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Chip Kelly Reportedly A Popular OC Target; Jaguars, Texans Interested

January 26th, 2025 at 8:31am CST by Rory Parks

Last offseason, former Eagles and 49ers head coach Chip Kelly interviewed at least twice for the Raiders’ offensive coordinator job, a job that ultimately went to Luke Getsy (who lasted only nine games in Las Vegas). Kelly could finally find his way back to the NFL this offseason, as sources tell Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports that the 61-year-old is at the top of the wishlist for several OC-needy teams.

Currently the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for Ohio State – which just captured the CFP National Championship – Kelly was a coveted head coaching candidate back when the Eagles hired him to replace Andy Reid in 2013. He guided that Philadelphia outfit to the playoffs and added a second straight 10-win campaign in 2014, despite losing starting QB Nick Foles to injury during the season. While that Eagles squad narrowly missed the playoffs, Kelly’s early success prompted owner Jeffery Lurie to demote Howie Roseman and let his HC run on-field and personnel operations in 2015. That made for a memorable year, one that ended with Kelly’s in-season ouster and Roseman being restored as GM. The 49ers hired Kelly as HC in 2016, but after a 2-14 season, the team made him a one-and-done and pivoted to Kyle Shanahan. 

Kelly, who operated as the UCLA head coach from 2018-23 before heading to Columbus last year, has long wanted to return to the professional level, and this may be his time to do it. Sources say that the Jaguars are interested, and although Jones suggests that the Jacksonville job may not be a great fit – since new HC Liam Coen is likely to serve as the club’s offensive play-caller – the Texans could represent a viable landing spot.

After all, Kelly was Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans’ HC when Ryans was finishing out his playing career in Philadelphia, and since Ryans calls Houston’s defensive plays, Kelly could call the offense without interference. Jones and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirm prior reports indicating that Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson – who generated considerable external interest for OC positions last year – is a strong option to replace the recently-fired Bobby Slowik.

Speaking of Slowik, who worked as Houstons’ offensive coordinator for the first two years of Ryans’ HC tenure, his inability to develop as a play-caller and game plan builder is what cost him his job, as sources tell Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. While injuries to top wideouts Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell obviously undermined Slowik’s efforts, the coach was also criticized for his inability to adjust to opposing defenses. That contributed to more hits and sacks for quarterback C.J. Stroud, who regressed in his second pro season.

The offense as a whole took a significant step back from its 2023 production, which positioned Slowik as a popular name in last offseason’s head coaching carousel. Nonetheless, Wilson says the now-vacant OC gig is considered a desirable one given the presence of so many offensive standouts (including Stroud).

Like Jones and Rapoport, Wilson identifies Johnson as a legitimate candidate to replace Slowik, especially since he enjoys a strong relationship with his young signal-caller (the two began working together when Stroud was just 16). 

“One thing that I can say about Jerrod, you talk about somehow who knows how to play the position of quarterback and knows how to relay something, but also just a great person, man,” Stroud said. “A guy who loves football, he loves Houston, he loves Texas. He loves his family, he’s a great family man. Someone who has just taught me a tremendous amount of information, but on top of that, put a lot of confidence into me as well.”

The Texans’ search is going to be a wide-ranging one, and as we noted previously, it may also include senior offensive assistant Bill Lazor and receivers coach and passing game coordinator Ben McDaniels (though if Houston chooses to promote from within, McDaniels is not as likely as Johnson or Lazor to get the job). Wilson again mentions Saints OC Klint Kubiak as a logical external option. 

Wilson is not as convinced as other reporters that Kelly wants to return to the NFL, but it’s worth noting that Ryans does think highly of his former head coach.

“[Kelly] was a master motivator, but he was always an innovator,” Ryans said shortly after he was hired by the Texans. “Chip Kelly, he was always on the cutting edge. Always looking for ways to get better with sports science, technology.”

When the Texans fired Slowik, they also canned offensive line coach Chris Strausser. Wilson and Rapoport say assistant OL coach Cole Popovich has a chance to replace Strausser, with Wilson adding that offensive assistants Jarrod James and Leander Wallace and defensive assistant Ryan Milus have seen their contracts expire and are unlikely to return.

Liam Coen Fallout: Jags, Bucs, Baalke, Bowles, Contract, Glazers, Rooney Rule

January 24th, 2025 at 8:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Buccaneers become the first team to lose their offensive coordinator in back-to-back years since the 2013-14 Ravens, that development came after it initially looked like the NFC South team had reached an agreement to retain Liam Coen. A Jaguars front office decision certainly looks to have changed Coen’s plans.

