Liam Coen’s Future
December 20th, 2024
Bucs OC Liam Coen.
So all week long the talk around One Buc Palace was which team is going to pluck offensive coordinator Liam Coen away from the Bucs.
Joe is happy people caught on. Joe has been typing about this since at least October that Coen was going to be a head coach somewhere next year, college or NFL.
However, Joe thinks all Bucs fans can agree that losing Coen would be a major, major hit to the franchise.
Maybe the Bucs find the next Coen? Maybe the Bucs find the next Dave Canales? Maybe the Bucs find the next Byron Leftwich (God help us all).
So as smart and educated Bucs fans heard on the recent edition of the “Ira Kaufman Podcast,” Joe wondered aloud that Coen may not be interested in any of the current open jobs or ones that fans expect to be open.
Would Coen be good coaching aging drama queen Aaron Rodgers? He’s played better of late but if the Jets keep him, he’s got, what, one year left? Then you’re back to square-one looking for a quarterback. And that Jets roster has a lot of holes.
The Giants? The Raiders? Trash teams without a quarterback. That’s career suicide. Joe could see Coen working with the Patriots. Really good rookie quarterback and Coen is from Rhode Island.
The Bears? Sure, they’ve got a quarterback and receivers and the rest of the roster is trash. Fully dysfunctional organization.
So maybe there is a chance Coen will stay because most open jobs won’t have a quarterback. Why not wait for an opening with a team that has a good quarterback and a decent organization? (That’s why New England scares Joe, if there is an opening.)
However, yesterday Coen claimed when he came to Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield wasn’t a lock to return. Besides, Coen said, the Bucs job was too good to pass up, Mayfield or not.
“[Mayfield] obviously had a lot to do with it, even though I wanted to be here regardless at that time,” Coen said, acknowledging that when he signed with the Bucs, Mayfield was headed to free agency (as was Mike Evans). “This was an opportunity I definitely couldn’t pass up, regardless of the quarterback situation, although that was a very nice cherry on top when it ended up working out that way.”
So Joe really wonders how important it is for Coen to have a quarterback in place when he’s looking at head coaching gigs.
On face value, a situation without a quarterback — with no sure-fire quarterback prospects in the 2025 draft — appears to be a doomed job.
If a quarterback is important to Coen, well, there won’t be many openings with a built-in franchise quarterback. So perhaps that would persuade Coen to stick around Tampa for a better gig, sort of what Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson did last year?
Coen did admit yesterday that being a head coach is a career goal of his.
December 20th, 2024 at 4:02 am
It’s good to have goals. It’s also good to set yourself up for success. Why not stay in Tampa with a current and healthy winning culture/attitude and succeed Bowles when he is ready or worse-case scenario let go?
December 20th, 2024 at 4:23 am
Good post, Joe. Pretty much what I’ve been thinking/saying. Chicago may (emphasized) have the qb but what a mess. The other openings are counting on the draft. Not this year, I don’t think. Maybe Sanders but I think he’ll be a coach killer.
You mentioned NE. If that happens…. Wuh wro. Drake is the real deal. I hadn’t thought of that. Now I’m worried. Thanks for that. 🙂
December 20th, 2024 at 4:31 am
Sanders is definitely a coach killer. As talented as he is, you draft him and you get his dad for free. No thanks
December 20th, 2024 at 5:41 am
The Jaguars job should be open and they have a QB.
December 20th, 2024 at 6:07 am
Yeah, Jags is the team I was thinking of. Todd is up there tho, year or 3 he’ll retire. Meanwhile, he can run one of the best offenses in the NFL
December 20th, 2024 at 6:20 am
I find it in intriguing Joe that you would compliment the “mighty” Dave Canales and Liam Coen but then take a shot at the only OC who’s actually won a superbowl (Leftwhich)
December 20th, 2024 at 6:21 am
Let me know whenever Dave Canales and Liam Coen call plays during a superbowl run
December 20th, 2024 at 6:27 am
If he goes to the Giants we could always get Daboll,,, didn’t do much as a HC but was really good for Josh Allen and the Bills ,,, I still like the assistant head coach (coach in waiting) Bowles gets to finish out next season (or 2 max)and then retire a Buc ,,, I know pipe dream
December 20th, 2024 at 6:36 am
He’ll be our OC or HC or HC elsewhere simple as that.
Todd Bowles tbh imo should go back to DC or just really retire from the NFL he won’t though, he is gonna stay and milk this job as long as he can. I think fans are grateful he’s here for his defensive skills and brain however he’s not helping us get the most at HC and he also isn’t young. We need to rebuild this defense and a new young hot DC and HC needs to be that leader. Hard to get rid of a guy when we keep making playoffs though and winning the division.
I guess anyways. Fans if they quit going to games and following though then there’s no reason to keep him. We really shouldn’t be talking like that to a degree it’s kinda messed up, but facts are facts and fact is this guy needs replaced. Liam Cohen is the future HC probably smartest OC in TB since Dirk Koetter. He’s an exciting minded offense and it only helps with a guy like Baker Mayfield. He’s ballsy and runs with poise and leadership.
