Dianna Russini: Bucs Were Two Losses From Likely Having Liam Coen As Head Coach
February 11th, 2025
Dishes scuttlebutt.
Joe has heard similar rumors in recent weeks in the wake of the Liam Coen drama. Now, a well-plugged-in, prominent NFL reporter has put her name on it.
In a recent airing of the podcast “Scoop City,” co-host Dianna Russini of The Athletic claims the Bucs were prepared to make a head coaching change had they finished 8-9 or worse last month.
And the benefactor of such a move would likely have been Coen, Russini told her co-host, former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel.
“Now keep in mind I really think if Tampa didn’t make the playoffs, there was going to be a move there,” Russini said. “I think there was definitely going to be something with Todd Bowles. I don’t know if it would have meant parting of ways, a firing, a retirement. …
“And with Liam being there — he [was] the guy. Right? Baker [Mayfield] loves him. They love him. It’s worked really, really well this year, and I know the organization thinks highly of [Coen]. … Again, we don’t know if that would have happened, but you have to figure it was probably something that was discussed when they weren’t winning, or at least when it appeared they weren’t going to win but they did.”
Well, in December when Bill Belichick’s consigliere Michael Lombardi claimed Bowles was making plans to retire — Bowles on the record exclusively told Joe that was nonsense. So retirement wouldn’t have been the exit plan.
(C’mon, Dianna, don’t read Joe? Why?)
So instead of getting fired/retiring/getting shoved aside, Bowles ended up not just with a winning record, but his best regular season record as a head coach.
And, per league rules, there is no Bucs contract that could have prevented Coen or any offensive coordinator from bolting to Jacksonville.
Russini adds that she cannot blame Coen for racing to Jacksonville. Opportunities are fleeting in the NFL, she said, citing Bobby Slowik as an example.
Last year Slowik, the Texans’ offensive coordinator, was a hot commodity as a head coaching candidate but he turned down job offers to stay in Houston. His reward for loyalty and patience? He got s(p)it-canned last month and is now looking for work.
February 11th, 2025 at 4:44 am
They were probably even closer when Liam Coen was fired Reports came out that they *held off* on making him the HC previously because of some scarce reactionary behaviour.
WITH THAT SAID: I’m glad it didn’t happen. The WAY Coen made his exit gives me a ton of red flags for him as a head coach. Only *something* has to happen with Coen thinking it’s totally ok to go behind the back of our FO or players and suddenly we have internal problems. No, thank you.
February 11th, 2025 at 4:58 am
Ah we’ve officially entered the “Silly Season”!
It is the time we live in now.
“C’mon, Dianna, don’t read Joe? Why?” Exactly! So why post her absurdist look at YESTERDAY? I realize the Joes are too young to have heard of Chad and Jeremy, two sixties folk rockers.
“But now it’s over and done
‘Cause that was yesterday, and yesterday’s gone”
I get that it’s a business. But here perhaps this is where I am a pollyanna.
I truly respect your “Journalistic Integrity”! This kind of BS is beneath you.
When you guys scooped it by getting word from the horses mouth that was killer Journalism! That’s breaking an important story.
Rehashing negative BS is not! Just sayin’. I have HIGH standards for you two because at the end of the day I know your hearts and souls are into this and not just your pocketbooks. Call me dumb but I don’t believe everybody works purely for money! I know you guys have responsibilities to get the eyeballs for your advertisers but you’ve done a marvelous job.
Sadly and it’s certainly not the Joe’s fault, NEGATIVITY sells. I remember in the 80’s when a station in Miami’s News Dept went from 3rd to first in breathtaking fashion. Their motto in the newsroom…”If it bleeds it leads”. IE Every shooting, car crash, murder was at the top of every show and it SOLD!
We have largely survived the “Fire Todd now” trolls. Yesterday highlighted one of the great possibilities going forward. LUV, Pickgrin, D.R. and many others were actually discussing football and not drama!
The discussions started revolving around “schemes” 4-3 or 3-4…OLB’s in coverage or as edge rushers.
I’m busting myself first and foremost. I’ve been sucked into the Tom Brady drama and it’s OVER. May he find peace and happiness in his search to replace the love of his life…playing football. I feel for him but I can no longer reach that far.
The FUTURE truly excites me. Look at what could have been’s not so much.
And at the risk of sounding obsequious I have mad respect for the Jjoes. I’m not qualified to tell them anything editorial. Just venting about society’s negativity I suppose. And the venting itself is negative so MEA CULPA!
February 11th, 2025 at 5:03 am
Not sure if Russini is just making stuff up but if Bowles went 8-9 and the ATL won the division, it would be a fair assumption that Todd would have gotten launched and Coen would have had the inside track as the new HC. Then again, if Jameis Winston actually beat Houston and the ATL in the last 2 games of 2019, he might have stayed on as Bucs’ QB in 2020 and the Bucs would have stayed mired in mediocrity as Brady would have went elsewhere. Heck, if Arthur Smith went 9-8 last season instead of 7-10, he would have been HC of the ATL in 2024. Hindsight is always 20-20 and 2 games one way or the other could make or break a season and a career.