When the Jaguars fired Trent Baalke not long after Coen declined a second interview, the AFC South club contacted its top candidate and asked he would reconsider in light of the GM shakeup, according to ESPN.com. Baalke’s presence was believed to be a deterrent for certain coaching candidates this year, and while Coen was among them, ESPN’s Michael DiRocco indicates the GM was not the main reason Coen initially declined a Jags second meeting. That said, Coen’s Wednesday call “embarrassed” the Jaguars, who abruptly changed course as a result.

Upon firing Doug Pederson on Jan. 6, Shad Khan called a full-on overhaul — which a Baalke ouster would have meant — “suicide” for the organization. Yet, barely two weeks later, he was gone. The Jags had seen Ben Johnson express issues with their setup, as Baalke was running a search that could have ended with him out the door — depending on the hire. That undoubtedly would have influenced the four-year Jags GM to go in certain, safe directions. Instead, he is out and Coen will now have a major say in who replaces the embattled exec.

Coen told GM Jason Licht he sought a record-breaking OC sum to stay in charge on offense, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes, with Fox Sports’ Greg Auman indicating the Bucs were prepared to pay him would close to $4.5MM per year. We heard Wednesday the number would have been in the Vic Fangio neighborhood among top coordinator salaries. Coen will make much more with the Jags, who have been tied to authorizing “Johnson-level money.” Bucs ownership approved Coen’s raise but did not with to continue a negotiating battle with their one-year OC, Breer adds. Though, the sides were not done talking money.

The initial Tampa Bay offer emerged before Coen’s virtual interview with the Jaguars, which the Glazer family encouraged him to take. Bucs ownership, however, said its offer to Coen was contingent on him not taking a second Jaguars interview. (However, even had Coen signed a Bucs contract, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio adds NFL rules would have prevented the Bucs from blocking any further Jags meetings.)

Certainly realizing he had a great chance at the Jags job, Coen again asked the Bucs for more money. Tampa Bay ownership responded, per Breer, by confirming no additional raise would come. Although the Bucs wanted a Coen answer on their initial proposal by Monday, he stalled until Wednesday. During that wait, a report indicated the Bucs were prepared to lose Coen. Though, this was all before the Jags’ Baalke decision. Baalke’s previous presence in Jacksonville looks to have kept Tampa Bay’s offer to Coen viable.

Coen, 39, informed the Bucs he was staying and would sign an extension. That did not deter the Jags, who were the only team believed to be seriously considering Coen. This would have stood to limit Coen’s leverage. After all, he has not stayed with the same employer since the 2018-20 seasons, his first stint with the Rams, and his Rams OC stay did not go well in 2022. The Cowboys, Raiders and Saints did not interview Coen. But the Bucs talks doubled as his other option, strengthening his stance in this Florida battle.

Reports Thursday indicated the Bucs were unable to reach Coen, who was to sign the deal Wednesday afternoon, but he asked Licht if he could instead do so Thursday. By Thursday morning, the Bucs had not heard from him. Assistant GM Mike Greenberg contacted Coen about the contract of another offensive assistant. That call went unanswered, as did Licht and Todd Bowles efforts to reach the 2024 Bucs OC, per Breer, who adds Coen’s agent then informed the Bucs his client was dealing with a personal matter. After more Bucs attempts to reach Coen failed, he told Bowles of the personal matter Thursday afternoon while also informing his boss he was still considering the Jacksonville job. A Jags source then tipped off the Bucs Coen was in Jacksonville.

This component does not exactly make Coen’s handling of the situation look great, though Breer indicates the Jags wanted Coen to keep his belated Duval County visit secret. But he has successfully moved up the coaching ladder — albeit in a roundabout manner — with the extraordinarily rare chance as a rookie HC to effectively choose his GM. Kyle Shanahan had this opportunity in 2017, but he had certainly climbed to a higher NFL perch by the time the 49ers gave him that power. Coen is a two-time NFL OC, though the ex-Sean McVay hire only has two years on the job (and two more in college, at Kentucky).

Coen’s delay also gave the Jaguars the chance to meet the Rooney Rule requirement. They had interviewed multiple minority candidates already, but only one of those meetings (Robert Saleh‘s) was in-person. While Coen was negotiating, the Jags met with Raiders DC Patrick Graham, who could have canceled his meeting had word of the Coen talks leaked.

This also does not shine a good light on Jacksonville’s search, but this is hardly the only team to use the Rooney Rule as a box to check rather than giving strong consideration to hiring a minority candidate. Saleh’s second interview never happened, as the Coen matter moved toward the goal line, and the former is now back with the 49ers as DC.

