Team Glazer And Liam Coen
January 27th, 2025
“Ed, don’t fret. Coach Bowles has nailed this OC thing twice already.”
There are all sorts of interesting reports about how Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen went from preparing for the combine to 72 hours later being named the new coach of the Jaguars.
Over at ESPN, Jenna Laine and Michael DiRocco go deep into the crazy week that was for the Bucs, the Jags, Liam Coen and others in what the ESPN duo described as a trail of chaos, which was basically scorched earth between Temple Terrace and Middleburg.
One thing that jumped out to Joe is an alleged order from Team Glazer to Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht when Team Glazer wanted a response from Coen.
When the Bucs received the [Jags’] interview request, general manager Jason Licht asked Coen, “What’s your number?” meaning how much would it take to keep him, a team source told ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Coen came back with a number: between $4 million to $5 million per year, which would have made him the highest-paid coordinator in the league, according to multiple sources. Bucs ownership agreed to the number — contingent upon him not taking the in-person interview in Jacksonville. But a Bucs source told ESPN that even if Coen had signed the contract, they couldn’t have technically prevented him from going to the interview.
Ownership wanted Licht to get a decision from Coen by Tuesday night, team sources told ESPN.
What Joe wants to know is, if Coen didn’t come back with an answer by Tuesday night. Would Team Glazer had told Licht to tell Coen, “We loved having you, but we’re moving on?”
That would have been a hilarious move given what transpired two days later when Coen allegedly tried to shake down Team Glazer and then ghosted them.
Joe’s guess is, if Team Glazer, by way of Licht, didn’t get an answer by Tuesday night, the offer of some $4.5 million a year for Coen (a $3 million raise?) would have been pulled.
Still, it’s intriguing to wonder what was on Team Glazer’s mind at the time.
January 27th, 2025 at 7:25 am
“When the Bucs received the [Jags’] interview request,….”
——
Too late.
January 27th, 2025 at 7:27 am
Why not we can always have faith in the three leprechauns. They’re owners we’ve been able to rely on for so long.🙄🤣🤦💩
January 27th, 2025 at 7:29 am
It’s just business, boys. Don’t take it personal.
January 27th, 2025 at 7:31 am
Yawn
January 27th, 2025 at 7:32 am
Leverage – Coen had all of it, the Bucs truly had none of it.
Sure the Bucs could have stroke a check sooner, but hindsight is 20-20. You don’t pay your OC 50% more than the HC (allegedly) just because he’s on a HC interview shortlist for the worst franchise in the NFL in early January.
It sucks big time for us, but this is business and we got the short end.
January 27th, 2025 at 7:39 am
$13m with $50-60m guaranteed > $5mil and a non-binding promise.
I would have questioned Coen’s sanity if he turned that down regardless of the ethics involved.
January 27th, 2025 at 7:52 am
He double-crossed the Bucs. There are other OC’s a lot better than Coen that deserved that kind of OC money. Coen has been on several different teams. Our players already had the skills. He wasn’t the major factor. What is even more absurd is that they are allowing him to pick their new GM. A guy that hasn’t even been in the NFL any length of time is going to choose their GM. That is crazy!
January 27th, 2025 at 7:55 am
Coen’s number was the title of Head Coach!
Geeesshhhh
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
Does not anyone understand that?
Hence….. He gone!
January 27th, 2025 at 8:09 am
Do Not Care. Have A nice life!
January 27th, 2025 at 8:18 am
I get the Coen hate here, he has earned it…somewhat. Poach any coaches from the Bucs Offensive assistant group and then it truly becomes personal.
I get that Coen had a successful year. IMHO however there are a LOT of OC’s who could have succeeded with Baker playing the best ball of his life, a revamped OL that really jelled, and MOST of all a young RB who LOOKS(not nearly enough snaps yet) like the next coming of Barry Sanders.
No matter how you slice it the two major reasons for the Bucs improvement were Bucky and the newly created OL!
Bottom line for me is that the Glazers dodged a bullet. Talk about OVERPAYING and I say that as someone who respects Coen but sees his success with some perspective. He was NOT worth that much money! But hey since it doesn’t affect the cap if the Glazers wanted to dump cash on him it’s their business!
January 27th, 2025 at 8:44 am
“Not worth the money”
Seems like it was for Khan.
January 27th, 2025 at 9:03 am
SORRY we got ghosted because Licht sat around playing with his sack instead of having contingencies in place. The Glazers bright idea was to let Coen decide their future. Ok Coen whatever you want to do we’ll just sit here wait and see what happens. Bucs get everything they deserve for putting all their hopes in dreams into Coen being their OC.
