The Jacskonville Jaguars made the puzzling decision to keep Trent Baalke after the 2024 season. They realized it was a mistake when candidates for their coaching job refused to interview with them, and not long after Liam Coen shunned them, they finally pulled the trigger and fired the embattled general manager.
The decision immediately paid off as Jacksonville managed to convince Coen to interview with them again. Then, talks heated up and they struck a deal to make him their next head coach. Days after hiring him, the Jaguars held a press conference to introduce him.
Among the many topics that came up in the media availability session was Coen's Tampa Bay exit. He says that he's thankful for his opportunity with the Buccaneers but couldn't pass up the chance to become the Jaguars head coach.
"Look, the opportunity to coach in Tampa was a phenomenal one to get my feet wet in the NFL as the offensive coordinator and I thank them so much for that opportunity," Coen told the media. "As you continue to do more research and gain more information as you go, it started to become more clear with every hour that this was an opportunity that you just can't pass up for so many different reasons, and you ultimately want to do truly what's best for you and your family."
"And that's what this came down to. I will always love and remember those guys in Tampa, my players, those guys, love them to death. But this is an opportunity to also go and do with some new guys, right? And to go reach and touch people, because that's what coaching and teaching is, and that's what this opportunity is all about, and extremely thankful for that."
Coen met with the Jaguars early in the hiring cycle and was scheduled to interview for their opening again. However, he bolted for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because they offered to make him one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL.
But things took yet another twist when Jacksonville fired Baalke. Once the general manager got the boot, Coen went back to talking to the Jaguars. The issue is that he didn't let anyone know at Tampa, so it gave the impression that he was going behind their back.
Coen's wife set the record straight on social media, pointing out that they were in the doctor the same day that he was engaging in talks with the Jaguars.
Later in the exchange with the media, Coen was asked if Baalke's dismissal had anything to do with his decision to become the Jaguars' head coach.
"This was completely about an opportunity to work for an owner and a group of people with a group of players that needed some help. And that's what coaching is right that's what coaching is all about trying to go help people and be around people. So, no, that was not the factor," Coen said in response to whether Baalke's exit influenced his decision.
Trent Baalke did play a role in Liam Coen's decision to take the Jaguars job
While it's true that Liam Coen chose the Jacksonville Jaguars because of the opportunity they offered, it's fair to say that he might not have taken the job if they hadn't sweetened their offer and Trent Baalke had stayed.
Think about it, he wanted to return to Tampa Bay because the Buccaneers offered him more money. If the Jaguars didn't want to lose him, they had to make him an offer he couldn't refuse. Granted, not having to work with Baalke also incentivized Coen to take the job, but it wasn't the only reason.
Looking back, the process wasn't straightforward. Heck, it took several unexpected twists and turns, but the Jacksonville Jaguars ultimately got the guy they had set their sights on all along.