Despite Coen’s uneven resume, many within the Bucs organization viewed him as HC-ready, ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington tweets. In fact, Darlington adds that a scenario in which the team fired Bowles and promoted Coen was believed to have been in play if Week 18 had ended without a playoff qualification. This would have reminded of the Bucs’ decision to fire Lovie Smith and promote his OC (Dirk Koetter) in 2017. The Bucs also promoted from within to fill their current HC job, with Bruce Arians‘ resignation elevating Bowles, who is now looking for a new play-caller yet again.

Bowles has dodged firing rumors for years now, having mounted charges to the NFC South title in each of the past two after hanging on to secure the Bucs a playoff home game in Tom Brady‘s final season. The Bowles part of this messy divorce makes his status worth monitoring next season, but for now, he will set his sights on another OC search.

Jaguars Hire Liam Coen As HC

January 23rd, 2025 at 11:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Following a stunning turn of events, it sounds like Liam Coen is destined for Jacksonville. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Coen is expected to be named as the next head coach of the Jaguars. Albert Breer of TheMMQB adds to this report, stating that the two sides have a verbal agreement in place. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, Coen has already informed the Buccaneers that he’ll be taking the job in Jacksonville.

The official announcement has now been made, with Russini noting that Coen went back home to Tampa Bay while his representatives finalized details with the Jaguars. Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reported earlier this evening that the two sides were in “active negotiations.” This will be a five-year deal, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

It was only 36 hours ago that we learned Coen was backing out of the sweepstakes to stick around as the Buccaneers offensive coordinator. According to Breer, Tampa Bay was handing the coach an extension that would make him the highest-paid coordinator in NFL history. Coen would also get to stick in a familiar spot, would get to continue guiding Baker Mayfield‘s revival, and would be positioned to enter the head coaching cycle next offseason.

Things rapidly changed. The Jaguars fired Trent Baalke following reports that the GM was a deterrent to HC candidates. Following that development, it didn’t take long for Coen to reenter the conversation, as the coach reportedly took a secret trip to Jacksonville to meet with Jaguars leadership in person. We heard earlier tonight that the Jaguars were persistent in their attempts to get Coen to reconsider, and Russini says ownership called the coach directly to explain that they’d let him pick the next general manager while also paying him “Ben Johnson-level money.”

That last-ditch effort has apparently worked, as Coen is all but certain to be named the Jaguars next head coach. The offensive coordinator recently emerged as the favorite for the position after the team’s initial target, Johnson, landed with the Bears. Shad Kahn wasn’t going to let another candidate get away, especially after the Jaguars had to pivot off top option Byron Leftwich in 2022.

During that last hiring cycle, the team ended up opting for Doug Pederson, who lasted only three seasons in Jacksonville. While the Jaguars brought in a number of offensive and defensive coaches during their active search, it was believed that the organization was prioritizing a coach who could get the most out of franchise QB Trevor Lawrence.

Coen has recently garnered a reputation as someone who can maximize their QB, as he helped guide Mayfield to a career-best season in 2024. That showing also helped put Coen back on the head coaching radar following a few bumps with the Rams and Kentucky. This head coaching job will now represent Coen’s sixth unique gig in the past six years, and both the coach and the Jaguars are surely hoping he’ll be sticking around for the long-term.

Jaguars Schedule Second Robert Saleh HC Interview

January 23rd, 2025 at 6:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

TODAY, 6:35pm: Not so fast. With Liam Coen reportedly reentering the Jaguars HC mix, Saleh’s meeting with the organization is on hold. Dianna Russini of The Athletic says Saleh hasn’t traveled to Jacksonville for his meeting with the Jaguars, which was scheduled to take place tomorrow. Russini cautions that “plans are fluid,” but it sounds like Saleh is waiting to see how things unfold with Coen.

For what it’s worth, Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reported that Saleh did indeed fly to Jacksonville before news broke of Coen’s renewed interest. However, multiple reports (including Russini and Michael Silver of The Athletic) have said Saleh never traveled to Florida.

MONDAY, 4:30pm: With Ben Johnson having chosen the Bears, the AFC South team is looking at other options. After Robert Saleh impressed the Jaguars during his first meeting, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports a second interview is on tap.

Saleh will meet again with Jags brass Friday. The former Jets HC interviewed for the Cowboys and Raiders’ jobs and looks to have a 49ers DC reunion in his back pocket if another top job does not pan out. But Saleh appears to have a legitimate chance of landing another HC job months after being fired.

