Report: Tampa Bay Buccaneers to interview Kentucky's Liam Coen for offensive coordinator opening

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to interview Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen for their offensive coordinator vacancy “in the next few days,” according to the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud. Coen previously worked in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams before returning to Kentucky in 2023.

Coen also interviewed for the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator opening during this cycle before they decided to hire Shane Waldron away from the Seattle Seahawks. He was also a “serious candidate” for the Ohio State position which eventually went to Bill O’Brien, KSR’s Matt Jones reported.

Coen spent the 2021 and 2023 seasons with Kentucky, but briefly returned to the NFL in 2022 with the Rams. That year, Los Angeles ranked 27th in the NFL in scoring offense, averaging just 18.1 points per game while rotating through a few quarterbacks after a Matthew Stafford injury.

In fact, Coen and Baker Mayfield worked together that season. He played the final five games in Los Angeles, meaning he learned Coen’s system in that time while filling in for Stafford. In that time, Mayfield threw for 850 yards and four touchdowns as he totaled a 1-3 record.

In 2021 under Liam Coen, Kentucky put together a strong year with Will Levis at quarterback, averaging 32.3 points and 424.1 total yards of offense per game. After he returned this past season, the Wildcats had an up-and-down season, averaging 339.5 yards per game — which ranked 11th in the SEC — and 29.1 points to finish eighth in the conference.

More on the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator search

Tampa Bay is currently working to replace Dave Canales, who served as the offensive coordinator this past season before becoming the Carolina Panthers’ head coach. The Buccaneers put together a solid season, finishing with a 9-8 record to win the NFC South. They then advanced to the Divisional Round of the playoffs with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, but fell to the Detroit Lions.

Mayfield flourished after signing a one-year contract, completing 64.3% of his passes for a career-high 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns as part of his big year.

So far, both other candidates on Tampa Bay’s interview list also worked with Mayfield. The team interviewed Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt earlier this week, and the Bucs have plans to speak with Rams passing game specialist Jake Peetz about the opening. Both coaches worked with Mayfield with their respective teams, meaning there’s familiarity if he’s back in Tampa next year.