With Baalke out of the picture, it seems that Byron Coen regained interest in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coaching position. Coen directed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a top-four finish in total yards, passing yards, and rushing yards per game in his first season as the team’s play-caller. Under his direction, quarterback Baker Mayfield reset his career-high marks in passing yards (4,500) and passing touchdowns (41), while the Buccaneers’ rushing attack experienced a remarkable turnaround, finishing fourth in rushing yards per game in 2024.
The Buccaneers’ offense thrived despite being coached by a defensive-minded individual in Todd Bowles, thanks to Coen’s ability to extract the most from his players. Rookie Bucky Irving had a successful season, carrying the ball 207 times for 1,122 yards and eight rushing touchdowns. Returning backs Rachaad White and Sean Tucker also contributed to the team’s rushing attack.
Coen comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree and had previously worked with the Los Angeles Rams and the University of Kentucky. When Dave Canales left the Buccaneers to take the Carolina Panthers’ top job in 2024, the team turned to Coen to orchestrate their offense. Coen’s success was swift, as the Buccaneers finished the season with a NFC South title and watched Mayfield surpass his own ceiling.
The Jaguars’ decision to hire Coen was likely influenced by his success in Tampa Bay. The team has been reeling since its second-half collapse in 2023 and a 4-13 finish in 2024. Owner Shad Khan was dissatisfied with the team’s results and fired coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke, only to fire Baalke again and attempt to land Coen. With Coen now at the helm, the Jaguars must hire a general manager who can work with him to shape the team’s future. The vision for the Jaguars includes quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was signed to an extension last offseason. The team will now attempt to replicate the Buccaneers’ success under Coen’s direction.
