Identical to that, Baker Mayfield could have one more new offensive coordinator.
On Wednesday, it seemed just like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had averted that destiny, with information that offensive coordinator Liam Coen — who elevated Tampa Bay’s offense to a top-five unit in 2024 — had agreed to phrases to a brand new deal that might maintain him in Tampa after being courted by the Jacksonville Jaguars for his or her head teaching job. The three-year extension would make him one of many highest-paid coordinators within the league, reportedly at near $4.5 million a 12 months.
Then Thursday got here and went and the Bucs did not announce the thrilling information of an extension. It began to unravel Thursday night — the explanation Coen hadn’t signed the paperwork was he was in Jacksonville, negotiating a brand new deal to change into the Jaguars’ new head coach.
About 24 hours earlier, Coen was scheduled to have his second interview with the Jags however as a substitute withdrew his title from consideration as studies emerged he had agreed to a brand new take care of the Bucs. Later Wednesday, Jacksonville fired normal supervisor Trent Baalke and reportedly went again to Coen promising he might assist choose the brand new GM as a part of its push to convey him in.
This was all information to the Bucs, who anticipated Coen to be of their facility Thursday to make the extension official. Per a number of studies, they could not attain him by telephone or textual content till round 5 p.m., when he reportedly talked to Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, who had lobbied for staff possession to offer him the substantial elevate to maintain him in Tampa.
However based on the Tampa Bay Occasions, Coen informed Bowles that one among his youngsters had fallen sick and he’d been on the physician’s workplace, solely briefly mentioning the Jaguars job and saying he wished to revisit the chance. By 10:45 p.m., he had notified the staff he was accepting the job with the Jaguars — which can reportedly pay as a lot as $13 million a 12 months.
Coen’s reversal took what had been a constructive story — holding a coveted assistant for one more 12 months — and as a substitute added to a rising listing of exits for the Bucs, who’ve received 4 straight division titles. Assistant normal supervisor John Spytek on Wednesday agreed to change into normal supervisor of the Raiders, who’ve former Bucs quarterback Tom Brady as a minority proprietor. Spytek reportedly signed a five-year deal with the Raiders late Thursday.
Bowles’ high two defensive assistants may very well be leaving as nicely — defensive position coach and run recreation coordinator Kacy Rodgers, who has labored with Bowles for 17 seasons with 4 totally different groups, is taking the identical job with the Lions, and Detroit shall be interviewing Bucs linebackers coach and cross recreation coordinator Larry Foote for its defensive coordinator job. It is also attainable that Coen will take some Bucs offensive assistants with him by selling them to bigger roles on his Jaguars employees.
Simply two weeks in the past, Coen had been candid in speaking in regards to the attract of changing into a head coach, however his relative persistence to grasp that he did not need to rush at any job, with a job he appreciated and the promise of extra success forward.
“Yeah, that could be a dream,” he stated. “Does that have to occur after I’m 39 years outdated and having most likely probably the most enjoyable of my life teaching and dealing and being right here? No, that does not imply that should happen proper now. However yeah, that’s the objective. That’s completely the objective. However like I stated earlier than, that objective can maintain off for some time right here and proceed to do what we’re doing. That may be fairly particular.”
It is the second 12 months in a row Bowles has misplaced a first-year offensive coordinator to a head teaching job. A 12 months in the past, Dave Canales was employed to be the Panthers’ head coach, and with Coen going to Jacksonville, the Bucs are the primary NFL staff to lose offensive coordinators to move teaching jobs in back-to-back seasons because the 2013-14 Ravens, who misplaced Jim Caldwell to the Lions after which Gary Kubiak to the Broncos, the place he would win a Tremendous Bowl championship the next season.
In concept, Tampa’s OC job is a lot better than it was a 12 months in the past — the Bucs had the worst speeding assault within the NFL in 2023, however they completed within the high 5 in practically each class in 2024. The advance wasn’t simply Coen, however upgrades to the offensive line, together with rookie heart Graham Barton, and the arrival of rookie operating again Bucky Irving, a consensus All-Rookie choice after speeding for greater than 1,000 yards regardless of sharing the workload for a lot of the 12 months.
Coen’s latest job historical past suggests it should not be stunning that he moved on from Tampa after just one season. Over the 4 years prior, he bounced from the Rams to the College of Kentucky again to the Rams and again to Kentucky, partly as a result of he valued having the ability to be a play-caller in his personal offense, as he was in Tampa. At 39, he turns into one of many NFL’s youngest head coaches, and he’ll get to work with a promising younger quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, who’s signed to a $275 million contract.
The Bucs, too, have been jilted like this earlier than. Twice, the franchise thought it had a take care of Invoice Parcells to change into their head coach, in 1991 and 2002, however each instances he modified his thoughts on the final minute. They practically finalized a take care of Chip Kelly in 2012, just for him to remain at Oregon.
Tampa Bay will now transfer shortly to discover a new offensive coordinator, their fourth in 4 seasons, an absence of continuity that’s all too acquainted for Mayfield, who threw for profession highs in touchdowns (41) and yards (4,500) with Coen in 2024. Mayfield has already labored with seven offensive coordinators in his seven years within the NFL, so the brand new rent shall be his eighth, a virtually annual ceremony of studying new offenses and adjusting to new schemes.
The Jaguars, in the meantime, completed 4-13 this previous season, however they had been 9-8 in every of the 2 earlier seasons, successful the AFC South and a wild-card playoff recreation in 2022. Discovering success with Lawrence, nonetheless solely 25, shall be a precedence for Coen. The previous No. 1 total choose was restricted to only 10 video games this previous season due to harm, throwing 11 touchdowns in opposition to seven interceptions whereas successful solely two of his begins.
If the Bucs make the identical monetary dedication they’d budgeted for Coen, they’re going to haven’t any scarcity of worthy candidates to select from. They might promote from inside, giving Mayfield much less of a transition to fret about, or look externally to fill a uncommon opening for a playcalling offensive coordinator with a proficient group of gamers with sustained success in a straightforward division.
Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade masking the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication each day!
Get extra from Nationwide Soccer League Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
