Tag: Liam Coen

Sep 28, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen reacts from the sidelines during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Jags coach Liam Coen, 49ers DC Robert Saleh in heated exchange after game

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Previously unbeaten San Francisco’s loss to Jacksonville on Sunday included a heated exchange after the game between 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, who had to be separated.

Saleh had raised Coen’s ire on Thursday when he remarked about the Jaguars coaches being adept at “legally” stealing opponents’ signs, which he framed as a compliment. Coen didn’t take it as such and apparently let Saleh know after Jacksonville’s 26-21 win over the 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif.

Saleh was restrained by a Niners staff member, and Coen by Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey, according to multiple reports of the midfield encounter when coaches and players from both teams more typically exchange pleasantries and congratulations.

“Not a big deal,” Coen, a first-year head coach whose team is 3-1, told reporters after the game. “I’m just going to keep that between us right now. That’s it.”

Saleh, a former New York Jets head coach and longtime NFL assistant, was not available to media after the game.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan, whose squad fell to 3-1, had said on Friday that Saleh was praising the Jaguars’ ability to pick up on opponents’ signs. He said on Sunday that he didn’t see their Sunday meeting.

“I don’t think you should be that sensitive about it, but it is what it is,” Shanahan said. “I’m not too worried about it.”

Shanahan said his organization doesn’t care if Saleh’s comments upset the Jaguars’ coaching staff.

“It has no effect on the game,” Shanahan said. “I think Saleh was paying them a big compliment in what they’re good at doing. It’s not illegal. He said (there is) nothing illegal about it. I think you use the word sign stealing and what the headlines get with those type of words, I think the perception of that becomes wrong.”

The origin of the comments goes back to when Saleh was asked on Thursday about the main challenge for the 49ers’ defense against the Jaguars.

“They’ve got, legally, a really advance signal-stealing type of system where they always find a way to put themselves in an advantageous situation,” Saleh said Thursday. “They do a great job with it.”

Saleh traced Coen’s coaching history with Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, and Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski’s time coaching under Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. Both McVay and O’Connell have worked with Shanahan or in his systems.

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) runs after an NFL training camp session at the Miller Electric Center, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Jaguars depth chart: Travis Hunter 1st-team WR, backup CB

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As Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter prepared for the NFL draft, he left no ambiguity about his ambitions.

He did not want to play on only one side of the ball. He demanded to play defense and offense.

As the Jacksonville Jaguars prepare for their preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, the team released its first unofficial depth chart that reflects Hunter’s wishes.

The No. 2 pick out of Colorado is listed as a starting wide receiver (alongside Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown) and as a backup outside cornerback (along with Jarrian Jones, behind Tyson Campbell).

“It’s weird, it’s probably harder logistically for us as coaches to navigate it and making sure we’re making use of all his time,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said at the start of training camp. “I think it doesn’t bother him as much. He’s pretty unfazed by some of this stuff.”

After putting up 96 catches, 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns to go along with 11 passes defended and four interceptions at Colorado last year, Hunter opened training camp with more offensive reps as he worked on developing chemistry with starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

As camp went on, however, Hunter began seeing more action on the defensive side. What’s more, he is putting on a juggling act as he bounces between meeting rooms and learns multiple playbooks.

That mental side of the game, Hunter said, is the most challenging aspect.

“You’ve got to do different terms each and every day,” he said.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2024; London, United Kingdom; Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron watches from the sidelines against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Reports: Jaguars add Shane Waldron to staff

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The Jacksonville Jaguars are adding former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to their coaching staff, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.

Per ESPN, Waldron likely will serve as pass-game coordinator in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars hired Grant Udinski to be head coach Liam Coen’s offensive coordinator on Wednesday night.

Jacksonville moved on from its 2024 offensive coordinator, Press Taylor, after it finished 25th in total offense (306.2 yards per game) and 26th in scoring (18.2 points per game).

Waldron, 45, coached with the Los Angeles Rams from 2017-20, working with tight ends during his first season before serving as a passing game coordinator. He coached on the same staff as Coen from 2018-20.

Waldron spent 2021-23 as the offensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Bears prior to the 2024 season.

–Field Level Media

Jun 11, 2024; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers linebackers and running game coordinator Anthony Campanile runs during minicamp. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-Imagn Images

Jaguars hire Anthony Campanile as defensive coordinator

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The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Anthony Campanile as defensive coordinator.

“Anthony Campanile represents exactly what we want to be as a defensive unit and football team,” head coach Liam Coen said in a statement issued Thursday. “He brings an aggressive defensive mindset and a system that is adaptable to our players and allows them to play fast and physical.”

Most recently, Campanile served as the linebackers coach/run game coordinator for the Green Bay Packers in 2024.

