The Curious Case of Coach Coen's Exit

The annual coach-hiring season is always full of surprises, and this year's twist involves Liam Coen. If reports are right, he's set to become the Jaguars' new head coach. But his exit from the Buccaneers is anything but ordinary. Coaches usually can leave one team and join another without any contract issues. The Buccaneers have a history of controversial coaching decisions, like firing Jon Gruden and promoting Raheem Morris in 2009, or hiring Rutgers coach Greg Schiano in 2012. They also promoted offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter in 2016, even though other teams were interested in him. So, what happened with Liam Coen? According to various sources, it went like this. He initially interviewed with the Jaguars, encouraged by the Buccaneers. As he was about to go for a second interview, he agreed to a new contract with the Bucs, making him the NFL's highest-paid offensive coordinator. This deal was based on him not interviewing in person with the Jaguars again. Then, the Jaguars fired their general manager, Trent Baalke. Coen didn't sign the new contract and secretly returned to Jacksonville without the Buccaneers knowing. He was supposedly with his sick child at the doctor, but he was actually finalizing a deal to become the Jaguars' head coach. Coen's actions might have come from the understanding that he got the new contract by promising not to take a second interview. If he did, the deal could be scrapped. But he could have signed it and still talked to the Jaguars. That would have gone against the spirit of their agreement, but it's not enforceable. Instead, Coen disappeared on the Buccaneers and gave them a weak excuse. This could cause problems for him in the future. The NFL is a small world, and coaches often move between teams. How Coen leaves Tampa could affect his future opportunities.