Saleh’s Cowboys and Raiders meetings commenced last week; he met with the Jags on January 14. While Saleh being a coveted option after three sub-.500 Jets seasons could speak to this year’s thinner talent pool — the long-held perception, at least — Gang Green’s tumble after Woody Johnson‘s abrupt decision to fire his head coach five games into this season may also have helped the defense-minded coach’s stock. The Jets went from 2-3 under Saleh this year to a 5-12 finish. The team also finished worse with Aaron Rodgers as a 17-game starter than it did with Saleh coaching Zach Wilson; the Jets went 7-10 in 2022 and ’23.

The Jags and Saleh have a short history together as well. Saleh’s springboard to his 49ers DC opportunity came after he coached the Jags’ linebackers from 2014-16. While this was not exactly a memorable period for the franchise, as it finished with double-digit losses in each of those years, Saleh was hired during Shad Khan‘s ownership tenure.

The Jets rocketed from last place in scoring and total defense in Saleh’s first season (2021) to fourth in both categories in his second. The Wilson-Nathaniel Hackett partnership put the Jets’ defense in tougher spots in 2023, when they ranked 12th in scoring. That season still produced a fourth-place finish in total defense for a unit doomed by the team’s untenable QB situation. Saleh would walk into a better spot in Jacksonville, but it remains to be seen if his resume would warrant such a bump so soon after a firing. A Saleh hire would also place great importance on identifying a play-caller to further Trevor Lawrence‘s development.

Buccaneers OC Liam Coen has been closely tied to this job. Although he has less experience on the coordinator level than Saleh, the former Sean McVay lieutenant has been mentioned as a name to watch here. It would not surprise if the Tampa Bay play-caller books a second interview as well. Via PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how the Jags’ process looks as of Monday afternoon:

Liam Coen Reenters Jaguars’ HC Mix; Deal Close?

January 23rd, 2025 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Liam Coen agreed to a Buccaneers extension, the Jaguars’ update to their front office setup looks to have changed the equation. Coen is back in the mix for the Jags, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.

[RELATED: Liam Coen Bows Out Of Jaguars’ HC Search, Agrees To Bucs Extension]

The Tampa Bay OC backed out of a second Jacksonville interview Wednesday; hours later, the Jags fired GM Trent Baalke. With Baalke gone, Coen appears more interested in the job. He is back on the radar, joining Robert Saleh, Patrick Graham and hopeful second interviewees Joe Brady and Kellen Moore in this search. With Coen back in play, it will be interesting to see if the Jags stick around to meet with Brady and Moore or if the former favorite lands a deal before then.

The Bucs had agreed on a raise for Coen to stay for a second season, but NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo connects the Baalke development to the young candidate being more interested in the job. Reports earlier this month indicated Baalke’s presence had turned off Jags HC candidates, and Coen almost definitely looks to have been among that group. After seeing Ben Johnson choose the Bears and Coen momentarily exit the picture, Shad Khan changed up.

Jacksonville is expected to hire a head coach before settling on a GM search, giving said HC considerable power. That understandably is appealing to Coen, who is huddling up with Jags brass barely 24 hours after initially refusing to do so. Coen is in Jacksonville, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who notes a deal may be close. Coen is only in the mix for the Jags job, but this would keep Brady and Moore in play for the other HC-needy teams.

In addition to the team’s decision to move on from Baalke, it sounds like the Jaguars’ persistence also helped lure Coen back to Jacksonville. Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz says the Jaguars “reached out repeatedly” with the logic that the coach would have to deny their inquiries multiple times. While the Jaguars are considering multiple candidates for the job, it sounds like Coen is the clear favorite. Schultz notes that a deal hasn’t been finalized, but Khan has identified Coen as “his guy.”

Meanwhile, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times says the Buccaneers haven’t spoken with Coen since yesterday afternoon, although that wasn’t due to a lack of trying. The Bucs tried reaching out to their OC but haven’t been able to reach him. Instead of immediately inking a new contract with Tampa Bay, Coen “secretly” traveled to Jacksonville to meet with the Jaguars. While The Athletic’s Diana Russini says the Buccaneers’ multiple calls to Coen have gone unanswered, ESPN’S Adam Schefter reports that Coen reached out to Todd Bowles directly to inform his boss of the renewed interest in the Jaguars job.

Coen’s stint as the Rams offensive coordinator didn’t go as planned, but the coach rehabilitated his image with a strong season in Tampa Bay. The new OC helped guide Baker Mayfield to the strongest season of his career, as the QB tossed 41 touchdown passes — 13 more than his previous career-high mark. As a result, Coen found himself on the head coaching radar, and it sounds like he’s currently in a can’t-lose situation. The coach can either return to a familiar spot in Tampa Bay before reentering the hiring cycle next offseason, or he can join a relatively attractive situation in Jacksonville.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Liam Coen Not Expected To Return To Jaguars HC Mix; Joe Brady, Kellen Moore Still On Radar

January 23rd, 2025 at 12:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

12:16pm: It now appears the Jags will stay with their HC search and conclude it before deciding on a GM. Going coach before GM is not entirely uncommon, but CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones points to the team not beginning a true GM hunt until a coach is in place. It would not surprise to see interview requests go out to execs, but if the team intends on separating the searches entirely, it will be a bit before that step happens.