Campanile, 42, previously was the linebackers coach (2020-23) of the Miami Dolphins.

He began his coaching career as an assistant coach in the high school ranks at New Jersey powerhouse Don Bosco Prep before moving on to positions on the staffs at Rutgers, Boston College and Michigan.

His only season leading a defense came in 2018 at Boston College, where he was co-defensive coordinator.

The Jaguars hired Coen earlier this month to replace Doug Pederson as head coach. Previously the offensive coordinator at Tampa Bay, he made an awkward exit from the Buccaneers, who reportedly were set to make him the highest-paid OC in the NFL before he spurned them to move north.

Per reports, the Bucs aren’t going to make it easy for Coen to fill out his staff.

ESPN reported Friday morning that the Buccaneers won’t agree to Jacksonville’s request to interview assistant offensive line coach Brian Picucci for a potential role on Coen’s staff. The Tampa Bay Times added that the Buccaneers also declined the Jaguars request to talk with offensive line coach Kevin Carberry.

–Field Level Media

New Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks as Jaguars owner Shad Khan looks on during a press conference Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Liam Coen: Jaguars will rely on Trevor Lawrence, toughness

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With a strange hiring process and the obligatory introductory news conference behind him, Liam Coen officially begins his job Tuesday as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars with clear missions in mind: creating a winning culture built on aggressive play and designing a top-flight offense around quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

“How do we make Trevor Lawrence and this offense as dynamic and explosive as we can be? We’ve got to build it around him, we’ve got to make every part of this about improvement, and he will be a part of that process,” Coen told reporters Monday in his news conference. “He’s earned that right. I cannot respect his toughness and mentality and work ethic more than I do already from afar. This will all be about Trevor.”

And Jaguars fans must hope Coen and Lawrence can build a coach-quarterback relationship that the latter has been lacking since Jacksonville made him the No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

He’s played under three head coaches — Urban Meyer, interim Darrell Bevell and Doug Pederson — in four campaigns in which the Jaguars have gone 25-43 in the regular season.

Pederson was fired following a 4-13 season in which injuries limited Lawrence to 10 games.

But to Coen, success starts with the offense, and he said Monday he’ll call the plays for Jacksonville.

Coen, 39, comes to the head coach role with one season as an NFL offensive coordinator under his belt with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2024) and another with the Los Angeles Rams (2022).

He is credited with turning the Baker Mayfield-led offense into a juggernaut last season with the Bucs, who finished third in the NFL in yards per game (399.5) and fourth in points (29.5). The previous season, the Buccaneers were 23rd and 20th in the league, respectively.

After the news conference, Coen huddled with local reporters and told them he intends to install a new mindset in his players on both sides of the ball.

“I want savages. We want to be savages,” Coen said, per The Florida Times-Union. “That physical mindset. When our opponents turn on the tape, what are they looking at? Are they seeing guys playing through the echo of the whistle?”

Off the field, he wants to create a united group.

“I heard guys that are yearning for more,” he said. “More culture, more unity, more communication, just everybody being on the same page. A true, aligned vision, and for everybody to be able to tell each other some hard truths in ways and see each other’s blind spots and communicate those because that’s where the growth occurs.”

He told reporters he also plans to create individual goals for each player, identifying areas on which to build.

“They want more responsibility on both sides of the balls, but with a clear vision,” Coen said. “They want to be able to be coached hard, but understand that it’s coming from the right place, and there’s a trust and an honesty there. Because that’s what we’re going to do.”

The Jaguars hired Coen on Friday, two days after he reportedly withdrew his name from consideration for the job.

Coen initially was set to remain with the Buccaneers on a new contract that the Tampa Bay Times said would have made him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL at $4.5 million per year.

The Jaguars parted ways with general manager Trent Baalke on Wednesday, and several hours later, Coen left the Buccaneers for the Jaguars for a five-year deal the Times said is worth nearly $60 million.

He addressed his rather awkward departure on Monday after the news conference.

“At the end of the day? It came down to business,” Coen told the Times. “It did. It came down to family and business and a dream that was right in front of you.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) talks with offensive coordinator Liam Coen against the Washington Commanders during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Jaguars announce hiring of Liam Coen as head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms with Liam Coen as their new head coach on Friday, two days after he reportedly withdrew his name from consideration for the job.

Coen initially was set to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a new contract that reportedly would make him one of the league’s highest-paid coordinators.

The Jaguars parted ways with general manager Trent Baalke on Wednesday, and several hours later, Coen left his job as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator to take the top post in Jacksonville.

“To repeat my message earlier this week, I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said. “I also believe in being judged by actions, not words. That’s why I took swift and decisive action this week to hire Liam Coen as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I am pumped that Liam is accepting the challenge and opportunity to build the winner that Jaguars fans and partners fully deserve. I know our players feel the same.”

