Jaguars giving Buccaneers OC Liam Coen second interview for head coaching vacancy

The Jacksonville Jaguars are bringing in Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen this week for an in-person second interview for their head coaching position, per Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports.

Coen, 39, interviewed virtually for the job last week as the Jaguars seek to replace Doug Pederson and hire their third head coach since 2021.

Coen is coming off his first season in Tampa Bay, hired by Todd Bowles to replace Dave Canales, who took the head coaching job with the Carolina Panthers last offseason. He inherited the league’s No. 23 ranked offense the year prior and guided that unit to a No. 3 finish in 2024. The Buccaneers averaged 399.5 yards and 29.5 points per game under Coen.

Tampa Bay set franchise best marks in yards per carry (5.25), completion (71.5%) and third-down conversion rate (50.9%). Quarterback Baker Mayfield had his best season as a pro, throwing for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions with a 106.8 passer rating.

Perhaps most impressive, Coen fixed the Buccaneers’ long suffering ground game. Tampa Bay had the NFL‘s worst rushing attack in 2022 and ’23. With Coen calling plays, the Buccaneers finished fourth in rushing this season. Tampa Bay set a franchise record with 2,536 rushing yards, 1,122 coming from rookie tailback Bucky Irving.

Liam Coen lands head coaching interviews after successful season with Buccaneers

Coen most notably served as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, and Kentucky‘s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2021 and ’23. Coen said earlier this month he believes he’s ready to become a head coach in the NFL.

“I do believe I’m ready to do so. I don’t think you’re ever truly fully ready, but yeah, that is a dream,” Coen said. “Does that need to happen when I’m 39 years old and having probably the most fun of my life coaching and 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.”

The Jaguars have also lined up in-person second interviews with former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and former Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.