February 11th, 2025 at 5:05 am
Interesting Joe; sounds very familiar. Does anyone know where Byron Leftwich is today? Oh that’s right, he is still at home.
February 11th, 2025 at 5:45 am
In an alternate universe, Jameis is the Star QB/Head Coach for the Bucs.
February 11th, 2025 at 5:51 am
“Hindsight is always 20-20”
Amen FMDave!!!
I get looking back on “strategic decisions” to determine what worked and what didn’t. When it comes down to people and results, that was yesterday and yesterday’s gone. HT to Chad and Jeremy. Only the old people here get that reference.
February 11th, 2025 at 5:51 am
I highly doubt it.
February 11th, 2025 at 6:02 am
Unsure that this was really a strategy with the Glazers. Either way, so glad we didn’t get stuck with Coen. He had no integrity or loyalty toward the 2nd half of the season. He was already looking for his next big thing. And to be honest, his coaching style went down hill once he knew he had one HC interview. Only one interview says so much too.
February 11th, 2025 at 6:16 am
dude this is going to be unpopular but if Bowles had Philly’s D-Line we would have won the super bowl this year for sure!!
he had a great plan against the Commandos until Baker and JMac forgot how to run a jet sweep(dumb call Coen, should have hand off to Bucky) and rook forgot when to snap the ball…
he also beat Mahomes and the chefs in the super bowl… he can call defense and the players love him
JTS is Lichts fault…
Bowles sucks at clock management and he’s not part of the ‘go for it on every 4th down coach club’ but it could be so much worse guys, DO YOU REMEMBER 18 YEARS OF 2-14? THE LOST DECADE? i’d much rather have a team that competes every year
February 11th, 2025 at 6:27 am
Doesn’t necessarily mean we stick with Coen if we end up 8-9. The assumption being that Coen’s offense still put up 30 burgers in 2 losses? Most likely in those 2 losses Coen’s offense didn’t get it done either. We’re not exactly talking handing an 8-9 team over to Dirk Koetter here, a reputable seasoned offensive play caller and former college HC. This could have been a whole new coaching staff, and/or someone not named Coen to replace Bowles, who then kept Coen. We don’t know if JAX interviews Coen with an 8-9 record, no divisional title, no playoffs.
These discussions are so exhausting… if you hate Bowles as a fan, HE IS THE REASON why we didn’t go further either during the season and/or in the playoffs, and yet despite how poor it played at times throughout the season, I will continue to beat the drum that the defense did enough in close games to either give the offense a chance to tie and/or win with plenty of time still on the clock, or they were given the ball to salt the game away, and they could not finish.
We average just shy of 30 points per game, and there’s no way we could ever put blame on the offense for losing. That’s not how one score losses work.
February 11th, 2025 at 6:36 am
Liam Coen sucks rope, and is a dishonorable man.
February 11th, 2025 at 7:08 am
Need a Pass Defense regardless.
February 11th, 2025 at 7:09 am
Could someone tell me what the difference is with the bucs from winning super bowl 55 with the team they had to the team they have now.
TB is still calling the defense
The talent is supposedly better according to some so I was just curious to hear from you
February 11th, 2025 at 7:10 am
Long term my gut feeling is we let a future successful young head coach (Cohen) walk and will regret it. That said, I can’t really fault the Bucs for keeping Bowies as HC. He won the division again, his team never quit on him (even if the defense was painful to watch at times), and he showed slight improvement record -wise during a year with minimal cap space. Plus the optic wouod have been bad. Is what it is I guess.
February 11th, 2025 at 7:32 am
One of the dweebs that lazily picked the Falcons to win the division. Now she’s repeating what was reported several weeks back by others. Doesn’t even read Joe. #lazy
February 11th, 2025 at 7:41 am
Joe in Michigan Says:
February 11th, 2025 at 5:45 am
In an alternate universe, Jameis is the Star QB/Head Coach for the Bucs.
In an alternate universe I am the GOAT! Wait, I’m already in that universe.
February 11th, 2025 at 7:45 am
Russini and Leather is good
February 11th, 2025 at 7:49 am
stpetebucsfan. No one is as old as you here. (;) But hey, I’m right there with ya, culturally speaking. We both remember when air was clean and TV was black and white…
As for Coen, I love the reference made. Give Coen a hand. He figured out how to make the Buc’s offense really good for 1 year and worked it into financial security for the rest of his life. But in the end, we are Bucs fans and how do we get better from here.
So thanks for the good thoughts stpetebucsfan; Now go get some Metamucil.
February 11th, 2025 at 8:04 am
MJ Says:
February 11th, 2025 at 6:16 am
dude this is going to be unpopular but if Bowles had Philly’s D-Line we would have won the super bowl this year for sure!!
he had a great plan against the Commandos until Baker and JMac forgot how to run a jet sweep(dumb call Coen, should have hand off to Bucky) and rook forgot when to snap the ball…
he also beat Mahomes and the chefs in the super bowl… he can call defense and the players love him
JTS is Lichts fault…?
Wow – really? You mean letting the Commodes hold the ball and march up and down the field was a great strategy? Zero three and outs. You call that great defense? GTFO…
And JTS – really all Licht? You think Bowles just sits back on draft night and lets Jason Licht shop for all the groceries? And besides that, he continued to play him, long after it was well established that he sucked.
