Jacksonville Jaguars make final head coach decision in dramatic last-minute u-turn from NFL rival
One of the most dramatic coaching cycles in recent memory is currently engulfing the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars appeared to have changed their minds and hired Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen after presumably letting their best coaching prospect leave.
The Buccaneers offered Coen a contract to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid assistant coaches.
But it appears that he never signed that contract.
“We call that a plot twist, a massive plot twist for the Jacksonville Jaguars for their head coaching search,” Rapoport, an insider for NFL Network, stated.
The Buccaneers were unable to contact Coen when it came time to sign the contract.
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“As one person said about the two-day saga that saw the Jaguars lose their GM, the Buccaneers lose their OC and Coen accept two jobs one that made him the NFL s highest-paid coordinator, and another to become Jacksonville s HC: ‘I ve never seen anything like it in my life,'” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported.
It’s difficult to make a move that will surprise the entire NFL community, but Coen managed to do it.
Coen initially chose to return to the Buccaneers by walking away from the Jaguars deal on his own.
According to Rapoport, the Buccaneers rewarded him with a huge contract that was “done, it was agreed to, everything was fine.”
It was obvious that something was wrong.
Rapoport remarked, “And then he kind of disappeared,”
One of the reasons Coen left the Jaguars was because Trent Baalke, the general manager, was fired later that day.
ESPN reports that Coen met with owner Shad Khan on Thursday after the Jaguars contacted him again after firing Baalke.
The Buccaneers appeared to be in a panic during this time since they were unable to contact their offensive coordinator.
On Thursday night, Coen informed Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles of his decision, but he did not notify anybody else.
“Really went dark on them for the last 24 hours as they tried to get answers, he tried to get answers as well but for a different situation,” added Rapoport.
“They were trying to figure out what was going on with Liam Coen, why hadn t he signed his extension, he actually was heading down to Jacksonville where he is in the building right now talking to them about their head coaching job.”
In the end, the discussions resulted in Coen being the Jaguars’ next head coach.
He succeeds Doug Pederson, who formerly led the team to the playoffs with quarterback Trevor Lawrence before it began to decline.
“So much of this is about Trevor Lawrence and making sure the quarterback position is right,” said Rapaport.
“There is no denying that Liam Coen was a superb offensive coordinator for the Bucs.
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“How did he get there, though? Yes, it is a touch hot, in my opinion.
Coen might have a say in the Jaguars’ hunt for a general manager, but that search is still ongoing.