Coen, 39, will take the post previously held by Doug Pederson, who was fired on Jan. 6 following a 4-13 season. The Jaguars finished 22-29 in three seasons under Pederson, reaching the playoffs just once, when they went 1-1 following the 2022 campaign.

“Becoming the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars is an opportunity of a lifetime, and one that I am going to run with to instill a championship culture and winning tradition here in Duval,” Coen said. “This doesn’t happen without the support and opportunities that my family and I have been afforded throughout my career, especially during this past season in Tampa Bay. We thank (Bucs head coach) Todd Bowles for his continued support and the entire Buccaneers organization for the experience, and know they will have success ahead.

“Most of all, we are grateful to Shad Khan for his belief in what we will bring to the Jaguars. We will work tirelessly to reward his confidence. As head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, I will hire a first-class coaching staff, establish a distinctive and effective brand of football on both sides of the ball, and our players will live for the black and teal. Shad and Jaguars fans should expect nothing less, and that’s what we plan to deliver and more.”

Coen just finished his first season overseeing the Tampa Bay offense.

In Coen’s second stint as an NFL offensive coordinator, Tampa Bay averaged 29.5 points per game, fourth in the league in 2024. The Buccaneers ranked third in total offense with 399.5 yards per game, third at 250.4 passing yards and fourth at 149.2 rushing yards. They led the league by making 50.9 percent of their third-down attempts (110 of 216). Their total of 395 first downs was second in the league.

Leading that offense, Baker Mayfield set career highs with 41 touchdown passes, 4,500 passing yards and a 71.4 percent completion percentage under Coen’s watch.

Coen in recent years has bounced between the NFL and the University of Kentucky, where he was offensive coordinator in 2023 and 2021. He was the Los Angeles Rams’ OC in 2022, and he worked under head coach Sean McVay as the Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach (2018-19) and assistant quarterbacks coach (2020).

–Field Level Media

Aug 23, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Reports: Liam Coen accepts Jaguars’ head-coach job

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After two days filled with twists, Liam Coen reportedly is set to become the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach.

ESPN reported Thursday night that Coen told the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that he is leaving his job as offensive coordinator to take the top post in Jacksonville. NFL.com reported that the Jaguars are due to announce the hiring of Coen on Friday morning.

All of that occurred a day after Coen agreed to a contract with the Buccaneers that would have made him the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator.

Jacksonville fired head coach Doug Pederson on Jan. 6 following a 4-13 season. The Jaguars finished 22-29 in three seasons under Pederson, reaching the playoffs just once, when they went 1-1 following the 2022 campaign.

Coen, 39, just finished his first season overseeing the Tampa Bay offense.

He reportedly stepped out of consideration as a candidate to become Jacksonville’s head coach on Wednesday, hours before the Jaguars parted ways with general manager Trent Baalke.

In a Jan. 6 news conference after the firing of Pederson, Jaguars owner Shad Khan kept Baalke on board. But Khan also said that day that he would be open to a discussion if a head coaching candidate took issue with the structure of the front office or working with Baalke.

In Coen’s second stint as an NFL offensive coordinator, Tampa Bay averaged 29.5 points per game, fourth in the league in 2024. The Buccaneers ranked third in averaging 399.5 yards per game, third at 250.4 passing yards and fourth at 149.2 rushing yards. They led the league by making 50.9 percent of their third-down attempts (110 of 216). Their total of 395 first downs was second in the league.

Leading that offense, Baker Mayfield set career highs with 41 touchdown passes, 4,500 passing yards and a 71.4 percent completion percentage under Coen’s watch.

Coen in recent years has bounced between the NFL and the University of Kentucky, where he was offensive coordinator in 2023 and 2021. He was the Los Angeles Rams’ OC in 2022, and he worked under head coach Sean McVay as the Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach (2018-19) and assistant quarterbacks coach (2020).

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) talks with offensive coordinator Liam Coen against the Washington Commanders during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Florida man: Liam Coen turns down Jaguars, gets big bucks from Bucs

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Liam Coen stepped out of consideration as a candidate to become head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars to remain offensive coordinator with Tampa Bay, according to multiple reports.

Coen, 39, was scheduled for a second interview with the Jaguars on Wednesday. But instead of the in-person huddle with Jacksonville’s leadership, he signed a new contract with the Buccaneers that will make him one of the highest-paid assistants in the NFL, per reports.

The value of the contract was not immediately known, but multiple offensive coordinators were in the $3 million range last season.

One day after the top offensive coordinator candidate — Lions play-caller Ben Johnson — was named head coach of the Chicago Bears, Coen was considered a top candidate to replace Doug Pederson in Jacksonville as the 2025 coaching carousel continues.

