Buccaneers block Jaguars HC Liam Coen from potentially poaching key staff member

It's no surprise to see the Buccaneers reject Liam Coen's recent attempt to bring over one of his key colleagues from last year's staff to Jacksonville.
New Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen smiles after speaking and being introduced during a press conference Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
New Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen smiles after speaking and being introduced during a press conference Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In this story:

As expected, it appears as though Liam Coen has been targeting some of his former colleagues from Tampa Bay to come join him in Jacksonville, where he is now the head coach.

READ MORE: Former Buccaneers No. 1 overall pick joins FOX as Super Bowl LIX correspondent

As reported by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN on Wednesday evening, Jacksonville recently requested permission to interview Bucs offensive line coach Kevin Carberry for the same role in Jacksonville. However, the Buccaneers rejected that request.

Promotions to another team cannot be blocked, but a lateral move like this one can be, and it seems as if the Buccaneers decided to do just that.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen looks on before the game against the Miami Dolphins.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen looks on before the game against the Miami Dolphins. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

It only makes sense that Coen would attempt to recruit some of his old staffers to Tampa Bay. The fact that Carberry was one of the first is not surprising in the least. Coen brought Carberry with him to Tampa Bay when he assembled his staff as the newly hired offensive coordinator a year ago, so there's obviously a pre-existing relationship and level of trust that exists between the two coaches.

Even more important though is the fact that Carberry did a tremendous job in his first season with the Buccaneers. Under Carberry's guidance, the Bucs OL play took a huge step forward. According to PFF, the Buccaneers had the third-best offensive line in the entire league, earning an impressive 90.3 pass-blocking efficiency rating in 2024.

The Bucs also took a huge step forward in the run game under Carberry, improving from one of the least productive rushing teams in the league over the past several seasons into one of the NFL's best last year.

Unfortunately for Liam Coen and the Jacksonville Jaguars, they would need to provide Carberry with a promotion from his current role as a position coach in order to interview him without permission from his current team.

Based on the contentious manner in which Liam Coen left Tampa Bay just a week ago and the valuable contributions Carberry made to the Bucs' OL unit last season, it's no surprise that Jason Licht and the Buccaneers' front office declined the Jaguars' request.


READ MORE: Baker Mayfield breaks record Tom Brady never did with the Buccaneers

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2024 season.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook

More Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

• Liam Coen’s awkward debut goes viral as former Bucs OC butchers Jaguars ‘Duuuval'

• Buccaneers linked to Ole Miss pass rusher in mock draft

 Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield named to 2025 Pro Bowl Games

• Tom Brady trolled Giants as Saquon Barkley, Eagles punched a Super Bowl ticket


Published |Modified
Collin Haalboom
COLLIN HAALBOOM

Prior to joining BucsGameday and Sports Illustrated, Collin's written content was provided through Bucs Banter, and NFL Draft Lounge. He is also the creator and host of the Bucs Banter Podcast. He is a graduate of the Communication Studies program at McMaster University, where he was also a varsity basketball player, and later an advanced scout. He lives with his wife and two children in Hamilton, ON. You can follow Collin on YouTube and Twitter.