HEAD COACH LIAM COEN
NFL OWNERS MEETING MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2025
(On how he feels about the roster after free agency) “I think at the end of the day what we
looked to do was try to continue to raise the floor of the organization. How do we continue
to get better? Consistency, good, sound football players that love to play the game. Really,
that’s all we were trying to do, and I think that ultimately, they’ll come in and mesh really
well with some of the players that we already have in our locker room. Guys want to get
better. We’ve felt that. We’ve felt that throughout this offseason. Guys are eager to get in
the building as we are as coaches. It’s happening fast. Really excited about the
collaboration we’ve had with some of the Draft, some of the free agency and our current
roster. Things are going well so far.”
(On what he likes about the free agents the team added) “I think if you look with the four OL,
those guys at the end of the day with [OL Patrick] Mekari, [OL] Chuma Edoga, [OL] Robert
Hainsey and obviously [OL Fred] Johnson, these guys love to play the game. They love what
it’s about to be an O-lineman. That’s kind of who they are at the core. Hainsey’s been in the
system, so now you have two O-linemen that have been in your system or some version of
it with [OL] Luke Fortner and now Hainsey. That’ll help spread out to a lot of our players.
They’ll be able to understand system a little bit quicker, and coaches it’s going to help in so
many different ways. You look at obviously the OL, and then obviously on the offensive side
as well you add a receiver with [WR] Dyami Brown getting some speed. Somebody else that
can go down the field so BT [WR Brian Thomas Jr.] is not always having to be that guy on the
top shelf. On the defensive side, you really look at [CB] Jourdan Lewis to be able to bring
another veteran defensive back in there to help settle things down in the back end,
increasing competition with [S] Eric Murray. I think we’ve done a nice job with being able to
get those players that’ll help settle things in and be able to create that balanced football
flow that we’re looking for.”
(On the importance of those players being aligned with what the team is trying to do) “It’s
on the coaching staff, too. That’s the beautiful part. We’ve been able to get onboarded so
much quicker just because, man, look at the offensive staff. They have almost all been in a
version of this system. As much as being a head coach for the first time has been amazing,
I haven’t been able to do as much football as I’m used to. So to hear the conversations that
are happening in the building, to be able to go in there and hear the dialogue and the
presentations, it’s pretty cool because I’m familiar with that flow and so many guys just
getting protections onboarded. All three of the quarterback, OL, running back coaches
have all been in this protection system—think about how much quicker that is to be able to
onboard.”
(On time spent with General Manager James Gladstone) “A lot of time. We’ve spent almost
every waking minute together throughout the last few weeks, honestly. It’s really just been
us together with the help of some others as well that have been part of this process, but it’s
so easy to talk to him. I mean, he breaks things down to such an elite level of simplicity for
me because he’s a lot smarter than I am, and so he’s able to break down the Draft,
understand it as well as anybody I’ve heard have these conversations. We’ve got guys in
buckets to where we’re trying to look for them, and he’s been able to map things out for me
to be able to understand at a high level.”
(On how important collaborating with Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield was in order to build
trust) “That was a huge part. Obviously, I was with him for a short time in L.A., that helped
bridge that gap a little bit, and I can’t thank Baker enough for what we were able to do last
year. That was such a cool year, and he was such a big part of that maturing off the field. He
became a father, he became a husband, like, he has really been able to grow. He
understands the game at a high level. I think he’s a little underappreciated from that aspect
of his game. We were able to have really good dialogue, which only helps being on the field
and having communication and his leadership goes without saying, so it was easy to have
those dialogues.”
(On applying that level of collaboration with QB Trevor Lawrence) “Yeah, I think just being
able to have honest conversations. We had some real hard, at times, honest conversations
that allowed us to, in times of crisis, be okay. Right? In times of adversity, have real fluid
conversations because it gets heated. Bakes yelled at me; I was okay with that. We had a
good conversation, we moved on, but every relationship is different and I think that’s what’s
important as you learn something from [Rams QB] Matthew Stafford, from [Lions QB] Jared
Goff, from all these guys, and Baker, to be able to take for these relationships moving
forward.”
