When Liam Coen left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to accept the Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching job last offseason, it left a bad taste for many in Bucs circles.
Not because Coen took a promotion — that’s totally reasonable. After all, nobody held a grudge against Panthers head coach Dave Canales for similarly leaving Tampa Bay after just one season as offensive coordinator.
The issues arose from the bizarre way things played out. Coen was offered a deal that would have made him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in NFL history, contingent on him not taking a second interview with Jacksonville. Reports indicated the Bucs were unable to reach Coen, with the coach seemingly ghosting the organization before it was revealed he would be accepting the job in Jacksonville.
But just a year after that fiasco, there appears to be no bad blood between the Buccaneers and Coen.
Liam Coen’s relationship with Buccaneers is back on solid ground
The 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting is taking place this week, giving media members the opportunity to gather interviews with coaches, general managers and team executives.
Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen discusses pursuing joint practices and a preseason game with the Buccaneers - possibly as early as this season.
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) March 31, 2026
The Jags and Bucs had joint practices and played in the preseason in 2024. pic.twitter.com/13cFxa8fJr
According to Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report, Coen said he has spoken with Jason Licht this offseason and that the Buccaneers and Jaguars are working together to lobby the NFL to schedule a preseason game that would include joint practices.
JoeBucsFan.com added to the reporting, noting that Coen offered high praise for Tampa Bay’s new offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson.
“Coen said Robinson’s work with the Falcons last season produced highly impressive screen-game film, and the Bucs should be a diverse force offensively behind their stout offensive line,” wrote JoeBucsFan.
Coen also revealed that he attempted to hire Josh Grizzard to his offensive staff in Jacksonville per Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida-Times Union. Grizzard, who served as Tampa Bay’s passing game coordinator in 2024 and handled third-down play calling before being promoted to offensive coordinator, ultimately declined the opportunity and instead accepted a role as passing game coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Between Coen’s productive communication with Licht, the teams’ willingness to collaborate this offseason, and his praise for Tampa Bay’s new play-caller, it’s safe to say there are no hard feelings.