February 11th, 2025 at 8:11 am
Bullet dodged.
February 11th, 2025 at 8:34 am
So glad we didn’t hire that bug-eyed weirdo. He ruined all credibility with his sneaky conduct, and icing on the cake was his odd “Duuuuuval” intro conference. Can’t wait to see Todd restock the defense and prove the haters wrong this year. Go Bucs
February 11th, 2025 at 8:41 am
Just prolonging the inevitable
February 11th, 2025 at 8:55 am
Would’ve been curious to see how it played out if the Glazers & Licht ever had that 2nd conversation with Coen prior to him accepting in Jax. Still believe they were willing to make the change, but never got the second chance. Would make a bit of sense considering how pissed they were in the aftermath evid. Likely some of that anger and frustration was directed at themselves too, if they were being honest.
February 11th, 2025 at 9:48 am
MJ Says:
February 11th, 2025 at 6:16 am
dude this is going to be unpopular but if Bowles had Philly’s D-Line we would have won the super bowl this year for sure!
=================================
That’s why it is about more than QB’s. To say that Tom Brady “won’ seven Super Bowls is nonsense. Tom Brady was a player on teams that won 7 Super Bowls. “Analysts” and fans who say such dumb things never played competitive team sports. The players know it is the team that won.
February 11th, 2025 at 10:39 am
Should have did it anyway!!bowels ain’t it. 7 years as a HC. We know what he is
February 11th, 2025 at 11:03 am
The Bucs were 10-8, including the woeful loss to the WFT. Six of those eight losses were games that were in the Bucs hands to win. Another way to look at 2024, 10-7 was the floor, the worst the team should have done with that offense. Terrible situational football and cowardly game management at crunch time. And a ball control defense, I guess the strategy is to keep the offense fresh.
Let’s see what self reflection can do. I’d expect more of the same, because it’s been the pattern every year Todd has held two huge jobs that are hard enough for one person to do well. That ain’t hate, that’s fact.
Bringing up what he did as DC when BA was head coach 5 years ago is comical. When he was 100% DC he had the time to do the job and he also had a boss to guide his improvement.
Reporting to yourself is bad business.
February 11th, 2025 at 11:20 am
Diana wearing leather to conceal the BS she speaks
February 11th, 2025 at 11:27 am
let it be…
regarding coen……it just wasn’t meant to be…
quietly watch as he most likely gets his azz handed to him in shacksonville…
#QuicksandAndAyeWaffleHouseMenu
February 11th, 2025 at 11:46 am
She’s right about that. If we’d missed the playoffs, then Bowles would’ve been ‘out the door’ 💯. It would’ve given the FO the excuse and all the ammunition they needed. I mean, you sure haven’t heard a single WORD about any ‘extensions’ for Ol’ Mr. Bowles, coming out of any of their mouths.
February 11th, 2025 at 11:54 am
[C’mon man. Joe works in the industry and never heard such a thing. Be nice. — Joe]
February 11th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
Coen is not a leader of men, he is a goofball.
The Bucs dodged a bullet.
February 11th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
I believe Bowles is going on his 4th season of a 5 deal with the team holding the 5th year option? The Glazers don’t seem to be in a rush to pick up the 5th year, but I believe they will. Still no talk of a new contract for Todd, so it’s safe to say he’s on the hot seat going into the season.
February 11th, 2025 at 1:49 pm
The b*tch is dead. He’s not important.
February 11th, 2025 at 2:17 pm
Geno
“Now go get some Metamucil.” Well played!
It’ll go with my urolift and all the “ologists” you collect over time. The Urologist, the Dermatolgists and D.R.’s recent fave the Cardiologist.
Having said all that it is the very best time of my life!!!
February 11th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
I don’t think the Bucs going 8-9 and “moving on” from Todd is breaking news! Everyone knows how that would have played out. But, it didn’t. So let’s talk about what this off-season is going to look like. Go Bucs
February 11th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
DUUVVAAL!!! No thank you. As I sit here looking ahead, I am fine with where we are and the coaches we have under contract. Bowles and Licht will fix the D and the Bucs will be in great shape to go deeper next post season.
February 11th, 2025 at 6:01 pm
Coen will be the next Slowik!
February 12th, 2025 at 4:19 am
LOL
All of these folks Joe mentions are well connected… Ok
She got her very own podcast and a washed up QB…Lucky girl.
Joe should be well connected. This is by far the best Bucs site on the planet and most of these others so called NFL journalists are just posers.
Go Bucs!
February 12th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
Click bait, move on.
February 12th, 2025 at 6:36 pm
It was a tough situation. I sorta wish Bowles would’ve bowed out and retired for the program like Stoops did to keep Lincoln Riley at OU. But, Riley bailed on the Sooners for the Trojans because he was afraid of the SEC. Just have to go with what we’re dealt and hope for the best.
February 13th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
Joe…… she got that info from ” Joe Bucs Fan”…. Let’s not get our Buccaneer info from hot chick’s that are reading from a tele
prompter.