HEADLINES

Jacqueline Davidson

Buccaneers OC Liam Coen “Gaining Traction” For HC Gigs

December 21st, 2024 at 9:49am CST by Ben Levine

Liam Coen has helped elevate the Buccaneers offense into one of the top-scoring units in the NFL. The offensive coordinator may be able to parlay that performance into a promotion. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Coen has been “gaining traction” for head coaching gigs. At the very least, the coach is expected to be heavily involved in the interview circuit.

After spending a few years in the college ranks, Coen made a name for himself working alongside Sean McVay in Los Angeles. Coen first served as the Rams wide receivers coach, when he helped guide Cooper Kupp to his breakout season in 2019. Coen later worked closely with Matthew Stafford as the team’s assistant QBs coach.

Coen left for Kentucky in 2021 to become the school’s offensive coordinator, but he returned to the Rams in 2022 to replace Kevin O’Connell as OC. Coen went back to Kentucky for a second stint in 2023 before getting hired as Dave Canales‘ replacement in Tampa Bay ahead of the 2024 campaign.

While the Buccaneers already had a formidable offense, Coen has helped take the unit to another level. The offense is averaging more than 28 points per game despite Chris Godwin being lost for the season and Mike Evans missing a handful of games. Coen has also helped turn around the team’s running game; after ranking towards the bottom of the NFL in 2022 and 2023, the Buccaneers currently rank second in yards per carry (5.2) and fifth in rushing yards (2,021).

Considering Coen’s success in multiple stops, it’s not a huge surprise that he’ll be a hot name on the coaching carousel. The offensive coordinator will be relatively new to the HC interview cycle, and considering his limited track record, some longer-tenured coordinators will likely get the first crack at open jobs. Still, it’s a positive development for Coen’s career trajectory that he’s already being considered for these types of gigs.

As Fowler notes, Coen won’t be the only popular name in Tampa Bay. Assistant GM John Spytek will once again be considered for GM jobs, and fellow assistant GM Mike Greenberg could also be a popular name (with Fowler specifically pointing to the Jets gig). Fowler also points to vice president of football research Jacqueline Davidson and director of player personnel Rob McCartney as names to watch, even if they don’t get long looks this offseason.

Bucs Exec Jacqueline Davidson On GM Radar

November 21st, 2024 at 2:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Women have begun making inroads to GM consideration in recent years. The Broncos’ Kelly Kleine Van Calligan joined longtime NFL exec Dawn Aponte in interviewing for GM posts (with the Raiders and Chargers, respectively) in 2024. This came after then-Eagles exec Catherine Raiche met with the Vikings about their GM job two years ago.

The Browns soon hired Raiche as assistant GM, putting her squarely on the radar to earn future consideration for a top front office post. The Buccaneers have a veteran exec who may join the above-referenced women on the GM interview circuit soon. Bucs VP of football research Jacqueline Davidson looks to be on the radar as well.

Many within the NFL expect Davidson to eventually become the first female GM, according to the New York Post’s Brian Costello. (This would apply to the modern era, as Susan Tose Spencer operated as the Eagles’ de facto GM in the mid-1980s.) Davidson has been with the Bucs since 2020, after having spent 12 years with the Jets, rising to the club’s director of football administration. Davidson served under multiple GMs in New York, with Costello adding she was highly respected within the organization.

Davidson has not interviewed for a GM post yet but has been in the league since 2004. A Jets hire during Mike Tannenbaum‘s GM run, Davidson stayed on under John Idzik and then Mike Maccagnan. After having served as a Jets chief negotiator, Davidson has played a central role in Bucs contract talks for the past few offseasons, rising to her current post in 2023. Working with GM Jason Licht and cap chief Mike Greenberg in helping the Super Bowl LV-winning team retain its 22 starters for the 2021 season, Davidson played bigger roles in extending Baker Mayfield and Antoine Winfield Jr. this offseason. Greenberg, who started his NFL career as a Jets intern during Davidson’s New York tenure, has been on the GM carousel for a bit from Licht’s Tampa Bay staff.

The Rooney Rule mandates teams interview two external minorities for all GM and HC positions. Women are included under this umbrella for interview purposes. Raiche did not land the Minnesota job in 2022 but soon helped replace eventual Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in Cleveland that summer. She did not interview for a position this offseason.

The 2025 offseason will feature at least one GM opening, after the Jets fired Joe Douglas, with more vacancies likely coming. A disappointing Jaguars season has Trent Baalke on the hot seat, while Andrew Berry (Browns), Joe Schoen (Giants) and Ryan Poles (Bears) are not assured of returning next year. It will be interesting to see if any women are part of the 2025 GM carousel.