(On how Gladstone has packed information into a shorter period with a later start) “Yeah, I
think you look at the buckets. We’ve really kind of started to put players in buckets, and
each round has two, so we’re able to have enough buckets there where it’s not too much,
but we do have enough on the board. Now also merging our players that were off their
board in L.A. that maybe we have to have conversations about here, it’s been so organized.
The way he kind of has things is like a call sheet, like an offensive or defensive coach’s call
sheet, not your typical Draft board, if you will. So, it’s easier for me to read and understand,
which I think is really cool. He’s a coach’s kid. So he wants to do things that way, which I
really appreciate.”
(On what he learned from putting together a full staff for the first time) “That’s a great one.
That was probably what took up the most of my time early on that you’re ready for because
you have a board, right? A coach’s depth chart that you’ve been kind of creating over time,
over the years of doing this. You’re banking them and then finally getting them on paper.
Well, you don’t just get to pick them. It’s not the Draft. You have to go get them, and so now
you’re recruiting against another coach and multiple maybe other places, college, NFL,
families, everything. You have to sell. You’re back in recruiting mode. So, hey, I was just in
college not too long ago, got in the mode real quick, and we were rolling. I mean, the
hardest part, though, was getting on those calls and being able to recruit at 2 a.m. on the
West Coast Zooms. It was a lot. It was a lot, but really pleased with the staff we were able
to put together. That was the most stressful part, though.”
(On what he learned from Rams Head Coach Sean McVay about being a recruiter and the
type of staff he wanted to have) “Yeah, people that were really—when I walked into that
building in 2018, I had never felt anything like that before. Just the continuity, the positivity,
the true like, man, ‘Hey, how are you?’ It actually really meant something. I just felt like he
stepped in that building, was truly himself every single day. That was something I really
learned last year was I wasn’t trying to be somebody else; I was really just trying to be
myself, and if everybody does that, good things typically happen, and you build good
relationships, and that’s what he’s always done. You have a real conversation with Sean
McVay every time you guys seem to interact, and I think that that’s what ultimately makes
him a great recruiter and surrounds him with unbelievable people.”
(On the selling point for the Jaguars) “Yeah, I do. I think we are. I mean, if you look at the way
we set things up like there is I don’t want to say a succession, but it’s built for people to
elevate and grow. That’s what we want. We want to win games right now for the Jacksonville
Jaguars. That’s priority number one for these coaches, but I’d be silly not to say that I want
them to develop and evolve and grow. That’s the goal. Like, I want these guys to be able to
go off and be successful; that means we did something right. But for right now, their focus
is on winning games for the Jacksonville Jaguars. I’ve been really happy with their flow.
[Defensive Coordinator] Anthony Campanile is a first-time defensive coordinator. I went
and sat in the defensive staff room, and that was being run like the players were in there. It
was he was making a call, the defensive staff is going, alright, I got the cloud, I got the flat, I
got the hook curl, and it’s like… I was like, oh shoot, it was moving. It was good, so really
impressed.”
(On what his selling point for the Jaguars was) “Hey man, like, I was able to go to the Rams
and learn what I thought was like getting my PhD in coaching, right? I’m not Sean, and this
is a version of that place, right? But maybe if you haven’t been in this system or been a part
of it, you just haven’t had an experience of working under one of these coaches yet. Hey,
come just be bold, man. Come do something different. Come be a part of something that
may not be what you’re used to. Jacksonville doesn’t hurt, being in a tax-free state doesn’t
hurt. But really, it’s part of starting something new and truly, like I’m really saying, build it
the way you want to be able to build it. Do things that you know are hard. It’s going to be
hard. But that’s the fun part.”
