Buccaneers coaching tree just made Week 1 a lot more personal

When opening Sunday rolls around on Sept. 7, Bucs fans will have their eyes glued to Tampa Bay’s divisional showdown against the Falcons in Atlanta.

But there will be another interesting game to pay attention to at the same time, as two former Buccaneers play-callers go head-to-head in a matchup that could indirectly have major implications for the Bucs in their race for for the NFC South.

Liam Coen and Dave Canales scheduled for Week 1 showdown

The Carolina Panthers will travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars on opening day, according to Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Liam Coen will be making his head coaching debut after a one-year stint as offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, and on the other sideline, Dave Canales is entering his second season as the head coach in Carolina after a similar one-year stint with the Buccaneers back in 2023.

The matchup is headlined by a showdown between two former No. 1 overall draft picks in Trevor Lawrence and Bryce Young. It also features the highly anticipated debut of Heisman Trophy winner and two-way star Travis Hunter, who Jacksonville traded up to draft No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Bucs fans may have some rotten feelings towards Coen after how his departure from Tampa Bay unfolded earlier this offseason, but on opening Sunday, those hard feelings must be cast aside for the greater good.

The Panthers are one of the league’s most improved teams after a strong offseason, headlined by adding the dangerous Tetairoa McMillan to their wide receiver group. Bryce Young showed significant improvement down the stretch last season, and if he takes the next step in 2025 with the improved supporting cast around him, the Panthers could arise as a true threat in the NFC South.

Coen could do the Bucs one last favor by knocking the Panthers down a peg and handing them a loss to open the season.

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