TAMPA — No promises were made to Liam Coen by the Bucs.
No pending coaching stipulations were added to his contract, like what the Patriots did with Jerod Mayo.
But it seems he viewed staying in Tampa Bay as the best opportunity for his future.
So rather than meet with the Jaguars on Wednesday in Jacksonville to interview for a head coaching job that likely belonged to him, Coen canceled that visit and is expected to sign a new contract with the Bucs that will make him one of the best players. -paid offensive coordinators in the NFL.
The deal is estimated to be worth up to $4.5 million per year, which the Eagles pay to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Coen, 39, should have a window to win a Super Bowl with quarterback Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay and possibly better head coaching opportunities in the future.
It’s a similar approach to the one former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took a year ago, when he returned to Detroit for the 2024 season.
The Lions lost to the Commanders in a divisional game on Saturday. Three days later, Johnson was named head coach of the Bears.
By keeping Coen, the Bucs can build on a historically productive offense that went from 23rd (313 yards per game) in 2023 to third (399.5) in total offense and averaging 29.5 points, fourth best in the NFL.
It would also save the Bucs from having to find a fourth offensive coordinator in as many years. Dave Canales left after the 2023 season to become head coach of the Panthers.
Coen and Mayfield were a dynamic duo this season, with the quarterback setting career records with 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, and completing 71 percent of his passes.
A few weeks ago, Coen indicated that while his dream was to become an NFL head coach and he thought he was ready for the role, he was willing to wait for the right opportunity.
“Does that have to happen when I’m 39 and probably having the most fun coaching and working and being here? No, that doesn’t mean it has to happen now,” he said. “But yes, that’s the goal. That’s absolutely the goal. But as I said before, this goal can be postponed for a while and continue doing what we are doing. That would be pretty special.”
Coen’s offense was pretty special last season.
In addition to Mayfield’s improvement, the Bucs have enjoyed great development from their rookies, such as running back Bucky Irving, who became the first Tampa Bay player to rush for 1,000 yards since Doug Martin in 2015. Receiver Jalen McMillan had seven touchdowns in his final. five regular season games to lead the NFL during that stretch.
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Coen was considered the favorite to land the Jaguars head coaching job and was one of three people scheduled to meet in Jacksonville with the team this week. The Jaguars had a second scheduled interview with Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham on Thursday and former Jets coach Robert Saleh on Friday.
Hours after Coen withdrew his name from Jacksonville’s search, the Jaguars parted ways with general manager Trent Baalke.
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