuild the franchise’s future.

With Trevor Lawrence already signed to a long-term extension, the Jaguars are looking to replicate the success Coen had with Tampa Bay and bring the team back to prominence. The vision for Jacksonville’s future is now in the hands of their new offensive play-caller, who will look to lead them back to playoff contention.