JACKSONVILLE – Liam Coen left no doubt.

What is clear to many observers is evident to Coen, too – and the Jaguars' new head coach addressed the issue of Trevor Lawrence clearly and boldly when speaking to the media for the first time in his new position.

"We've got to build it around him," Coen said.

Coen, hired as the Jaguars' head coach last month, spoke shortly thereafter at his introductory press conference – and discussed in depth the Jaguars' fifth-year veteran quarterback.

Owner Shad Khan discussed Lawrence that day, too, and called finding a coach to work with Lawrence "the fundamental thing" in the search.

"The No. 1 thing is the quarterback position," Khan said. "Our commitment to Trevor, I think it's well known and [we] believe in him. So, it started with that. That was the fundamental question, really, to all the candidates. How would they do it?

"After we got done with that, it was very evident to me that Liam was the guy."

Coen, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator in 2024, made clear he believes in Lawrence.

"I watched this guy," Coen said. "Every time there's a negative play, you watch the quarterback's responses. If you evaluate every down, every play, every rep for any quarterback, you're going to find issues with everybody. Nobody's perfect. But when I watched his response to negative plays – whether it was a pick, or an incompletion, a critical third-down miss, whatever it was – I felt like he always responded.

"I was like, 'Man, OK. That takes heart.' That's all that matters. I was like, 'OK, he has that.' That's huge to start off with."

Lawrence was among multiple players Coen discussed that day, praising the leadership of players such as Lawrence and defensive end Josh Hines-Allen and saying, "these guys have done unbelievable things throughout this community."

"Everybody needs a coach," Coen said. "Everybody needs a player. We need each other. And I am so looking forward to doing this collaboratively with them, with this staff. There are so many good pieces. There are so many good things about this roster.

"The future, the next few years, that's truly what's exciting as well."

Lawrence, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, has started 60 of 68 career NFL games with 63.3 percent completions with 13,815 yards and 69 touchdowns with 46 interceptions. He missed eight games this past season and underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on December 18, finishing the season with 60.6 percent completions, 2,045 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

And while there were low moments for Lawrence in a season in which the Jaguars went 4-13 this past season – including 2-8 in games Lawrence started – Coen said he liked Lawrence's approach and attitude in difficult circumstances.

"He just kept swinging, he just kept throwing," Coen said. "He kept playing. It's similar to a caddie in that way. If you can help them swing their way out of it, that's fun to do. That's why we're here."

Coen also spoke extensively of having first seen Lawrence play as a freshman at Cartersville (Ga.) High School when he was recruiting another player while coaching at Brown.

"I was seeing this freshman in high school play the position at a high level, standing tall, making throws, delivering," Coen said. "I walked out of there, 'Man, this is different.' I had no idea who he was.' Then you fast-forward to now. How do we make Trevor Lawrence and this offense as dynamic and explosive as we can be?

"We've got to make every part of this about improvement, and he will be a part of that process. He's earned that right. I cannot respect his toughness and mentality and work ethic more than I do already from afar. This will all be about Trevor right now."

QUOTABLE

• Coen shortly after his hiring said he spoke to Jaguars players about the team's culture and what they want moving forward, and he said he liked what he heard: "I heard guys who are yearning for more – more culture, more communication, more unity, everybody being on the same page, a true aligned vision – and for everybody to tell each other hard truths, to see each other's blind spots and communicate. That's where growth occurs. That's what it sounds like they're yearning for. They want more responsibility on both sides of the ball, but with a clear vision – to be able to be coached hard, but to understand it's coming from the right place."