Report: Liam Coen in Talks for Jaguars HC Job After Baalke Firing, New Bucs Contract

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen could become the next head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in a stunning turn of events.

Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reported the two sides are in "active negotiations" and he will become the team's coach barring something unexpected.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero first reported he spoke with the Jaguars on Thursday regarding the team's head coaching vacancy and was considered to be a "key candidate.

Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported the Buccaneers believe Coen will take the job with the Jaguars.

Pelissero revealed that Coen informed the Jaguars on Wednesday that he was staying with the Buccaneers on a new contract, but Jacksonville reached out to him again after firing general manager Trent Baalke.

Jaguars' ownership called Coen directly and explained that they would let him pick his own general manager and pay him "Ben Johnson level money," per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, referring to the salary of new Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that an "early figure on the NFL grapevine" for Johnson's contract in Chicago is roughly $13 million per year.

Fox Sports' Greg Auman noted Tampa Bay never announced that Coen signed a new deal with the team. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Buccaneers have been unable to reach the coach:

Per Schefter, Coen said that he reached out to Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles to inform him of his interest in interviewing for Jacksonville's opening.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan previously said that he would address the topic of coaching candidates expressing reservations about working with Baalke before the general manager was ultimately fired, via Schefter and ESPN's Michael DiRocco.

According to Schefter and DiRocco, Khan's comments "might have been what spurred" the move from Coen.

Rapoport revealed that Coen and Tampa Bay agreed to an extension, but it was never officially signed before the two sides lost contact.

The Jaguars previously interviewed Coen on Jan. 15.

Schultz reported that Coen was "content" with serving as Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator moving forward, although Jacksonville reached out multiple times with the idea that he would "need to say no, not once, but twice."

The Buccaneers have been operating as if the 39-year-old would still be part of their coaching staff after offering him a "hefty" contract to stay, via Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

Coen's decision to engage with Jacksonville once again could affect the rest of the team's potential candidates, with Russini reporting that former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh was scheduled to interview with the Jaguars on Friday.

Saleh was planning on flying from New Jersey to Jacksonville for the meeting, but he ultimately never left as the plans are now considered "fluid" (via Russini).

Coen spent the 2024 season in Tampa Bay after operating as Kentucky's offensive coordinator in 2023. His first year with the Buccaneers was successful, as they made the playoffs with a 10-7 record.

Tampa Bay's averages of 399.5 yards and 29.5 points per game ranked No. 3 and No. 4 among all NFL teams, respectively.

As for the Jaguars, their 18.8 points each week represented the seventh-worst scoring offense in the league during the regular season.

After parting ways with Baalke, Jacksonville is reportedly negotiating with Coen once more.