Bucs’ Liam Coen emerging as strongest candidate for Jaguars job

TAMPA — When Baker Mayfield learned that Liam Coen was going to interview for the Jaguars head coaching job a couple weeks ago, he began devising ways to keep him in Tampa Bay.

“It’s going to come down to a one-on-one at (TPC) Sawgrass for him to decide whether he actually takes the interview,” said Mayfield, laughing.

Well, this is no joking matter for the Bucs anymore.

Coen could be offered the Jaguars head coaching job, possibly as early as Wednesday when he interviews for the second time with the club. Doug Pederson was fired after three seasons and a 4-13 record in 2024.

Jacksonville also has scheduled second interviews with Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham on Thursday and former Jets coach Robert Saleh on Friday.

But there’s a growing belief that it’s Coen’s job to lose. Not only were the Jaguars impressed with the 39-year-old offensive coordinator when he interviewed virtually a week ago, he’s also most equipped to resurrect the career of quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

The best evidence is what he did for Mayfield, who set career highs with 4,500 yards passing and 41 touchdowns and completed 71% of his passes in his first full season under Coen.

If Coen leaves, the Bucs would have to hire their fourth offensive coordinator in as many seasons under head coach Todd Bowles.

In January 2024, Dave Canales was hired as the Panthers head coach after only one season calling plays for the Bucs. (Canales had replaced Byron Leftwich with the Bucs.)

Would the Bucs offer head coach Todd Bowles, 61, a position in the front office and hire Coen to take his place?

It’s been done before. In March 2022, just a couple weeks after Tom Brady ended a 40-day retirement, Bruce Arians announced he was stepping down as Bucs head coach to become the senior assistant to general manager Jason Licht while Bowles assumed head coaching duties.

Coen is the architect of one of the most productive offenses in club history.

The Bucs averaged 29.5 points per game and 6.2 yards per play. And Coen improved the Bucs’ rushing attack, which ranked last in the NFL the previous two seasons, to fourth overall.

Rookie running back Bucky Irving became the first Tampa Bay player to rush for 1,000 yards and Mike Evans went over 1,000 receiving yards for an 11th straight season, tying Jerry Rice for the NFL record.

Saleh is a culture builder but a defensive coach who would have to build a staff to include someone who could help Lawrence. Same thing with Graham, who is a defensive playcaller.

The Jaguars signed Lawrence to a five-year, $275 million contract extension in June 2024, one of the largest in NFL history.

This season, he played in only 10 games and passed for 2,045 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

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