December 20th, 2024 at 6:47 am
@Tbbucs3, let me know when BL gets another OC job.
December 20th, 2024 at 6:49 am
hes so much better than Canales
do you see how bad Carolina’s offense is? running up the gate for no gain…
Baker prob got Canales that job
December 20th, 2024 at 7:04 am
Again you have to ask yourself is it Coen or is it Mayfield? A lot of these offensive plays are improvised by the QB buying time and the O-line playing well. That Evans play wasn’t the play called it was Mayfield scrambling and Mike breaking off the original route. Carolina thought it was Canales and his playcalling. Bryce Young was doing a little better, but doubt it was what the Panthers hired him to do.
December 20th, 2024 at 7:46 am
It was a goal of mine to be a senior paramedic but I waited until I felt I was ready, even though coworkers and supervisors wanted me to be one. Perhaps Coen is the same way? Maybe he has checklist of things he wants to learn before he considers head coaching jobs?
December 20th, 2024 at 7:53 am
Jags or Bears are probably the top two he’d consider.
Not the Raiders, Saints, Gaints or Jets.
Other potential HCs are. Vrabel, Joe Barrry, Ben Johnson, Aaron Glen, Todd Monken. Bill O’Brian, Brian Flores and Cliff Kingsburry. Also Bobby Slowik if he gets what he wants. So Cohen is just one of many. A raising star but has a no real track record of being a head coach or long tenure.
December 20th, 2024 at 8:17 am
I don´t think Patriots will change Coaches, I see Dallas as an interesting place…
I wouldn´t pick Jets , nor Giants, nor Jags nor Bears….I would wait, and if you have another good year on 2026 your price will be considerably higher…Just common sense……….
December 20th, 2024 at 8:32 am
There’s not enough Coen’s to go around. We’re not going to keep finding coordinators like this one but we’ll definitely have the same defense
December 20th, 2024 at 8:45 am
Pay him bigly!! He’s amazing. Needs a raise
December 20th, 2024 at 9:02 am
tblbucs – call us when the shuttle lands
December 20th, 2024 at 9:06 am
If you think the Bucs won the Super Bowl in 2024 because of Byron Leftwich, Joe’s got some inexpensive swampland in Arizona for sale.
There is a reason why Leftwich got canned, and why he hasn’t had a job in football (college or NFL) since.
December 20th, 2024 at 9:56 am
“Tbbucs3 Says:
December 20th, 2024 at 6:21 am
Let me know whenever Dave Canales and Liam Coen call plays during a superbowl run”
He may have called in the plays – but we all know who picked them.
Anyone with ANY common sense knows that Arians called the shots. He told Byron what to do.
We all saw what happened once Leftwich’s training wheels were removed… the entire 2022 season is what happens. Plodding, predicable poorly planned offenses with ZERO creativity.
Dave Canales got a head coaching job. Coen will likely get one, too. Leftwich can’t get hired even if he worked for free. That isn’t a conspiracy – it’s an indictment.
He’s Tampa’s version of Eric Bienemy (who ALSO got exposed as a fraud).
December 20th, 2024 at 10:52 am
The only hope is a big raise with lots of guaranteed money plus some kind of contractual commitment to making him the next head coach of the Bucs.
December 20th, 2024 at 10:53 am
Just fire Bowles already !! promote Coen… Jesus christ ….simple solution … don’t complicate things… knowing this franchise they won’t rock the boat, bet on finding another offensive coordinator and settle for Bowles mediocrity for another 2 seasons
December 20th, 2024 at 10:59 am
Bucs went into the playoffs and SB with Brady and weapons galore AB, Gronk, ME, Godwin, please don’t credit OC for that SB
December 20th, 2024 at 11:28 am
Also have to watch out for College head coaching opportunities as well as the rogue playoff contender that might get fired. Say Zac Taylor gets canned for missing the playoffs, coaching Burrow and Chase might be tempting.
December 20th, 2024 at 11:31 am
The contractual commitment idea could be a negative for both parties. Say Baker gets hurt next season and the offense looks like 2022. Coen no longer looks appealing to other teams and Tampa fans may be screaming for some other hotshot coach.
December 20th, 2024 at 11:46 am
Man, it must be a slow NFL news day. The Coen dead horse is getting beaten some more. I’m more concerned with the game coming up Sunday night, and my man CG14. How is his healing coming along? He’s not considering retirement, I hope! Two season ending injuries lowers a players’$$$$$ value, sad as that fact is.
December 20th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
Did I say that Leftwhich was the main reason the Bucs won the Super Bowl Joe?
I did not, but he was obviously a huge part of the Super Bowl run because he CALLED THE PLAYS!
Yet all he does is get bashed by Bucs fans because he was left with a terrible O line and a washed statue QB who had 1 foot out the door into retirement.
