Liam Coen withdraws from Jaguars coaching search, will stay with Bucs with new contract

Liam Coen will not leave the Buccaneers this offseason.

As a report emerged Tuesday that Tampa Bay was preparing for Coen to leave the franchise to become Jacksonville’s head coach, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Coen has withdrawn from the running for the job Jaguars. Instead, Coen will remain with the Buccaneers with a new contract that will make him one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL.

Coen, 39, joined the Buccaneers last offseason and helped turn Tampa Bay into one of the league’s most efficient offenses. The unit finished #3 in total yards and #4 in points. Tampa Bay was also No. 4 in rushing and No. 3 in passing offense in 2024, helping the club win a fourth straight NFC South title.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 71.4 percent of his throws for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. His completion rate, yards and touchdowns all set new career highs.

If Coen had left, the Buccaneers would have needed a new offensive coordinator for the third straight season. After head coach Todd Bowles fired Byron Leftwich, Dave Canales arrived for the 2023 season and was hired after one year to coach the Panthers.

From now on, the Buccaneers will benefit from continuity at a key place in their squad.

But the Jaguars’ coaching search continues. They have reportedly set a second interview with former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.