(On his biggest learning curves and what a typical day looks like for him) “It’s a really good
one. No, no, it’s a great one. I really do because you’re, as an OC, you’re managing, okay, 10
coaches, players, a little bit of staffing, but that’s basically about it. Now, there are other
parts to it, and it keeps adding up, right, with defense, special teams. A little bit of the
situations outside, but that’s the beautiful way of how we structured this with myself,
James, [Executive Vice President of Football Operations] Tony Boselli. I’m able to truly
focus on the staff. Like, that’s it. Keep the main thing the main thing. I’m a football coach,
James does personnel, Tony is able to help with so much of the support staff and
communication. So yeah, the time is doubled. I haven’t done a lot of ball, but it’s been
really cool. I think with the players coming in soon, to be able to do a little bit more. But the
normal day right now, starts with about 6 a.m., they have a schedule for me every day and
then I go in with James for the rest of the day. So that’s where we’ve been at right now.”
(On what he saw from OL Robert Hainsey in Tampa Bay that made him want to bring him to
Jacksonville) “You get in there and they had struggled to run the football for a few years,
right? He had been the center of that, and that was not something he was just, like, ecstatic
about, right? He had he took that personal. He was really one of the voices in that room
that I thought stood out all the way through and consistent as a leader, and as somebody
that does things the right way, communicates at a high level, and when he does get on the
field, plays his ass off. That’s what he’s done. Obviously, worked with Robert for the last
year, really feel strongly about his leadership, the communication, and when he played for
us this year against the Saints, go and watch that tape and you could see he was playing to
prove it. He was playing to say, man, this is who I am. This is how I play it. Didn’t work out
for him this year, ends up, [Buccaneers C] Graham Barton wins the job and plays, but how
he mentored that situation and that relationship while also communicating to the rest of
the offense, that was really why we ended up wanting to go and do that.”
(On how much it helps QB Trevor Lawrence to have a center that is familiar with his
offense) “Yeah, that’s both those guys, as I mentioned, with him and Luke [OL Luke
Fortner], having a version of the system is going to help those guys, especially Trevor, but
we can’t use it as a crutch stuff, right? Everybody’s going to have to dive in, learn it at a high
level and commit to it, but obviously having that relationship and that communication will
help out for sure.”
(On where he learned to have a willingness to adapt) “Yeah, I don’t know. It was always my
dad, even as a kid. They ran the Wing-T. So, we had a lot of different skill players on the field
at once. It might not be just a wideout, right? Or just the tight end or just a running back. It
was three different skill players that ultimately can do different things. So, when you watch
that growing up and you see the usage of it, I was impressed by the misdirection of the
Wing-T, and how everything looked the same but ended up different. Then, I get to the Rams
and I hear the exact word of the illusion of complexity; same plays, but we’re making them
just look different. So, it was already in my mind from what I saw growing up, and so then
you’re able to apply it a little bit, and especially at the college level, you’ve got to be able to
adjust to the players, right? So, both their capacity and what they can handle physically.
Then obviously in L.A. in ’22, we lose every O-lineman and have a million injuries and we
still had to compete guys. I know we didn’t win, but we still had to compete, and so that
was a fun experience, although not the best year in my life.”
(On how the players respond to his willingness to adapt) “I think every coach does try to do
that at some capacity, I think. I mean, but I felt last year, those guys were pretty bought in
early on. Just the way that maybe you introduced the system, the way that you
incrementally put it in and show them the ‘why.’ I’m not just telling you what’s black and
white. I want them to know the ‘why.’ I want them to then ask me about the ‘why.’ I do. Now,
there’s a certain point where, hey guys, this is the way we’re doing things. You still have to
have that, but I want the inclusion. I wanted to hear [Buccaneers WR] Mike Evans tell me
how he runs that route, so that not just me, I can learn, but the other guys in the room can
learn as well and it creates better dialogue.”
(On his Draft philosophy) “Yeah, I think, we’ve talked about in tangibly rich—really good
football players are what we’re trying to find. I mean, that’s guys that truly love and live
playing football to that extent. We want them to be both mentally and physically tough.
