Detriot Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is quickly becoming the favorite to replace Doug Pederson as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. That said, he'll be far from the only worthy candidate in the next hiring cycle. In fact, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen's latest comments show he's deserving of a chance.
Coen told reporters ahead of the finale that it would be great if he gets a chance to lead his own team. However, he won't mind returning to Tampa Bay next offseason, pointing out that he's enjoying his time with the Bucs.
"I do believe I'm ready to do so. I don't think you're ever truly fully ready, but year, that is a dream." Coen said ahead of the finale via Rick Stroud of Tampa Bay Times. "Does that need to happen when I'm 39 years old and having probably the most fun of my life coaching and working and being here? No, that doesn't mean that needs to occur right now, but yeah, that's the goal."
After spending one season at Kentucky, Coen became the Bucs' offensive coordinator. Right off the bat, his unit showed considerable improvement, going from 20th in points scored in 2023 to fourth this season. Moreover, players such as Baker Mayfield, running back Bucky Irving, and tight end Cade Otton made strides under his tutelage.
Coen could have a similar impact for Trevor Lawrence, who's shown he can play at a high level but has failed to build consistency. The rest of the offense could also benefit from his arrival. Rookie sensation Brian Thomas Jr., sophomore Parker Washington, and tight end Brenton Strange could also make a leap if he were to become the next head coach in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars must not hesitate to target Liam Coen as a potential replacement for Doug Pederson
The Jacksonville Jaguars will probably center their search around Brian Johnson, but Liam Coen will also be an intriguing choice to replace Doug Pederson. After all, his latest remarks show that he isn't doing a good job because he expects to be rewarded with a head-coaching job. Instead, he's giving his best because he likes coaching. And that's the thing, several candidates put up a good show in hopes of moving up the coaching ladder, but that doesn't appear to be the case with Coen.
And if the Jags want to make a run for Coen, they have enough things in place to convince him (or anyone else for that matter) to become their head coach. Aside from Trevor Lawrence, they have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, and the resources to bring in a few more game-changers in the offseason. This is to say that if Jacksonville set its sights on the Buccaneers offensive coordinator, they would have no trouble luring him.
But first thing first. The Jaguars must officially move on from Doug Pederson. When that happens, they'll probably make a run for Ben Johnson, but it wouldn't hurt to have a backup plan in case they fail to secure his services. None would be better than Liam Coen.