10:37am: Liam Coen‘s decision to pass on a second Jaguars HC interview, and thus remove himself from consideration for the open job, looks to have been significant. Hours later, Shad Khan reversed course on his plans with Trent Baalke. The veteran GM is out, leaving more questions in Jacksonville.

Baalke’s presence had been seen as a deterrent in the Jaguars’ coaching search. Would removing the GM mean Coen could move back into play? It does not appear that will happen, with the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud reporting the Buccaneers‘ OC is expected to sign his extension today.

Prior to Khan’s decision to boot Baalke, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noted Bills OC Joe Brady would be a name to watch in light of the Bucs play-caller bowing out. The young assistant impressed in his virtual meeting. Indeed, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds the Jags’ list of second interviews is expected to include Brady and Eagles OC Kellen Moore. As of now, the Jags’ finalists include Robert Saleh and Patrick Graham. Each will conduct their second interviews this week. The Athletic’s Michael Silver initially indicated the search will expand beyond these two.

The prospect of a second Jags run at Coen would make sense, but the retooling organization has some issues to sort out. And Coen may well be eyeing a spot on the 2026 HC carousel rather than seeing where the Jaguars are at GM once they launch a search. A new GM may also be the team’s second priority now, as Bovada’s Josina Anderson indicating the franchise is considering a few scenarios in terms of how to proceed with its HC and GM spots. If nothing else, the Jags may be OK hiring a head coach before a general manager.

Given this year’s remaining candidates, it would be a bit surprising if the Jags gave their next head coach power over a GM. Baalke held roster control following Urban Meyer‘s firing, but it is fairly clear the recently fired GM’s presence was, much like in 2022, not helping attract candidates. Although Khan gave Meyer power in 2021, he had pursued the formerly successful college HC for a while. That experience going so poorly may well influence Khan to keep a traditional power structure post-Baalke, but the Jags are in need of a solution after Coen and Ben Johnson turned them down.

As far as replacing Baalke goes, no known candidates have emerged. The Jets are the other team looking, after the Titans (Mike Borgonzi) and Raiders (John Spytek) have made their choices. Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark appeared the favorite for the Jets’ job, but Trey Brown and Darren Mougey are still in the mix; each will conduct second interviews today. Newmark may be in play for the Jags, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini writes, but it is not known if a candidate that had been linked to following Johnson to Las Vegas and then join Aaron Glenn in New York would be coveted without the presence of an ex-Lions staffer.

After Baalke’s 2024 extension spree preceded a 4-13 season and a complete overhaul, the Jags are in the unusual spot of having paid a potential franchise QB (Trevor Lawrence) while carrying HC and GM vacancies. The Chargers managed to find good solutions here when in this spot last year, but they had vacancies from the start and used Justin Herbert‘s presence to attract Jim Harbaugh. After Coen and Johnson did not see enough positives about Jacksonville’s situation, will Lawrence help sway Brady or Moore?

Jaguars Fire GM Trent Baalke

January 22nd, 2025 at 10:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

This Jaguars coaching search has seen two top candidates — Ben Johnson and Liam Coen — bow out. With Trent Baalke‘s presence again rumored to be causing issues during a head coaching hunt, Shad Khan has changed course.

Despite keeping the GM on to lead the search, Khan is firing Baalke, according to a team announcement. Baalke stayed on for five years in Jacksonville, moving to the GM role in his second offseason with the team. Although he looked to have survived after Doug Pederson‘s firing, the veteran exec is out.

[RELATED: Coen Backs Out Of Second Jags HC Interview]

“Following several discussions with Trent Baalke this week, we both arrived at the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interests to respectfully separate, effective immediately,” a statement from Khan reads in part. “Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons. Ethan Waugh will serve as interim general manager and play an important role, with others, as we continue the process of interviewing candidates to serve as our new head coach.”

Baalke’s job security was a talking point during the campaign, one for which Khan held very high expectations. The Jags finished jut 4-13, though, creating an expectation that he would simply clean house in advance of the 2025 campaign. Pederson was dismissed on Black Monday, but many were surprised to see Baalke remain in place. On the other hand, Bovada’s Josina Anderson and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini note Khan was believed to be willing to still make a GM change this late in the hiring cycle under the right circumstances.

