According to multiple reports, Liam Coen has told the Buccaneers that he's accepting the HC job in Jacksonville. The (former) Bucs OC had previously broken off talks with the Jaguars and reportedly worked out a new deal to stay in Tampa. But then the Jags fired GM Trent Baalke, after previously saying they wouldn't.
Fantasy Football Impact
Coen spent 2024 as Buccaneers OC, just his second year as an NFL coordinator.
That Tampa team ranked an impressive third in total yards, fourth in scoring, and seventh in total offensive DVOA.
Coen previously spent 2022 as Rams OC, working with a lackluster offense that got just nine games from Matthew Stafford a year after L.A. won the Super Bowl.
Coen sandwiched that season between two years as OC and QBs coach at Kentucky. He spent three years before that as an assistant under Sean McVay with the Rams.
Coen has drawn praise across stops for coaching to his players' strengths. That included:
- Bucky Irving's breakthrough rookie season
- Helping Wan'Dale Robinson become a second-round pick after his 104-catch lone season at Kentucky
- Even overseeing Cam Akers' best Rams season as 2022 OC
Coen's just 39 and about to run a team for the first time at any level. So we'll see how he fares, as well as who he chooses for his staff.
But his arrival offers some hope to 25-year-old QB Trevor Lawrence, who presented a troubling fourth season even when healthy. He'll have Brian Thomas Jr. back as lead WR, while TE Evan Engram and WR Gabe Davis appear locked in as well.
We'll see how the new staff approaches the rest of the WR group and the backfield. Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby each failed to contribute consistently in 2024. But they also remain under contract through 2025.