The Jacksonville Jaguars decided that they had seen enough of Doug Pederson after 2024 and gave him the boot. After an extensive search, they hired Liam Coen to replace him. So far, the Jags' new head coach has gotten rave reviews, and it's easy to see why. Apart from turning the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into an offensive powerhouse during his lone season, his willingness to adapt has endeared him to players.
Couple that with the upgrades the front office made to the roster, and nobody would bat an eye if Coen oversees a successful turnaround in 2025. Maybe that's why he earned a somewhat high spot (for a first-time head coach) in a recent ranking.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports ranked all 32 head coaches ahead of the 2025 season and placed Coen at No. 26, pointing out that helping Trevor Lawrence get going will be his top priority.
"His Jacksonville introduction was quirky, but the real concern is he's bounced back between six different jobs over the last six years," Benjamin wrote. "Still, he's got a vision for aiding Trevor Lawrence, which is the priority No. 1 as the mercurial quarterback enters."
At first sight, the fact that Coen has held six different jobs in as many years sounds alarming, but a closer look shows that it's not something to worry about. For starters, he went back and forth between the Los Angeles Rams and Kentucky from 2020 to 2023. That's only truly two stops.
After spending a season as the offensive coordinator for the Wildcats in 2023, Coen had the same position for the Bucs the following year, and had he not taken the Jaguars' job, he would've stayed in Tampa. But leaving aside his stability or lack thereof, he's precisely what the Jags need to steer the ship in the right direction.
Not only did Coen help Baker Mayfield post career numbers in 2024, but he also took the Tampa Bay running game from one of the worst in the league the season prior to one of the top 5 in the NFL.
In Jacksonville, Coen will have no shortage of talent to work with. He's got a stacked running back with Tank Bigsby, Bhayshul Tuten, and Travis Etienne in the fold. His top three receivers are Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, and Dyami Brown. Led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the group has the potential to make noise in 2025.
Why the Jaguars should be encouraged about Liam Coen's spot in the HC ranking
Circling back to CBS Sports' ranking, it would be great to see Liam Coen make the top 10, but it would be unrealistic to expect him to make the top 10 when he hasn't even been an NFL head coach for a game. That's why No. 26 feels appropriate. Heck, it may be better than it looks.
After all, Coen ranked higher than some experienced coaches such as Brian Daboll, Brian Callahan, and Raheem Morris. Similarly, he had a better spot than other Kellen Moore, Brian Shottenheimer, and Aaron Glenn, all of whom are entering their first season at the helm of an NFL team.
Unless Cody Benjamin drew random names from a hat, he must've felt better about Coen than some of his peers, and that should give the Jaguars a reason for optimism. Granted, he'll need Trevor Lawrence to stay healthy, something he's failed to do the past two years.
But if his quarterback avoids the injury bug in 2025, nobody should bat an eye if Liam Coen helps the Jags get back into the playoffs.
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