January 27th, 2025 at 9:12 am
Coen wasn’t all-Universe as the Bucs’ OC. He still didn’t totally get how good this jelling Offense is. I have a good feeling CG14 will be back. Hopefully, the next OC will fully get it with the O.
January 27th, 2025 at 9:14 am
Since Khan owned the jags they average 5 wins. Before Pederson they averaged 4 wins. Over three years Pederson almost averaged 6 wins. Laurence missed almost half the games this year. A smart franchise would have given Pederson at least one more year. Coen walked into a talented organization both at the management level and the player level. The outstanding team culture was already in place. In my opinion he was good but lots of the things he was credited with was because of the organization. A new OC makes it tougher but I have confidence in the Bucs organization and culture to make the right choices. I’ll have fun watching how both teams do in 2025. I’m betting the bucs do better. If integrity, character, loyalty, and honor make a difference the team will be better off in the long run. Go Bucs!!!!!
January 27th, 2025 at 9:29 am
So he had not signed on the dotted line…which means he was free to change his mind.
I have no issues with him leaving, nor with the way it happened. I know many are disappointed so they are angry, and I get it…but I have no desire to raise my blood pressure over such a minor thing.
The personnel still remains for the next guy to look good. And if he gets poached the following year…well…by then, if Canales fails as a HC, then we can get him back wiser and more experienced.
January 27th, 2025 at 9:31 am
Pewter Power Says:
“SORRY we got ghosted because Licht sat around playing with his sack instead of having contingencies in place. The Glazers bright idea was to let Coen decide their future.”
Um…the let him decide HIS future. It’s not like they could do anything else. They offered to make him the highest paid coaching assistant in the league.
The Jags offered him even more to become head coach. It happens…let it go.
January 27th, 2025 at 10:09 am
Again if the Bucs wanted him they would of offered him the HC job knowing that is what he wanted. They choose the wrong guy. Coen took the job in Jax and the rest is history.
January 27th, 2025 at 10:41 am
Coen could have been more open with the Bucs. That would have gone a long way toward taking the sting out of losing him. I’m more interested, now, in who will be the next OC and can we expect continuity in the offense.
January 27th, 2025 at 11:04 am
It is strictly business. The ire is drawn from Coen being like an immature kid trying to hide the beer he stole from his dad.
Karma will prevail.
January 27th, 2025 at 11:23 am
Like the eagles sang “go on take the money and run”
No one is talking about our horrific pass defense or seems the least bit concerned that little to no change is coming to that staff.
January 27th, 2025 at 11:44 am
OK, he’s gone. How can we be upset over a guy that just guaranteed for himself and his family $50M? There isn’t a poster on this board that would have turned it down over a “maybe” contract, non-guaranteed for a fraction of the the better offer. If the people here who are “shocked” (cue Casablanca theme), including the Joe’s, let it go. If there is any blame to go around it’s Licht and the Glaziers for not having a contract in Coen’s face as soon as he agreed with the Bucs. If he signed a contract and then bailed out, then the snake comparisons are “maybe” justified. This is just another Bill Parsels/Culverhouse fiasco where we wind up holding the bag. Don’t blame Coen.
January 27th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
Not only should the Glazers have fired bowles and replaced him with Coen (or given him a $10M retirement incentive), they should’ve seen this coming from a mile away. What I have seen reported, but is definitely UNDERREPORTED, is that the Glazers *encouraged* Coen to take the first interview. That’s not in Licht, that’s on them. And it was EPICALLY stupid. That’s like encouraging your wife, whose always had a wandering eye to begin with, to take a date with the rich guy down the street that’s been flirting with her. Give him a chance to tell her how he makes more money, has a nicer house, how he’ll treat her better, make all her dreams come true, etc etc etc. And then when she comes back you, you get to say “but I think you’re really pretty and I love your meatloaf honey!” It’s already over at that point, should’ve never opened that door. But the Glazers did, and this is what we get.
It’s been reported by other Bucs media that Coen had some personal traits that gave the Glazers pause at the idea of replacing bowles with him. That maybe they wanted another test drive season. Part of me wonders if, deep down, they were ok with the way this all played out.
January 27th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
At this point, does anybody really care about any of this? Other than those fans who are butthurt?
I want to hear more about getting Sapp as their DL coach. Or who is going to be the new OC.
January 27th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
A lot of people seem hung up on Coen taking less money to play 2nd fiddle, or a LOT more money, and a LOT more control, to be THE head coach.
Agree with the poster who said Liam’s number started with HEAD COACH.
Glazer’s didn’t offer that, Shad Con did.
Simple.
