Bill Belichick, the Mannings, and the Bucs love Liam Coen while Kentucky struggles without him

As Kentucky’s offense struggles to score in the Southeastern Conference, the Wildcats’ former offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, is making a name for himself as an offensive coordinator in the NFL. Coen’s Tampa Bay Bucs rank fourth in yards and points per game, averaging 30 points through seven games in 2024, his first year on the job. Coen, who was Kentucky’s OC in 2021 and 2023, took over an offense ranked 23rd a year ago and turned it into one of the best in the league this season.

Last night, Coen’s Tampa offense shined in primetime, scoring 31 points in a Monday Night Football loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Baker Mayfield, the league’s second-leading passer, threw for 370 yards and three scores in the loss to Baltimore.

Coen’s success and immediate rise up the coordinator ranks are tough to watch from the couch in Lexington, given the current state of Kentucky Football. Even worse, Monday night’s “Manningcast” of Tampa Bay-Baltimore included Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and Bill Belichick raving about Coen’s work as a play-caller.

“Coach Coen has really done a good job on the playcalling for the Bucs this year, stepping in for Dave Canales,” said the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach, Belichick. “Actually, they’ve been better. They’ve been more productive than they were last year.”

Canales, Coen’s predecessor, was hired away from Tampa to become a head coach this season. Coen could be on a similar path if many in the Buccaneers’ fan base get their way. They want Coen to be the head coach of the pirate ship soon.

Todd Bowles turns 61 years old in November. He is not the future of the Buccaneers franchise. He is also the defensive coordinator of one of the worst defenses in the NFL. A defense that gave up 41 points tonight.

Liam Coen is 38 years old. He runs a top five offense in the NFL…

— JC Cornell (@CornellNFL) October 22, 2024

I know the Bucs season isn’t technically over but firing Bowles and letting Liam Coen become the interim head coach is probably the best bet for our future. Todd Bowles will forever have us stuck at a 7 to 9-win team and the NFC South ain’t gonna stay this bad forever.

— Joshua La Belle (@JoshuaLaBelle7) October 22, 2024

Last thing I’ll say about the Buccaneers tonight. If we lose Liam Coen to another team because we bring Todd Bowles back for a 4th season, I will lose my damn mind #Wearethekrewe

— Douglas J (@RedSoxDoug) October 22, 2024

Liam Coen was the Coach of the Week

Monday’s “Manningcast” wasn’t a safe space for Kentucky fans missing offensive production. NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” is another lover of Coen.

Last week, Coen was GMFB’s Coach of the Week after a Bucs’ loss to the Saints. Peter Schrager explained the reasoning behind awarding the Coach of the Week to an assistant coach after a loss.

“No team had a more eventful 10 days than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A heartbreaking loss to the Falcons on a Thursday, then they had to transport everything 700 miles to New Orleans as Hurricane Milton was coming to town,” Schrager said. “And then on Sunday, they unleashed an offensive onslaught on the New Orleans Saints in their own building like none we’d ever seen before. My Coach of the Week is the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mr. Liam Coen.”

"No team had a more tumultuous last ten days than the @Buccaneers . And no offense had a more impressive and prodigious day. My Coach of the Week is Tampa Bay's wunderkind OC Liam Coen." 🏈
– @PSchrags pic.twitter.com/rmsrLy7Wf9

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) October 14, 2024

Meanwhile, Kentucky has scored one offensive touchdown or less in three SEC games. The Wildcats rank last in the conference in points per game at less than 21 per contest.