Those are things that are going to be kind of non-negotiable for us when it comes down to it.
The rest, man, fast, strong, long, like, we’re not even trying to use those adjectives or those
words in this whole deal. We’re really just trying to say, like, do we want them or not? Like,
do we want the player or not? Do we want to coach this player or not? Try to keep it there
and then be able to get into it. So mentally and physically tough guys that love to play that
ultimately, man, they’re just loving to compete, coming from maybe some good programs
that have won, that know how to do things, then do things right. I felt like that was
something in Tampa last year that really helped that rookie class; they all came from really
good programs that helped them get onboarded pretty quickly.”
(On the culture players can expect upon their return) “Energy. That’s the first thing that
we’re really trying to place. It’s just feel, guys, this is good stuff. It’s great to be back. We’re
doing football, guys. How many of us get to do this? We get an opportunity to do this every
single day. There are so many that don’t, so how are we going to approach this thing? I think
they’ll walk into that kind of feeling. We’ll meet, we’ll just do meetings obviously throughout
Phase I, introducing our systems while we at the same time start to introduce our culture.
The way that we’re going to be, the way we’re going to talk to each other, the way they’re
going to communicate with each other, how we’re going to treat one another, that’ll go hand
in hand with the systems.”
(On reconnecting with Gladstone and what had changed about him) “It’s not like that was—
James and I weren’t just like—we weren’t like homies, you know? Like we worked together,
he was always leading the undrafted free agent process after the Draft, and he
spearheaded it. He was the guy communicating with both the coaches and the scouting
department, right? That was what he did. He was in charge of it and led it. I was like, man,
this dude’s impressive. This isn’t easy to communicate, bullets, things are flying in that
moment, and he’s able to keep his head so cool, communicate at a high level, and then,
man, go back in ‘22, and he’s now doing that with the Draft. He’s really hand-in-hand with
Les [Rams General Manager Les Snead] and working with Sean and those guys in that
process, and I’m like, well, okay, that happened quickly. His ability to communicate with all
walks of life is really cool, and his organizational skills have helped me out tremendously.”
(On experiences he can draw from being a young assistant with the Rams) “I remember
being in my third or fourth month working for Sean, and I’m just drawing—I’m a drawer. I’m
drawing plays, trying not to get in the way. He comes by my office one day at, like, 6 p.m.,
I’m just studying. It’s the offseason. He walks by my office, comes in, and he’s like, ‘Hey
man, you’re doing a great job. I appreciate you being here. I’m really happy you’re here.’
Then he was [snaps] out. I was like, oh, okay. You can be told you’re doing a good job in this
sport. Because all the other places I’d been and how I’d grown up, it’s like, you just do what
you’re told when you’re told, and you don’t do it because somebody’s saying good job. You
do it because you’re a coach, and you’ve got a little bit more of a soldier mentality. It was
just a different feeling. You’re like, oh, okay, it’s okay to tell guys, ‘Hey man, I love you.’ It’s
okay to open up and be actually a human being, too. And so that was always the culture
where you felt like, alright, I have to be at a high level while I’m here, but I can be myself.”
(On the key to sustaining the energy that the players have when they return) “It’s just
incrementally inputting the culture. It’s not just culture overload on day one when you’re
like – as a player, coach and staff – man, that was way too much, this is a lot. Culture is how
we truly just are. How we talk to each other, how we hang out with each other, the way we
hold meetings and gatherings together. It’s just incrementally let’s have these
conversations about trying to do more of this [interlocking fingers] instead of this
[separating fingers]. How do we connect closer? Players, you have to show them. You truly
have to. Let’s show them examples of what we want this to look like. I remember Harvard
did a study a few years ago on the Boston Celtics and the Lakers on the power of touch.
