The Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled the past several years, but playoffs could easily be within reach in 2025. Despite their issues, the Jaguars are in a better place to topple the Texans than the rest of their division; the Colts, for example, haven't won the AFC South since 2014, and the Titans not since 2021. The Jaguars are primed to reach the playoffs again this year, with analysts largely predicting they have a decent chance to win the division.
Trevor Lawrence is frequently seen as the best chance of leading the team to greatness, but the biggest move the team made this offseason is much more likely what will end up responsible for the Jaguars' turnaround in 2025. And that is the signing of Liam Coen as the Jaguars' new head coach. And the Bleacher Report's Alex Kay agrees.
Kay gave one reason for each team to not be overlooked going into 2025, and it's Coen - not Lawrence - that is his reason for the Jaguars.
"The Jaguars pulled out all the stops to get Liam Coen to accept their head coaching job this offseason, an aggressive maneuver that should pay dividends for the long-suffering franchise.Alex Kay
Coen is coming off an immensely successful campaign with the Buccaneers, one in which quarterback Baker Mayfield had a career-best season while orchestrating one of the NFL's most powerful passing attacks.
If Coen can work that same magic in Jacksonville, Trevor Lawrence should return to a Pro Bowl level and get this team back into playoff contention immediately."
Doug Pederson had good credentials, having led the Philadelphia Eagles to a 2018 Super Bowl victory, and when he initially came to Jacksonville in 2022, things looked good. The Jaguars won the AFC South, but the team collapsed midway through 2023, and never quite recovered.
Now, with Liam Coen, fans can hope that a new overall scheme will unshackle Trevor Lawrence and make the Jaguars a legitimate contender each year again. Fans have suffered through too many horrible coaches - Urban Meyer, Jack Del Rio, need we go on? - and it's long past time for Jacksonville to be feared once again.