Baalke was viewed as a potential deterrent for the top head coaching candidates, and the fact Johnson and Coen have both elected not to take the job in Duval County is certainly an indication that proved to be true. In any case, those two (along with Mike Vrabel and Aaron Glenn) are off the market while the Jags prepare to take a different approach to their coaching search. Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and former Jets head coach Robert Saleh recently scheduled in-person interviews for the position.

In the aftermath of firing Pederson, Khan offered another vote of confidence in Baalke. The 60-year-old had GM experience prior to his Jacksonville arrival as a result of his time with the 49ers. Baalke served as San Francisco’s VP of player personnel in 2010 before a six-year run as general manager. He notably won a power struggle with head coach Jim Harbaugh during that time following the team’s run to Super Bowl XLVII. His Jags spell did not feature a repeat of that success.

During the four years with Baalke in place as GM, the Jaguars managed one playoff appearance and twice won fewer than five games. The fact he was authorized to make long-term commitments to the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Walker Little suggested he still had runway to continue in his current position. Instead, Khan will pivot to new GM; Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms a head coach will likely be in place before a front office hire is made given the timing of this situation (video link). Rapoport adds coaches whose teams are still playing could be on Jacksonville’s radar, meaning the HC move may not be strictly down to Graham and Saleh.

Two of the NFL’s general manager vacancies have already been filled, with the Titans and Raiders landing new personnel to lead their respective front offices. The Jets do not have a new GM at the moment, but it appears Lance Newmark is on track to land that position. The Jaguars’ next general manager will likely report directly to Khan, with the same being true of the new head coach. Once that tandem is in place, it will be interesting to see what direction the franchise moves in since Lawrence’s presence will no doubt eliminate the option of a long-term rebuild.

Waugh spent time alongside Baalke in San Francisco, so it came as little surprise when he was hired to take on assistant general manager duties with Jacksonville in 2022. Waugh (who has a background in player personnel departments) will now have a role in the Jaguars’ search for a new general manager, something Khan will also be heavily involved in. A organizational setup will be in place in time for next season, but the means by which it will have been put together will no doubt remain a point of scrutiny for the franchise moving forward.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Liam Coen Bows Out Of Jaguars’ HC Search, Agrees To Bucs Extension

January 22nd, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Entering Wednesday as the rumored favorite for the Jaguars’ head coaching job, Liam Coen is prepared to pass. The young offensive coordinator will stay with the Buccaneers.

Coen will sign a new Bucs contract that makes him one of the game’s highest-paid coordinators, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This deal comes with an extension but not a coach-in-waiting clause, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones adds. Robert Saleh and Patrick Graham remain Jags finalists, but after Coen-to-Jacksonville buzz had steadily built, this could certainly be labeled a setback for the AFC South franchise. The deal is believed to be in the $4.5MM-per-year neighborhood, per the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud.

Ben Johnson recently showed this path can be effective. The former Lions OC backed away from a potential Panthers hire in 2023 and then informed the Commanders last year he was out of that mix as well. Johnson remained a top candidate and just accepted a Bears offer. Coen’s profile checks in south of Johnson’s, however, and he was only in the mix for the Jags job. While this could be deemed a risk by a coordinator who has yo-yoed between the pro and college ranks this decade, it also could represent hesitancy involving the Jaguars.

Today was to be Coen’s second Jags interview (and first in-person meeting with team brass), but the Stroud reports the Bucs’ OC did not board the plane for Jacksonville. Coen, 39, was negotiating with the Bucs as well. He will stick around and continue to work with Baker Mayfield, after the two enjoyed a promising start that resulted in another NFC South title for the Bucs.

This marks the second time this week a coveted candidate has exited the Jags’ search. Johnson was believed to be considering the Jags (and a Trevor Lawrence partnership), but the high-profile play-caller was not overly thrilled about the franchise’s setup. We heard shortly after Black Monday that the Jags’ decision to retain GM Trent Baalke, who is running their HC search, had influenced some candidates to steer clear. For a second HC cycle, Baalke’s presence appears to be affecting the Jags’ viability as a destination.

In 2022, the Jags appeared close to a deal with Byron Leftwich. Baalke’s presence impacted that search, leading to the Doug Pederson hire. Pederson had also expressed apprehension regarding Baalke, and as last season progressed, the three-year Jags HC was not on good terms with his top coworker. Many expected Baalke to be fired along with Pederson, but Shad Khan retained the polarizing exec. Rumors about Baalke being kicked to another position within the organization emerged, but Johnson and Coen’s decisions may not point to that actually happening.