Believe it or not, Not many OCs (if any) would’ve been successful at all with that 2022 bucks offense. Period.
Bruce Arians speaks highly of Leftwhich, thats why he hired him to call plays…Ill take his word for it over “Joe” from JoeBucFans
December 20th, 2024 at 12:48 pm
Again the irony. If Coen went to the sh!t show that is the New York Jets with all the drama and media baggage as well as Nepo baby Woody Johnson calling the shots…why it’s been ten years since the Jets even had a winning record and the coach then was…uh…Todd Bowles the ONLY coach in the past 15 years since Rex Ryan’s 11 win season to have a winning record as Jet’s head coach. Must just be a coincidence.
Money is not the determinative issue. Respect, dignity, a chance to win an SB trophy, the great team chemistry that already exists are also very appealing!
Imagine a deal where it’s Super Bowl or bust. Todd has 3 years, this season and 2 more to win the Lombardi then it’s Coen’s turn. Meanwhile it’s Coen’s turn to try and win a Lombardi as an OC and further burnish his cred. The Bucs certainly appear to be a competitive team soon to be free of salary cap hell.
December 20th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Dont get it mistaken, Leftwhich was no “figurehead” OC during his time with the Bucs, he was the primary play caller.
So if you don’t appreciate Leftwhich in his role for helping the Bucs bring home a Superbowl in 2020, then you’re a bad fan. Simple as that.
December 20th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Keep Liam here ! Bowles retires
He moves up to head coach of a team he already knows ! Best case ,make it so glazers er boys . You know whst you got .
December 20th, 2024 at 1:31 pm
Some real geniae on this thread.Leftwich was as responsible for delivering the SB win as Gabbert.
December 20th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
And I’d rather be a “bad fan” than a maroon who thinks Leftwich is even worthy of an argument.
December 20th, 2024 at 1:36 pm
Liam…. Follow Ben Johnson’s lead.
December 20th, 2024 at 1:46 pm
Tbbucs3. That’s a ridiculous argument. ANybody with eyes saw Lefty suck royally at calling plays. It was way above his pay grade. the argument that he won a Superbowl is equally ridiculous. Jaydon Mickens, Khalil Davis, Jeremiah Ledbetter,
Deone Buchanan, Ross Cockrell all won Superbowl 55 with us. I don’t hear you saying how instrumental to our SB run they were. Lefty did as little as these guys during that run. Bruce and Todd were the ones directly related. You think Lefty was coaching up Brady? Come on
December 20th, 2024 at 3:07 pm
I was thinking ahead and not having a thousand absolute needs in the draft. We need quality backups not just a warm body acting the part. But if Coen would hang around another year we’ll be getting another NFC Championship appearance with him lol. We might just be making there this year. Let’s Go Bucs!!!!
December 20th, 2024 at 3:15 pm
Cmurda
Are you seriously comparing a guy who called every play during the playoff run to meaningless role players like Ross Cockrell and Jayden Mickens….
The IQ is getting remarkably low on this website
December 20th, 2024 at 4:50 pm
Because of Baker, Kitchens, Canalas and possibly Liam become head coaches and Stefanski won coach of the year. What’s the common denominator there? A good offensive line will make an average QB great and a good QB and O-line make the coach look great.
December 20th, 2024 at 6:39 pm
“Tbbucs3 Says:
December 20th, 2024 at 3:15 pm
Cmurda
Are you seriously comparing a guy who called every play during the playoff run to meaningless role players like Ross Cockrell and Jayden Mickens….
The IQ is getting remarkably low on this website”
Do you seriously believe this, or are you a troll?
The only thing Leftwich did was call in the plays Arians told him to. It was brutally obvious once Arians left. Some of those 2022 game plans were horrific. Case in point – Pittsburghs’ entire secondary was out, but this genius doesn’t try to attack that. How about “motion is for fantasy football” or whatever that condescending nonsense was?
I’ll say it again – he was about as integral to the Bucs SB as Bienemy was in KC. It was Arians here and Reid in KC.
December 20th, 2024 at 8:27 pm
Bob Stoops retired so that Lincoln Riley would stay at OU. I like Bowles, but…..
December 20th, 2024 at 8:39 pm
StormyinFL
What!? Your way misinformed, you say that like you have actual sources….clearly you do not recall that Arians did not hold the playsheet on the sidelines (Andy Reid does)…..Leftwhich is the one who called he plays in and had the most communication with Brady on the sidelines.
This is common knowledge. Not a “troll”
December 20th, 2024 at 8:40 pm
“ I’ll say it again – he was about as integral to the Bucs SB as Bienemy was in KC. It was Arians here and Reid in KC.”
Dumb statement
December 20th, 2024 at 8:48 pm
There’s literally an article in the Tampa Bay Times with direct quotes from Arians about how he handed all play calling duties to Leftwhich in 2020 due to his health issues.
Facts dont care about your feelings.