Baker Mayfield recalls reaction to Liam Coen departure: 'I left him on read for a little bit'

Liam Coen’s departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a whirlwind. He was reportedly preparing to sign a lucrative extension to stay on as offensive coordinator, but news broke a day later of his decision to leave and become the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach.

Baker Mayfield said he found out about Coen’s move “much like the rest of us” as the situation unfolded. But once Mayfield’s soon-to-be former OC got in touch with him, he had to repay the favor.

“I left him on read for a little bit just like he left me on read,” Mayfield said with a smirk ahead of the Pro Bowl. “I made him beg. But it was good.”

Coen’s departure featured some twists and turns, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Buccaneers were “irate” at how things were handled. The franchise also blocked multiple interview requests with current assistants. But Mayfield made it clear he was happy for Coen and his family as they make their move to Jacksonville.

“I know people are going to be upset about it, but for him, Ashley and their kids, you can’t argue with that decision,” Mayfield said. “I can’t be mad at that. As much as I would want to have him still here, it is what it is. Life goes on. I’m happy for him.”

Baker Mayfield: Bucs happy for Liam Coen, but ‘had a few choice words for him’

Baker Mayfield and some of his Buccaneers teammates found out about Liam Coen’s pending departure while in The Bahamas. One day after the Jaguars announced his hiring, they received a FaceTime call from him.

Mayfield and the rest of the group said they were happy for Coen to get his first head coaching opportunity. But they took an extra beat to tell him that.

“We were down in The Bahamas with the big fellas,” Mayfield said. “We all had a few choice words for him before we actually told him we were happy for him. It was the day after the announcement.”

Coen helped lead Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense to an impressive season and a playoff berth. Tampa Bay ranked fourth in the NFL in scoring and third in total yards en route to a 10-7 record. Coen’s name then became a hot one around coaching circles, but his situation got complicated as the carousel spun.

The Jaguars interviewed Coen to replace Doug Pederson, but he reportedly was preparing to sign an extension to stay in Tampa and become one of the highest-paid coordinators in the league. After that news came out, though, Jacksonville fired general manager Trent Baalke. Just a few days later, the franchise announced Coen as its next head coach.

As for the circumstances around his departure, Coen told the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud it was a “business” move. He also pointed out what it means for his family.