When you shoot a free throw, and every single dude, you see them all dap people up. In the
basketball world, the power of touch is so huge in terms of the best teams that year that
touched the most in terms of the connection, the high-fives, all that stuff, it was the Lakers
and the Celtics that were the best teams in the league. So, there’s a whole study about it
that I thought was interesting because for us to actually be connected, we’ve got to be able
to high-five and celebrate and have a good time together. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
(On how he can build with QB Trevor Lawrence in the early stages) “We’ve had some really
good conversations. I haven’t been able to work with him quite yet, but we’ve gone out to
dinner a few times, and I saw the vision. Talked to a guy that I know right off the bat is
physically and mentally tough. I believe that about him. That’s why I’m excited to work with
him about it. He’s open, he just wants to play at the highest level he can. He wants to
accept as much coaching, he wants to be coached hard. He wants to do well. Those are
the great conversations, that he’s open, he wants to work, and he’s been willing to work.
Really excited about those going forward.”
(On how CB Jourdan Lewis fits what the organization is looking for beyond his physical
traits) “Jourdan Lewis, man, he broke my heart last year. We’re going down to win and take
the lead against Dallas last year, we throw a post to [Buccaneers WR] Jalen McMillan. It
looks like we’ve got it, we’re going to take the lead or at least tie at that point. J-Mac [WR
Jalen McMillan] has it, Jourdan takes it out at the last minute, and it ends up being an
interception for a touchback. You’re just like, man, that’s who he is. That’s the way he
competes. It’s to and through the whistle. Those guys that do it like that at a high level and
are able to communicate as well at a high level, those are the guys that we’re trying to bring
in. He’s completely what we’re looking for and really excited to have him.”
(On examples of free agents wanting to play for him specifically) “I think, obviously, it’s
probably clear to look at Robert coming from Tampa. Just the follow-up maybe, and here
the way that he was able to communicate some of that. You saw maybe bleed into Patrick
Mekari, some of our conversations, Dyami Brown, some of those conversations. What we
just had with Jourdan Lewis. Those were open and honest really quickly. You felt guys that
did want to be a part of change, and ultimately that’s cool where you’re able to have those
relationships at other places with people. They talk. Those guys talk. BT talked to Mike
Evans. They talk. At the end of the day, that’s what you want. That’s going to help you. I want
players to call those guys in Tampa and see what they’d say. It’s only going to help out.”
(On how he feels about the state of the offensive line after free agency) “I think yes,
physical is a mass and size issue, but it’s also a mentality. It’s also the way it’s coached, the
way it’s taught, the way it’s preached. I’m kind of going to hold on evaluating that part. Do I
think we got competition and depth? Absolutely. I think we added some good, sound, solid
players that are going to help elevate that floor. But let’s go wait and see what it truly looks
like when we actually go and compete and do things the way that we’re going to do them.”
(On plans to add to the defensive line) “Yeah, I think ultimately, you’re looking to add some
competition in there. We’ve got some really good players down there. I think we’ve got three
first-rounders on our defensive line currently. Three guys that are going to have some good
years, hopefully. They’re hoping to elevate that room. We’ll continue to evaluate it, but
absolutely, you’re looking to add somebody to the D-line however that thing plays out,
inside or outside.”
(On how he would describe QB Trevor Lawrence’s current mentality) “I think pretty mellow
in a good way, though. You feel a sense of urgency from him without it sounding like panic.
He knows, he’s confident, he loves to play. He doesn’t want to be hurt, he doesn’t want to
be not in the game. That means a lot to him. When you start there and that’s the floor of the
conversations, you feel so good about where it’s going to go. Because it’s honest, you can
feel it from him. He’s hungry, though. I would say that for sure. He’s putting in time right now
on his own without any sort of—he’s doing it on his own maybe twice a day right now, doing
stuff that’ll help him get better. I think the fans should know that’s this guy’s work ethic.
That’s the way he does things.”
(On where Trevor Lawrence is at physically) “He’s getting better. He’s throwing a little bit,
and he’ll be able to get going in the spring and be able to throw a little bit more. Man, he’s
getting better and better each day.”
