Liam Coen may have interviewed with the Jaguars, but it was clear he was never going to leave the Bucs in 2025
Finally, Bucs fans can breathe a huge sigh of relief.That's because Liam Coen is officially back for 2025. After interviewing with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he's pulled his name out of the race and will remain the Bucs offensive coordinator for at least another year.The anxiety surrounding Coen's potential departure was warranted. The first-year playcaller took […]
Finally, Bucs fans can breathe a huge sigh of relief.
That's because Liam Coen is officially back for 2025. After interviewing with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he's pulled his name out of the race and will remain the Bucs offensive coordinator for at least another year.
The anxiety surrounding Coen's potential departure was warranted. The first-year playcaller took the Bucs offense to new heights by turning the unit into a top-5 attack across the board, in passing, scoring, rushing – you name it. The latter achievement was particularly impressive, as the Bucs had been one of the league's worst rushing attacks for several years.
But at the same time, when zooming out and looking at the big picture, it's clear Coen was never going to leave and it's easy to see why.
For starters, he simply has it too good in Tampa Bay. Nine of the team's 11 starters are guaranteed to return and the two in question – guard Ben Bredeson and wide receiver Chris Godwin – have a path to return, even if it's not a guaranteed path. Still, the offense wouldn't be in shambles, by any means, if both leave.
You'd be crazy to think the Jaguars offense is in a better spot than the Bucs offense, both in the short- and long-term. Plus, there are legit questions about Trevor Lawrence's ceiling, at this point. Sure, Brian Thomas is a future star, but the rest of the offensive roster doesn't hold a candle to what the Bucs provide.
Then, there's likely the biggest issue that prompted Coen to remove his name from the search: Trent Baalke is still with the Jags' organization.
There are so many rumors and reports about how the man is hard to work with and how he's garnered that reputation throughout the league. Yes, the Jags came out and said the new head coach would directly report to owner Shad Kahn – but that in itself reeks of dysfunction.
Why have that "gap" between two of the most important figureheads of a franchise? When comparing that to the tightly-knit workings of Jason Licht and Todd Bowles, it's clear that kind of recipe could lead to disaster if it isn't handled properly and again, Baalke's reputations precedes him, at this point.
There's the history to consider, as well. The Jags' organization hasn't seen many successful years, whereas the Bucs have been living their best lives since Tom Brady arrived back in 2020. There are the Super Bowl XXXVII and LV wins to hang a hat on and two previous NFC Championship trips before that. The Jags have made three AFC Championship games since they came to be in 1996 and have won none.
You can sum it all up in just three words, and this comes with all due respect: It's the Jags.
Then there's the "theory" most have been working with since all the way back during the regular season, but it certainly holds some weight going into this season and even after 2025. But, if Bowles can't get the team over the hump and has another up-and-down season, then there's a good chance he's let go and Coen gets named the successor. Or, Bowles voluntarily steps down – whichever comes first. There are a lot of moving parts to that whole situation and we are far from it actually happening, but it's logical.
And, of course, a giant raise doesn't hurt, either. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Coen received a raise that makes him one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL. That was the obvious move and hopefully the Glazers paid the man every cent he's worth.
Nothing is guaranteed past 2025 if Coen has another excellent season, but the Bucs got the win, now, which is what matters most. And it should lead to another big year on the offensive side of the ball.