Coen had been the Rams’ 2022 OC, with that stay sandwiched between two seasons as Kentucky’s play-caller. Helping Will Levis to a breakthrough 2021 season with the Wildcats, Coen did not impress as L.A.’s non-play-calling OC — albeit during an injury-plagued Rams season — and returned to the SEC program in 2023. After the Wildcats again improved under Coen, the Bucs hired him.

Mayfield soon took steps forward this past season, throwing 41 touchdown passes — 13 more than his previous career-high mark — and powered Todd Bowles‘ team to a 10-7 record and a fourth straight division championship. After losing Dave Canales to the Panthers, the Bucs still ranked fourth in scoring offense. This will mark Mayfield’s first instance of play-caller carryover since his 2020-21 Browns seasons.

Graham is slated to interview for the Jacksonville post Thursday, while Saleh is heading to Duval County on Friday. Saleh has a history with the Jags, being their linebackers coach from 2014-16, but has also met with the Cowboys and Raiders. It will be interesting if Jacksonville adds another finalist now that Coen is out, as both Saleh and Graham are defensive-minded leaders. The Jags have also interviewed OCs Joe Brady, Todd Monken and Kellen Moore. Kliff Kingsbury was believed to be on the team’s radar, but teams will have to wait until the Commanders’ season ends to meet with the resurgent play-caller.

Buccaneers Preparing For Liam Coen To Land Jaguars’ HC Position?

January 21st, 2025 at 10:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars were one of the three teams heavily linked to Ben Johnson. The in-demand staffer wound up being hired by the Bears, though, leaving Jacksonville in need of pivoting to a contingency plan.

It appears a favorite amongst the remaining candidates has emerged. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports the Buccaneers are bracing for offensive coordinator Liam Coen to be offered the Jaguars’ job. Coen is on Jacksonville’s list of finalists, having lined up a second interview for tomorrow.

The Jags are also slated to speak with former Jets head coach Robert Saleh as well as Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, but Stroud notes there is an increasing sentiment that the Jacksonville HC posting is “Coen’s to lose.” It was reported last week (when Johnson was still on the market) that the 39-year-old was in contention for the position. As a result, this latest update comes as little surprise.

Dave Canales had a successful single season as the Buccaneers’ offensive play-caller in 2023. He parlayed that into the Panthers’ head coaching gig, leaving Tampa to bring in Coen for this past campaign. The former Rams and Kentucky OC enjoyed a very strong debut season with the Bucs. The team ranked top-four in the league in total and scoring offense in 2024, remaining efficient on the ground and through the air along the way. Tampa Bay finished fourth in the NFL in rushing yards per game after posting the worst figure in that category each of the two previous campaigns.

The Jaguars moved on from Doug Pederson after his third year with the team concluded. Several candidates with an offensive background were interviewed once as part of Jacksonville’s ongoing search process, though, and the continued interest in Coen is a sign the team is willing to make another hire from that side of the ball. Stroud confirms Coen’s first interview went well, noting his potential to help Trevor Lawrence as a key factor which could land him the job.

If Coen were to depart, the Buccaneers would need to find a new OC for the fourth consecutive offseason. It remains to be seen if that will be the case, but such a scenario is obviously one the team is preparing for.

Bears Hire Ben Johnson As HC

January 20th, 2025 at 11:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

No second interviews are coming for Ben Johnson, after all. The coveted coordinator has made his choice, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting the Bears are expected to reach an agreement with the three-year Lions play-caller. The deal is now official, per a team announcement.

Although Johnson had stepped away as the Panthers’ preferred candidate in 2023 and then informed the Commanders late in last year’s process he was out, the Bears will land the coach who had been viewed by many as this year’s biggest fish. This represents one of the more significant developments in modern Bears history, as they had been connected to the rival coordinator for months.

As of Sunday, the Jaguars and Raiders were still in pursuit. Johnson had spoken to Tom Brady for hours during a Zoom meeting, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports, but the Las Vegas setup had a notable hole the Chicago gig does not. The Bears used the Bryce Young trade to acquire the 2024 No. 1 overall pick, giving them Caleb Williams access. They have now secured a coach to develop the well-regarded prospect. The Raiders have yet to identify a quarterback, with Brady tasked with helping the organization land one. Las Vegas also dropped to the No. 6 pick thanks to two late-season wins, which may well have been a factor in this now-Brady-led HC search.

The Jaguars’ setup is not in line with what Johnson preferred, Russini adds, helping to eliminate them. Jacksonville made the unexpected move to keep Trent Baalke as GM after firing Doug Pederson. Baalke’s polarizing presence was believed to have turned off some coaching candidates, and it appears Johnson was one of them. The Jags were believed to be open to moving Baalke to a different position in the organization depending on their HC hire, as they prepared an aggressive Johnson push, but that may not have been enough to satisfy a coordinator with options.

