The Jacksonville Jaguars take a gamble on Liam Coen to become their next Head Coach
- nicholasmgilanfar
- Jan 24
- 3 min read
By: Nicholas Gilanfar
As we approach championship Sunday the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills,
Washington Commanders, and Philadelphia Eagles still prevail while the remaining 28 teams have entered “offseason mode”. For the teams that either missed the playoffs or had an early exit are currently fortifying their coaching staffs whether they are looking to hire a head coach or replacing coordinators/position coaches for those who decide to pursue other opportunities.
NFL Teams with Coaching Vacancies in 2025
-New England Patriots: Mike Vrabel (TEN HC: 2018-2023)
-Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson (DET OC: 2022-2024)
-New York Jets: Aaron Glenn (DET DC: 2021-2024)
-Jacksonville Jaguars: Liam Coen (TB OC: 2024)
-Las Vegas Raiders: Pete Carrol (SEA HC: 2010:2023)
-New Orleans Saints: N/A
-Dallas Cowboys: N/A
So far, five of those vacancies have been filled. Despite smooth transitions throughout this coaching cycle, it’s safe to say that Jacksonville’s newly acquainted head coach Liam Coen faced a disorderly path to this head coaching opportunity. During the 2024-2025 the Jacksonville Jaguars took a tumble in the standings finishing the season 4-13. Due to an underperforming season with valid expectations coming into the year, the Jaguars decided to part ways with HC Doug Pederson after three seasons.
JAX Owner Shad Khan’s official statement: 1/6/25
Khan, immediately after the season ends addresses the media on the coaching change as well as locking in GM Trent Baalke for the 2025-2026 season. Baalke was appointed GM in the middle of the 2020 season finishing the year with the league’s worst record at 1-15 which eventually clinched them into a position to draft QB Trevor Lawrence with the first pick.
Through Baalke’s four-and-a-half-year tenure, he has a combined record of 25-43 going through three head coaches in that time frame. What was once thought as the potential savior of Jaguars football, four seasons into Trevor Lawrence's career they are back where they started. Due to the initial announcement of Baalke’s return many top coaching candidates did not consider the Jaguars as a prime destination including Ben Johnson (DET OC) and Liam Coen (TB OC).
Initially, the Jaguars kept the most contact with Coen with all indications leaning towards him being the next coach but ultimately decides to head back to Tampa Bay to become the highest played coordinator in the NFL. At least for now....
Tampa Bay Announces the Return of OC Liam Coen 1/22/25 9:15 AM
With Tampa Bay bringing back Coen, it seemed like Jacksonville was running out of options and knew what they had to do already missing out on many prime candidates. Jacksonville is in a position they haven’t been in a long time having a franchise quarterback and a lot of core pieces creating the premier destination for incoming coaches but it was evident that something was in the way of making it happen.
Jacksonville announces they are parting ways with GM Trent Baalke: 1/22/25 1:57PM
What a cliff hanger, knowing you missed out on top coaching candidates just to eventually make the move that was stopping potential head coaches coming to Jacksonville in the first place. Not knowing at the time, owner Shad Khan took a gamble knowing exactly who he wants to be the next coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, considering the move was made roughly four hours after it was announced Liam Koen would return to Tampa Bay.
All of a sudden, Tampa Bay lost contact with Liam Coen with all speculations taking a turn for the worst in Tampa Bay.
Liam Coen named Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars: 1/24/25 9:13AM
After many twists in turns over the duration of this week, Jacksonville got their guy in Liam Koen. Koen leaves Tampa Bay after one season in an exit that wasn’t the cleanest. Shortly after Trent Baalke was fired, the jaguars pulled the trigger on Coen as it was known from the start that he would not be under Baalke’s regime.
Throughout Koen’s career he’s always sought out the best opportunity possible. In his 15-year coaching career, the longest he’s been with an organization is three seasons as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams from 2018-2020. Liam Coen is now set with the task to rejuvenate the Jacksonville Jaguars offense which he was able to complete flawlessly in his time with Tampa Bay.
As for Tampa Bay, they are in the market for their fourth OC in four years. But that’s nothing new for QB Baker Mayfield as this will be his 8th offensive coordinator in eight seasons.
Featured Image: AP Photo/ Jerome Miron
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