Now we try to find ANOTHER, NEW, OC for our franchise QB, for the 3rd year he’s been on the roster.
Just tell me who the new OC – I’m done with this conversation. Bucs picked Bowles over Coen – that’s it.
January 27th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Sounds like, the “strong arm” comments from Cohen was spot on after all. I don’t know WHAT the hell the Bucs Ownership & FO was even thinking!? It looks like total lack of communication to me, & A LOT of incompetence. That entire situation should have never happened. Sounds like there was ZERO urgency on the Bucs end, when WE ALL have been freaking tf OUT over it (on here), since before THANKSGIVING!!!!
January 27th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Great thread here. In the long run, I hope our team is more successful. Nevertheless, I truly don’t feel any less of Coen for what he did and how he handled everything. Khan should’ve fired Ballke long before they were enticing Coen and the Bucs should’ve fired Bowles at the end of the season based on merits alone. As others have hinted on this thread, it’s possible we dodged a bullet unknowingly but I seem to remember firing another high quality man where we chose not to settle for the status quo and winning the Super Bowl the very next year by a different Glazer. Would’ve been nice to see if lightning strikes twice.
January 27th, 2025 at 1:24 pm
Glazers Let the Team and Us Fans Down, Showing they Don’t Give a Sh.. er CRAP!
January 27th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
The situation likely changed once the GM was fired, so I’m not the least bit upset with Cohen taking the deal. As for being “a snake” or not having “honor”, I think we’ve all probably regretted how we’ve handled a few situations in our 30’s after benefitting from a few decades of gained wisdom…Cohen may feel the same someday? If not, who cares? Cohen received (and took) what could very well be a once in his lifetime opportunity, so hopefully the irate fans can move on and let go of their resentment.
January 27th, 2025 at 2:48 pm
Glazed Do Nuts
January 27th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
“Not worth the money”
Seems like it was for Khan.”
Some perhaps small distinctions. Khan was paying an HC not an OC.
And given Khan’s judgement only time will tell if Coen is worth it.
I think Khan has also overpaid.
January 27th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Like the eagles sang “go on take the money and run”
That was the Steve Miller band actually…. not the Eagles. 🙂
January 27th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
Think we’ll be just fine, all! Yes, it hurts and yes, it’s the 4th OC we have to hire in 4 years. But, Coen went about this all wrong. He could of been a stand up guy about it, but he used everything to leverage what he wanted and that was not coming back to Tampa.
They should of pulled his deal, Joe!
There’s way too many great offensive coaches dying to have the talent we do to get upset over another 1 and down OC. Could end up being great, but I don’t love it’ll be another offense to install. Continuity does help in the NFL. This is what happens when you have a great team, culture and have won your division 4 straight years. People start plucking guys. Spytek will likely be missed more, in my mind.
Word on the street is they (ownership) wanted to see how Coen grew and handled himself over the next year or so, before they went offering him a HC gig. And the word is they weren’t impressed with how he handled certain situations. “Volatility” is the word I’ve heard being thrown around in regards to his personality.
Who knows the real story, but time to move on and NAIL another OC hire…Go Bucs!
January 27th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
Just remember the only reason he was in the NFL was bowles & Licht what that head hunter did is bad business better to find his real value after this crock of shizz,karma will come around & bite him 1 way or another,who wants a back stabbing dirtbag as bucs head coach at some point good ridence,u deserve lawrence & co
January 27th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
I think you’re right, Stpete. As the the “take the money and run people,” I have two words, “Deshaun Watson.” Aside from his personal problems, on a professional level he grabbed the cash for a job he was not ready for and his career is a mess. It happens. And you can’t go backwards to pick up where you left off because Father Time is unforgiving. Coen was not the world’s best OC, so not worth that money. As an untested HC, he is not worth the money projected. Maybe, he will grow into the job overnight, but today he’s not there.
January 27th, 2025 at 4:14 pm
My God joe
Move on and quit beating a dead horse
January 27th, 2025 at 4:45 pm
Buc Stock is heading down….they are a very confused bunch.
January 27th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
Just for fun
I don’t know because I don’t follow the Jags at all, But has there ever been a situation where Khan was interviewing HC candidates, offered a second interview, and was told “no”?
He doesn’t strike me as a person who likes being told “no”.
Could it be…….. That Kahn has been played?
Maybe by Coen.
Maybe by the Glazers (And Coen was just a pawn)
Maybe the Glazers were quite aware that he wasn’t HC material?
Just having a little fun with C….. T….. possibilities.
He’s gone, let him go.
January 27th, 2025 at 5:59 pm
One thing is for sure. We have a QB that is seasoned with OC instability. Nine OC’s in eight seasons — we will overcome!