The Bears may be zeroing in on a defensive coordinator as well. As Russini reported, both Dennis Allen and Lou Anarumo had engaged in discussions about potentially joining Johnson wherever he landed. Johnson is expected to choose Allen, and Anarumo just committed to be the Colts’ DC. Allen has indeed emerged as a prime candidate to follow Johnson to Chicago, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. Allen was in charge of the Saints’ defense from 2016-24, before being fired during his third season as head coach. Though, the ex-Sean Payton assistant — Aaron Glenn‘s boss in New Orleans — played the lead role in turning the Saints’ defense around during Drew Brees‘ final seasons.

Baalke’s Jacksonville presence may not be too dissimilar to how Chicago’s power structure looks now. Candidates were curious about what role third-year president Kevin Warren would play. While Warren had said GM Ryan Poles was running what turned out to be an expansive search — featuring nearly 20 confirmed candidates — the team president was believed to be closely involved in football operations. Advertised as an exec who would primarily stay on the business side, Warren has been instead heavily involved in football matters.

This setup still did enough for Johnson, who will work with Poles in attempting to restore the Bears as a power in a strong division. It should also be noted (h/t Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager) Poles and Johnson were each Boston College graduate assistants in the late 2000s. Poles served on the football staff in 2008 after his playing career ended, while Johnson was at BC from 2009-10.

Dan Campbell said earlier today he did not expect either Johnson or Glenn to return. Glenn remains a candidate with several HC-needy teams, but Johnson has loomed as Detroit’s more coveted option. His decision to back out of the Commanders’ job came as reps from the NFC East club were en route to Detroit for interviews with he and Glenn. Rather than hire Glenn, Washington chose Dan Quinn.

The latter’s team just eliminated Johnson’s from the playoffs, freeing the Bears up to make their preferred hire now rather than wait at least another week. Had the Lions held seed and advanced to Super Bowl LIX, the Bears would have needed to wait until after the mid-February event to make their hire.

The Lions’ shortcoming will benefit the Bears, who have not been able to firmly establish themselves as a contender since at least the mid-2000s. And that defense-powered operation only stayed afloat on that level for two seasons. The Bears have not made three straight playoff berths since Mike Ditka‘s tenure more than 30 years ago. The offensive minds the Bears have hired in the recent past (Marc Trestman, Matt Nagy) have not been able to move the needle, Nagy’s two playoff berths notwithstanding. Johnson, however, checks in as a candidate on a higher plane by comparison to those two HCs or really any coach the Bears have hired in recent history.

Although the Lions did not book three straight playoff berths during Johnson’s tenure, they may well be on their way to that. Detroit’s hotshot OC, promoted from a post as tight ends coach after being hired by Matt Patricia, played a central role in the long-downtrodden organization’s climb. The innovative play-caller drove Detroit to two fifth-place offensive rankings and this season’s top mark in terms of scoring. The Lions ranked in the top four in yardage in each of Johnson’s three seasons calling plays.

Johnson, 38, restored Jared Goff as an upper-crust quarterback, doing so after the Lions had acquired the five-year Rams starter as the throw-in piece in the 2021 Matthew Stafford trade. Goff guided Detroit to last year’s AFC championship game and a 15-2 record this season. Johnson was seen as the architect of that resurgence.

Whereas Trestman was given Jay Cutler and Nagy mostly Mitchell Trubisky, Johnson will be tasked with developing Williams. It looks like he chose a Williams partnership over seeing what Brady could come up with in Vegas or working with Trevor Lawrence — and a $55MM-per-year contract — in Jacksonville. Williams ranked 28th in QBR this season, one in which the Bears had Thomas Brown move to three positions — pass-game coordinator, OC and interim HC — during a disjointed campaign marred by a 10-game losing streak. Williams showed a Justin Fields-like penchant for taking sacks, leading the NFL with 68. But the former Heisman winner also showed flashes that attracted candidates; he is signed through at least 2026 on a rookie contract.

This Johnson hire will be the Bears’ aim to maximize their Williams investment, and the team having D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze signed long term undoubtedly helped woo the picky HC candidate. The Raiders and Jags will need to pivot to other options, while the Bears stand to immediately become more interesting in a division in which they finished five games behind the third-place Packers. Johnson will get to work at attempting to reel in his former employer and a Vikings team that just went 14-3.

Via PFR’s HC Search Tracker, here is how the long-running Chicago HC search wrapped up:

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