Liam Coen just affirmed what Jaguars fans already knew about Antonio Johnson

Before the regular season, safety appeared to be a glaring need for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although they had a logjam at the position, they didn't seemingly have a playmaker. At least that was the case until Antonio Johnson went from forgotten to ascending star.

Johnson quickly became one of the best players on the Jacksonville secondary this season. His Pick 6 against the Tennessee Titans in the season finale is proof of just how much he's improved after an unremarkable 2024.

Liam Coen acknowledges Antonio Johnson is stepping up for the Jaguars

After the Jags defeated Tennessee, Liam Coen met with the local media and talked about Antonio Johnson's growth, noting that the third-year safety has been stepping up for the Jags throughout the season.

"So we're talking about him before the game. Actually, Tony and James and I were talking about Antonio, just his growth since we got here, and how much he has continued to grow as a person, as a player, as a pro," Coen told reporters after the game (5:42 mark). "And man, every week, it just seems like he's making a big play for us and stepping up in critical moments. And you would say, I mean, that play really kind of took this game into a different direction. And so I really am proud of Antonio and the way that he's continued to grow."

Johnson started the season behind Eric Murray and Andrew Wingard on the depth chart. However, he made the most of his early opportunities and progressively earned a bigger role. He finished the year with five interceptions, tied with linebacker Devin Lloyd for the most on the team, and eight passes defensed.

A fifth-round pick in 2023, Johnson has appeared in 47 career games with 20 starts, registering seven interceptions and 13 passes defensed.

Related: 4 critical observations from the Jag's decisive win vs. the Titans in Week 18

Antonio Johnson has become a mainstay of the Jaguars defense

After a stellar rookie season, Antonio Johnson looked like a rising star. However, he had an underwhelming 2024 and appeared to be a roster cut candidate before the regular season. With defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile on his corner, though, the third-year safety is enjoying a career revival.

Looking back, you can blame some of Johnson's struggles in 2024 on former Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. After all, he had one of the worst defenses in the NFL and wasn't the only player who regressed under his watch. But with Campanile now at the helm, several players are posting career numbers.

Aside from Johnson, linebacker Devin Lloyd, cornerback Montaric Brown, cornerback Jarrian Jones, and even defensive end Arik Armstead bounced back after not making much of an impact in 2024.

The bottom line is that Antonio Johnson has suddenly become a steady force for the Jaguars. And with the exposure that the playoffs provide, everyone outside of Jacksonville will get to know just how much of a game-changer he is.