(On the process of implementing a new system) “Some of it’s just getting used to two plays.
They did a good amount of it last year. Put it more in the pass game at times. But it’s more
just getting used to that almost being the normal rhythm and routine of how we kind of
operate. It’s just repetition. It’s a ton of repetition. Once you’re able to visualize the
formations, motions, things like that, that’s when it becomes so much easier to call it to
where you can start to visualize it. It won’t happen for a little while. We had a little bit of a
bridge in Tampa with [former Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator] Dave Canales running a
version of the system, it helped that bridge. It wasn’t like we were going in completely
putting in something new. This may be a little bit more that way just because it was a
similar system. They did similar—so many plays are the same, guys, it’s just what we call
them and getting through that way.”
(On his thoughts on TE Brenton Strange) “Brenton plays the game the right way. I’ll say that
for sure. I love the way he competes through the whistle. He does it through the whistle,
plays with an edge, he’s got some twitch, he’s strong, he’ll get his hands on you in the
blocking. I really appreciate it. He’ll elevate just by alone getting more reps, and getting him
on the field is a good thing for us. You can tell he’s hungry, wants to continue to get better,
and he showed some really nice things last year, especially after the catch. Doing some
nice things of breaking tackles and getting extra yards.”
(On the challenge of moving on from former TE Evan Engram and former WR Christian Kirk)
“It’s always hard letting go of good football players. I have a ton of respect for both of those
guys. They’ve done some really good things here. Those were not easy decisions.
Ultimately, you hate to let go of good football players, but production, right? Those guys did
have a good amount of targets, receptions, some critical plays in different moments of
different years. So, there’s some chemistry, some camaraderie there I’m sure that we have
to continue to work on, but I think you saw what BT and Trevor were able to do last year, and
then obviously with some of the guys like [WR] Parker Washington had a great connection,
and you start to see some of these guys evolve. We’re like, okay, this allows us to do some
different things within our roster structure and feel confident where it’s going moving
forward.”
(On what he’s seen from WR Dyami Brown) “You look at somebody that’s able to attack the
field at all three levels. He can go down the field on the post, in the go, in the pylons and be
the top shelf, but also you can throw him a screen and he can go and do something with it. I
can’t coach that. I can’t coach you to go and make three people miss after you’ve caught
the ball. We can try. I’ll teach an obstacle course, some open field running, sideline stiff
arm, but at the end of the day, we’re getting the play so you can go be you with the ball in
your hands. That’s what he can do. Hopefully, he’ll be able to help us at all three levels.
He’s hungry. He’s coming off a successful end of the year. He wants to continue to do that,
and that’s what’s been fun about having those conversations with him.”
(On how he and his family have enjoyed living in Jacksonville) “We’ve gone out to Ponte
Vedra a number of times out there, went to V’s Pizza a few times. My son, pepperoni and
cheese pizza is his favorite, so we’re there a few times. Have been there already a number
of times. It’s been cool to just get around. You can tell, you can feel people do love football
in the area. You can feel that. Going out to go get breakfast, going out to go get coffee, you
can feel people, and that’s really cool. Ultimately, I’m passionate about football, and if you
are too, that’s cool with me, and I appreciate that. Have really enjoyed our time so far. My
son Jackson’s in school, and it’s going well.”
(On conversations about extending DE Travon Walker) “Yeah, we’re having open
conversations, and at the end of the day, we’ll continue to have those. James and Tony and I
will have those conversations as we go, for sure.”
(On his conversations with DE Travon Walker and what he’s seen from him) “I’ve had some
good conversations with Tray. We’ve had a number of hour-long conversations where, man,
I feel a guy that wants to go be great, that wants to continue to take the next step and
dominate. I can feel that from him. Sounds like a guy who wants to work, does things the
right way. I’m excited about working with him. He’s really been pleasant to talk to.”
