That’s proper, Baker Mayfield may have yet one more new offensive coordinator.
On Wednesday, it appeared the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had prevented that destiny, with information that offensive coordinator Liam Coen — who elevated Tampa Bay’s offense to a top-five unit in 2024 — had agreed to phrases on a brand new deal that may have saved him in workplace. Tampa after being courted by the Jacksonville Jaguars for his or her head teaching job. The three-year extension would make him one of many highest-paid coordinators within the league, reportedly making almost $4.5 million yearly.
Then Thursday rolled round and the Bucs did not announce the thrilling information of an extension. It all started to unravel Thursday evening: The cause he hadn’t signed the paperwork was that he was in Jacksonville, negotiating a brand new deal to grow to be the Jaguars’ new coach.
On Wednesday, the Jags fired normal supervisor Trent Baalke quickly after Coen withdrew his identify from consideration for the vacant head teaching job and reached a brand new take care of the Bucs. Jacksonville then reestablished contact with Coen, promising him that he might assist choose the brand new normal supervisor as a part of its push to deliver him on board.
This was all information to the Bucs, who anticipated Coen to be at their facility Thursday to make the extension official. According to a number of studies, they had been unable to succeed in him by telephone or textual content till about 5 p.m., when he reportedly spoke with Bucs coach Todd Bowles, who had been lobbying for group possession to present him a considerable elevate to maintain him at Tampa.
But based on the Tampa Bay Times, Coen informed Bowles that one among his sons had gotten sick and he had been on the physician’s workplace, solely briefly mentioning the Jaguars’ work and saying he wished to revisit the likelihood. By 10:45 p.m., he had knowledgeable the group that he would take the job with the Jaguars, which can reportedly pay as much as $13 million yearly.
Coen’s turnaround took what had been a constructive story — maintaining a coveted assistant for an additional 12 months — and as an alternative added it to a rising checklist of exits for the Bucs, who’ve received 4 straight division titles . Assistant normal supervisor John Spytek agreed Wednesday to grow to be normal supervisor of the Raiders, who’ve former Bucs quarterback Tom Brady as a minority proprietor. According to studies from Spytek he signed a five-year contract with the Raiders late Thursday.
Bowles’ two high defensive assistants might additionally depart: Defensive line coach and working recreation coordinator Kacy Rodgers, who labored with Bowles for 17 seasons with 4 totally different groups, is taking the identical job with the Lions, and Detroit will interview Bucs linebackers coach and passing recreation coordinator Larry Foote for his defensive coordinator job. It’s additionally attainable that Coen takes among the Bucs’ offensive assistants with him by selling them to greater roles on the Jaguars’ workers.
Just two weeks in the past, Coen had been candid in speaking concerning the attract of changing into a head coach, however his relative endurance in understanding that he did not should rush into any job, with a job he appreciated and the promise of extra success forward. .
“Yes, it is a dream,” he stated. “Does this must occur when I’m 39 and doubtless having the time of my life coaching and dealing and being right here? No, that does not imply it must occur proper now. But yeah, that is the purpose. That’s completely the purpose. ‘purpose. But like I stated earlier than, that purpose can maintain on for some time and proceed to do what we’re doing. That could be actually particular.
It’s the second straight 12 months Bowles has misplaced a first-year offensive coordinator to a head teaching job. A 12 months in the past, Dave Canales was employed because the Panthers’ head coach, and with Coen gone to Jacksonville, the Bucs are the primary NFL group to lose offensive coordinators to go coaches in consecutive seasons for the reason that 2013-2014 season. Ravens, who misplaced Jim Caldwell to the Lions after which Gary Kubiak to the Broncos, the place he would win the Super Bowl championship the next season.
In concept, Tampa’s OC’s job is significantly better than it was a 12 months in the past: The Bucs had the NFL’s worst speeding assault in 2023, however completed within the high 5 in almost each class in 2024. The enchancment is not it was simply Coen, however enhancements to the offensive line, together with rookie middle Graham Barton, and the arrival of rookie working again Bucky Irving, a consensus All-Rookie choice after working for greater than 1,000 meters regardless of sharing the workload for a lot of the 12 months.
Coen’s latest work historical past suggests it should not be stunning that he left Tampa after only one season. Over the course of the earlier 4 years, he had bounced from the Rams to the University of Kentucky, again to the Rams and again to Kentucky, partly as a result of he appreciated having the ability to be a play-caller in his personal offense, as he was in Tampa. At 39, he turns into one of many youngest coaches within the NFL and can work with a younger and promising quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, who signed a contract value 275 million {dollars}.
The Bucs have been deserted like this earlier than, too. Twice, the franchise thought of having an settlement with Bill Parcells to grow to be their head coach, in 1991 and 2002, however each occasions modified his thoughts on the final minute. They nearly made a take care of Chip Kelly in 2012, just for him to remain in Oregon.
Tampa Bay will now transfer rapidly to discover a new offensive coordinator, its fourth in 4 seasons, an all-too-familiar lack of continuity for Mayfield, who set profession highs in touchdowns (41) and yards (4,500) underneath Coen in 2024 Mayfield has already labored with seven offensive coordinators in his seven years within the NFL, so the brand new rent shall be his eighth, a near-annual ritual of studying new offenses and adapting to new schemes.
The Jaguars, in the meantime, completed 4-13 final season, however had been 9-8 in every of the earlier two seasons, successful the AFC South and a wild-card playoff recreation in 2022. Finding success with Lawrence, once more Only 25 years outdated, he shall be a precedence for Coen. The former No. 1 total decide was restricted to only 10 video games final season as a result of damage, throwing 11 touchdowns towards seven interceptions and successful simply two of his begins.
If the Bucs make the identical monetary dedication they budgeted for Coen, they are going to haven’t any scarcity of worthy candidates to select from. They might promote from inside, giving Mayfield much less of a transition to fret about, or look externally to fill a uncommon opening for a playcalling offensive coordinator with a gaggle of proficient gamers with sustained success in a simple division.
Greg Auman is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He beforehand spent a decade overlaying the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Times and the Athletic. You can observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.
Want nice tales delivered straight to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports accountand observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised publication day-after-day!
Get extra from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get data on video games, information and extra
