Liam Coen keeps Baker Mayfield, Bucs and Jaguars at ‘gun point’ with negotiations seeking massive pay day

Liam Coen leverages the Tampa Bay Buccaneers contract to negotiate with Jacksonville Jaguars for the head coaching position.

Liam Coen keeps Baker Mayfield, Bucs and Jaguars at ‘gun point’ with negotiations seeking massive pay day

Liam Coen leveraged his position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to earn Jacksonville Jaguars HC job (Image via X)

Baker Mayfield has had a tremendous turnaround in his career since signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his two seasons, he has played under two different offensive coordinators and still ended up in the playoffs. One of them is already a head coach, whereas another, Liam Coen, is almost getting there.

Last season, Dave Canales took the job of head coaching the Carolina Panthers after doing a stellar job with Mayfield. But it was not just his time there that helped him become a head coach. His previous stint helping Russell Wilson in Seattle also helped.

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This season, it was Liam Coen’s turn. The OC has an even more extensive and impressive experience considering he comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree. That coaching tree has seen many land the most prestigious coach’s job in the league. This season it seems to be his turn.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars made him their top target to take over Doug Pederson‘s office. As per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, he was lined up for an interview on Wednesday. However, he apparently withdrew his name.

He then went on to use that HC interview to negotiate a higher package. In fact, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to make him the highest paid coordinator in the league. But apparently, that wasn’t enough for Liam Coen. In the meantime, the Jaguars fired GM Trent Baalke.

It is not known if Coen’s interview had anything to do with it, but later Meirov updated that the Jaguars reached back out to the OC asking him to reconsider their offer. He then flew into the Jacksonville Jaguars facilities to iron out a deal while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tried to get hold of him but couldn’t.

Liam Coen ghosts Bucs and becomes Jags HC

Liam Coen ghosting the Buccaneers as he tries to finalize a deal is a classic game of leverage. His highest paid coordinator offer must have helped him get a better deal from Shad Khan. ESPN’s Jenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and, after speaking with her sources, wrote this on X.

Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will now look for another OC
Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will now look for another OC (Image via X)

Liam Coen has informed the Bucs that he is taking the Jaguars’ head coaching job, per source.

Jenna Laine wrote

This indicates he has finally contacted his former team and informed them about his decision. But that is after leveraging them to earn a major deal. He becomes the second offensive coordinator to leave the franchise in a space of two seasons.

Now Baker Mayfield will have to look towards working with another offensive coordinator next season. All while trying to work on taking the next step after losing to the Washington Commanders in the Wild Card round.

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