Coen teased the potential for his return after the Buccaneers’ season-ending loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC wild-card round of the playoffs.

“I do believe I’m ready,” Coen said of whether it was time to become a head coach in the NFL. “I don’t think you’re ever truly fully ready. But yeah, that is a dream. Does that need to happen when I’m 39 years old and having probably the most fun of my life coaching, working and being here? No, that doesn’t mean that needs to occur right now. But yeah, that is the goal. That is absolutely the goal. But like I said before, that goal can hold off for a while here and continue to do what we’re doing. That would be pretty special.”

Johnson made a similar decision a year ago with the Lions competing for the NFC Championship. He opted to withdraw from consideration to become coach in Washington, where he was viewed as a prevailing favorite to be hired by the Commanders. The job went instead to Dan Quinn, who had declined multiple interviews in previous coaching cycles to remain a high-paid coordinator with the Cowboys.

Johnson, 38, was to be introduced formally at a press conference by the Bears on Wednesday morning.

Coen just completed his first season with the Buccaneers, who won the NFC South title at 10-7.

Jacksonville has other options and completed interviews with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. The Jaguars announced Monday they would host Coen, Saleh and Graham in Jacksonville this week to meet face-to-face with owner Shad Khan and general manager Trent Baalke.

Tampa Bay averaged 29.5 points per game, fourth in the league in 2024. The Buccaneers ranked third in averaging 399.5 yards per game, third at 250.4 passing yards and fourth at 149.2 rushing yards. They led the league by making 50.9 percent of their third-down attempts (110 of 216). Their total of 395 first downs was second in the league.

Coen in recent years has bounced between the NFL and the University of Kentucky, where he was offensive coordinator in 2023 and 2021. He was the Los Angeles Rams’ OC in 2022, and he worked under head coach Sean McVay as the Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach (2018-19) and assistant quarterbacks coach (2020).

–Field Level Media

May 23, 2022; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen during organized team activities at California Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers hire Kentucky’s Liam Coen as offensive coordinator

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced the hiring of the University of Kentucky’s Liam Coen as their new offensive coordinator Saturday.

Coen, 38, spent 2023 as the Wildcats offensive coordinator after previously serving in that role with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 and Kentucky in 2021.

Prior to that, he worked under Sean McVay in Los Angeles as an assistant wide receivers coach (2018-19) and assistant quarterbacks coach (2020).

His experience working in McVay’s system was something the Buccaneers cited to ESPN as being an important factor in their search to replace departing Dave Canales, who was hired as head coach of the Carolina Panthers on Jan. 25.

Canales brought a version of McVay’s offense to Tampa in 2023, which was refined under Shane Waldron in Seattle. Waldron’s Seahawks offense came about after Waldron spent four seasons coaching with McVay.

Coen brings another form of continuity to the Bucs. His starting quarterback during part of the 2022 NFL season in Los Angeles was Baker Mayfield, a pending free agent who is coming off a resurgent season with the Buccaneers in 2023.

Those 2022 Rams struggled to move the ball, finishing 27th in the league in scoring (18.1 points per game) and last in total offense (280.5 yards per game).

Kentucky went 7-6 in 2023, averaging 29.1 points and 339.5 yards per game. The Wildcats lost 38-35 to Clemson in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 29.

Coen was a record-setting quarterback at UMass, where his roommate and favorite target was former Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, before starting his coaching career in the college ranks at Brown, Rhode Island, Maine and his alma mater.

–Field Level Media

Jul 31, 2022; Irvine, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen during training camp at UC Irvine. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Bucs target Kentucky’s Liam Coen for OC job

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are targeting Kentucky’s Liam Coen as their new offensive coordinator, NFL Network reported Friday.

Coen, 38, has alternated between the Wildcats (2021, 2023) and the Los Angeles Rams (2018-20, 2022) over the past six seasons.

He was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during both stints at Kentucky. With the Rams, he was coach Sean McVay’s assistant wide receivers coach (2018-19), assistant QBs coach (2020) and offensive coordinator (2022).

Coen would replace Dave Canales, who departed Tampa to become head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

Coen’s starting quarterback during part of the 2022 NFL season in Los Angeles was Baker Mayfield, a pending free agent who is coming off a resurgent season with the Buccaneers in 2023.

His 2022 Rams struggled to move the ball, finishing 27th in the league in scoring and last in total offense.

Kentucky went 7-6 in 2023, averaging 29.1 points and 339.5 yards per game. The Wildcats lost 38-35 to Clemson in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 29.

Coen was a record-setting quarterback at UMass, where his roommate and favorite target was former Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, before starting his coaching career in the college ranks at Brown, Rhode Island, Maine and his alma mater.

–Field Level Media