Report: Liam Coen Withdraws from Jaguars HC Search, Will Get New Contract from Bucs

The Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly will have to scratch one of their top candidates off the list in their search for a new head coach.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen is taking himself out of the running for the position with the Jaguars and will remain in his current role on a new contract that will make him one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL.

It was just 24 hours ago that Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported that the Buccaneers were "bracing for Coen to be offered" Jacksonville's head coaching position. Coen was scheduled for a second interview with the Jaguars on Wednesday, and Stroud noted that "there's a growing belief that it's Coen's job to lose."

Now, Jacksonville will have to pivot. The team had also set up second interviews with Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham on Thursday and former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh on Friday, but it could choose to revisit its list of candidates to add more options after Coen dropped out.

It's not hard to see why Coen was pegged as the favorite to land with the Jaguars. In his first season with the Bucs, he spearheaded a unit that ranked third in the NFL with 399.5 total yards per game and fourth with 29.5 points per game. Quarterback Baker Mayfield thrived under Coen's direction, producing career highs of 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns and completing 71.4 percent of his passes.

Jacksonville was certainly hoping that Coen would have a similar effect on rising star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing showing in 2024 after being limited to 10 games due to a shoulder injury and a concussion.

Instead, the Jaguars will need to re-evaluate their options before deciding on the best candidate who can create a bright future for Lawrence and the rest of the team.