TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Buccaneers are now looking for a new offensive coordinator.
According to ESPN, their now former offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, is taking the head coaching job with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This is a huge surprise for both fans and team. It was just two days ago that it was reported that Coen had pulled himself from consideration for the Jaguars job.
It’s reported that Coen agreed to a contract extension with the Bucs to continue his position but changed his mind on Thursday.
“The Buccaneers organization is livid right now, I’m told. I’ve been speaking with multiple members within the organization. They feel betrayed, they are disappointed, incredibly disappointed with the way this thing was handled,” said Scott Reynolds.
Coen met with the Jacksonville Jaguars after they fired their general manager, when Coen’s original talks with the team fell through.
“The fact, too, that Shad Khan, the owner of the Jaguars, probably had egg on his face after being turned down,” Reynolds said. “So, that probably made him want to circle back around to Liam Coen and say, ‘now, I’m super serious about wanting to hire you, we’ve got rid of the general manager, I’m going to up the ante.’ I’m sure that money was involved, as well.”
8 On Your Side is told that Coen did not answer any calls from the Bucs all day when they were wondering why he hadn’t signed his new contract.
According to reports, he told head coach Todd Bowles on Thursday evening that he wanted to explore the new job again.
We spoke with Scott Reynolds from PewterReport.com on Thursday night ahead of the decision. He said he thinks if Coen had been upfront with the Bucs about this revived interest after the owner reached out, that it could have gone differently.
“That’s the above board, that’s the way, because it would have been disappointing for the buccaneers to hear that, but to ghost the Buccaneers the way that he did, and maybe not be truthful with his explanation, that is what has set this organization in a livid state of mind right now,” he said.
This contract extension with the Bucs would have made Coen one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL.
His contract details with the Jags have not yet been released.