Go Bucs in ’25!
January 27th, 2025 at 6:00 pm
Coen going from $1.5M to $5M to $12M a year. That’s $60M for 5 years. He would be stupid not to take the money and the opportunity to be an NFL head coach. Dream job in no-tax state. He will probably have 1-6 wins next year. And then who knows in 2 years. No new coach walks into a perfect situation unless a head coach retires after winning a SB. Young OC coaches bet on themselves and in this situation even if he fails, he will be filthy rich. Any other young potential play-calling OC is gonna want to work with Baker and the Tampa Offense. So long as we don’t get stupid and change to a totally different offensive schedule. We need to worry about the defense more than offense.
January 27th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
Once again, the Glazer boys openly demonstrate the fact that they are trust fund kids who inherited all of their wealth, and not people who actually had to work for their dollars.
Making an offer contingent on you refusing interviews is amateur hour. Jason Licht wouldn’t have signed a deal under those circumstances. Neither would Mike Evans or Baker Mayfield. Neither would the Glazers.
My theory is that Glazers and Licht knew they were going to lose Coen but couldn’t justify firing the black head coach with three consecutive division titles, so they started the smear campaign to turn the fanbase against him instead of them for failing to keep him.
Insane to me that Coen is considered the snake but not the Glazers.
January 27th, 2025 at 7:11 pm
Just another bunch of millionaires looking to make more money 3 million dollar Head Coach and still make the playoffs what a bargain!!!!
January 27th, 2025 at 7:21 pm
Cheap Glazers keeping a 3 million a year head coach to make the playoffs I mean Chiefs head coach makes 20 mil to make the Superbowl. What a bargain!!!!!
January 27th, 2025 at 7:22 pm
If anyone thinks Bowles is making just $3 million they must think Licht is working for $250,000. LOL
Coordinators in college are making $3 million. Bowles could go be the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame or Ohio State and make $3 million and have a ton less headaches.
January 27th, 2025 at 7:24 pm
Do your research admin!!!!
January 27th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
Gone Gator you putz. That song is by The Steve Miller Band
January 27th, 2025 at 8:07 pm
Honestly the glazers are some of the best owners out there.
They stay out of the way and open their wallets when need be .
Some coaches and GMs would consider that ideal.
Liam Coen sure burnt some bridges in nfl circles .
For his sake I hope he’s successful in Jax because he’s going to find it tough sledding getting g another gig for the way he handled himself with the Bucs.
January 27th, 2025 at 9:38 pm
I tried to get a number without success…however it seems one site had a good guess. His final year as DC Todd signed a 3 million a year contract. That was large for a Coordinator.
When BA stepped down the Bucs tore up the DC contract and awarded him a new deal. Nobody seems to know the actual numbers and so the 3 million is the LAST figure anybody can confirm and again he signed for that as a DC.
I agree with Jjjoe that it’s very improbably Todd is STILL making the same money he made as a DC his final year in that position.
BTW when he signed that HC contract he already had an estimated worth of 25 million. He may be underpaid but he’s certainly not starving.
January 28th, 2025 at 1:05 am
As noted above, there was some noise about the Glazers thinking Coen was a little volatile. All real cloak and dagger secretive at this point, but that’s what’s been reported. And without knowing the context, I’ll just say this. Compared to bowles, Mother Teresa was volatile. Now I don’t want the kind of thug players some of these teams employ and I don’t want some lunatic coach like Bobby Hurley. BUT… passion is not a bad thing. VISIBLE passion is not a bad thing. In fact I think it’s a good thing. While I don’t doubt for a second bowles wants to do a good job for the team & the players, I don’t see him getting guys motivated to run through walls (or bite kneecaps if that’s your thing) for him. And for a guy who has virtually no involvement with the top 5 offense, is terrible at game management, and presides over the dated & ineffectual bottom 5 hallmark defense, the newly minted (and strangely oft repeated) ambiguous moniker of “leader of men” isn’t enough to justify continued employment as HC for me. It isn’t enough for the team. Good enough to win a weak division & earn the 19th pick? Clearly. Good enough to win the NFCC or a Super Bowl? Clearly NOT in my opinion. So if the Glazers were scared or turned off by a little passion, it doesn’t bode well for things to come. Was Chucky a little “volatile” compared to Dungy? Something to think about 🤔
January 28th, 2025 at 10:59 am
F Cohen. Good riddance. I’ll take great pleasure in watching the Jags do what they do. FAIL MISERABLY.
January 28th, 2025 at 11:52 am
Good luck hope you don’t win a game