JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars have been on the verge of hiring Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen because the eighth head coach in franchise historical past and capping a covert operation that included proprietor Shad Khan transferring on from basic supervisor Trent Baalke and Coen reversing course with the Buccaneers.
The perimeters have been figuring out contract particulars with an announcement anticipated Friday, an individual acquainted with the search informed The Related Press. Coen has knowledgeable the Buccaneers of his intention to signal with Jacksonville, one other particular person with data of the choice informed the AP. The folks spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of neither aspect had confirmed the continuing negotiation publicly.
Khan fired Baalke on Wednesday, clearing a path for Coen to land in Jacksonville. Coen initially declined an in-person interview with the Jaguars due to Baalke, a 60-year-old GM who has a less-than-ideal popularity in league circles and talked Khan into firing Tremendous Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson following his third season with the Jags.
Coen as a substitute agreed to a brand new contract with Tampa Bay that might have made him one of many NFL’s highest-paid coordinators. However Coen by no means confirmed as much as signal the deal and secretly traveled to Jacksonville to fulfill with Khan, interim basic supervisor Ethan Waugh and others Thursday.
The Jaguars let him depart with out getting a deal accomplished. However an settlement was anticipated comparatively quickly, the particular person stated.
It had been trending that manner for hours, possibly even days. Coen reportedly crushed his digital interview with Khan final week and gave the impression to be the proprietor’s best choice, particularly after Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took the Chicago job.
However Baalke proved to be a roadblock, one Khan rapidly realized he wanted to take away in hopes of securing an up-and-coming offensive thoughts to pair with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for the foreseeable future.
Khan stated earlier this month that he wished a head coach who would convey extra creativity to Jacksonville, saying “being unpredictable is I feel trendy soccer, and now we have to have the ability to present that on the sphere.”
The 39-year-old Coen was the architect of one in all Tampa Bay’s most efficient offenses in its historical past in 2024. The Buccaneers ranked third within the NFL in yards (399.6 per sport) and fourth in factors (29.5).
Coen turned the primary NFL coordinator in not less than the final 25 years to common greater than 28 factors a sport, common greater than 6 yards a play, convert greater than 50% of the time on third down and rating touchdowns 65% of the time within the pink zone.
He was so spectacular with quarterback Baker Mayfield and rookie working again Bucky Irving this season that even diehard Bucs followers instructed transferring 61-year-old coach Todd Bowles into one other function and handing the reins to Coen to maintain him in Tampa.
As a substitute, he appears able to relocate 4 hours north to Jacksonville.
Some apparent inquiries to be answered if he will get the gig: What sort of coach/GM construction would Khan make use of transferring ahead? Would Waugh stick round as GM or would Coen herald his personal man? Would Khan rent an government vice chairman to assist a first-time coach?
Regardless, the Jaguars imagine they’ve among the finest NFL jobs out there — particularly with Baalke out of the image.
They’ve a younger quarterback (Lawrence) with upside, a budding star at receiver (Thomas), a couple of defensive constructing blocks (cornerback Tyson Campbell and move rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen), a comparatively new follow facility, a $1.4 billion stadium renovation upcoming and a hands-off proprietor with deep pockets.
They’ve the fifth total draft choose in April and roughly $50 million in wage cap area for 2025, play in arguably the NFL’s weakest division (AFC South) and work in a state with loads of sunshine and no earnings tax. Additionally they went 3-10 in one-score video games — a sign they could possibly be a fast repair.
There are negatives, too. Khan is dedicated to taking part in not less than one residence sport yearly in London — though it might put the crew at a aggressive drawback — and can play residence video games in 2026 in entrance of a decreased capability and play all of 2027 away from Jacksonville.
The Jags even have a number of growing older veterans on the roster — receiver Christian Kirk, defensive finish Arik Armstead, tight finish Evan Engram, linebacker Foye Oluokun, middle Mitch Morse and guard Brandon Scherff — and no id.
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AP Professional Soccer Author Rob Maaddi in Tampa contributed to this report.
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