Tampa Bay Buccaneers Face Uncertainty as Offensive Coordinator Drama Unfolds

Just when things felt comfortable in Tampa Bay, the world turned upside down for the Buccaneers following their defeat in the Wild Card round to the Washington Commanders. The franchise faced the possibility of losing their offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, to a head coaching job for a second straight season after he led the Bucs’ offense to a top-five unit in the league in his first season as a play caller.

The story took a confusing turn as Coen reportedly turned down a second interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars after receiving an offer from Tampa Bay to return as their OC, making him the highest-paid coordinator in NFL history. However, news broke that Coen was in Jacksonville to interview with the Jaguars without the Buccaneers having any prior indication.

According to Jenna Laine of ESPN, there was a lack of communication between Coen and the Bucs front office, with Coen reaching out to head coach Todd Bowles only after the news had already broken. The situation was not handled correctly, and it is now expected that Coen will be hired as the Jaguars’ head coach, leaving the Buccaneers to navigate a difficult offseason as they look to replace key coaching staff and continue their upward trajectory.

While there is no contract signed between Coen and the Jaguars yet, the likelihood of his return to Tampa Bay seems slim. The fallout from this mishandling has added a layer of complexity to the Buccaneers’ offseason plans, as they not only seek to improve their roster but also find a replacement for Coen.

Stay tuned to BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2024 season as this story continues to unfold.