JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
JT from Palm Coast, FL
I have admittedly been critical, but Liam Coen is already a huge win. I am rooting hard for him and our Jags. I know, I know this isn't nice, but getting our owner to pull the plug on our GM was beautiful. Welcome to Jax, Coach Coen!!!!
Liam Coen on Friday indeed was announced as the Jaguars' new head coach, ending what by any measure was a "newsy" search that was particularly newsy in the last week. The hiring came after General Manager Trent Baalke and the Jaguars parted ways Wednesday, and the timing understandably has led to speculation and reports that Coen did not want to work with Baalke. My understanding is those reports aren't as true as many Jaguars observers passionately want to believe, but the reality is that's a periphery storyline now. The hiring of Coen, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator in 2024, indeed has the feel of a "win." He was successful as a coordinator and is a sharp young offensive mind, and this is his first head-coaching job. What we must learn now is if he can lead and shape the tone of the organization. That's the unknown with any first-time head coach. There's no reason to think Coen can't do this. That's where we are. Onward ho.
GP from Savannah, GA
Looks like we now get a head coach whose allegiance is defined by the almighty dollar. Never trust someone that goes back on his word for monetary gain.
Coen reportedly withdrew from the Jaguars' head-coaching consideration Tuesday and had agreed to stay as the Buccaneers' coordinator – reportedly for the highest contract ever for an NFL coordinator. Following the change at general manager Wednesday, the Jaguars refocused on Coen and reportedly more money was involved. There was some secrecy with his meeting with the Jaguars Thursday. How much of the decision involved money is hard to know. Here's one thing not hard to know: NFL head-coaching searches get complicated and move fast – and when factors change, big decisions often get made really fast in less-than-ideal circumstances. Here's another thing not hard to know: Money's always going to play a factor in the NFL. Always. The final thing to know is this: It's January in the NFL, and nothing regarding coaching searches is decided in January until contracts are finalized and signed. All's fair in NFL head-coaching searches. It just is.
Aqeel from Toronto, Canada
Is this going to go down as the craziest 72 hours in Jags history?
It's up there.
Haney from Little Elm, TX
Will Shad tell everyone that "this is the best roster this organization has ever had" speech every year now? I think the players would be upset if they weren't perceived as good as the former rosters. He kinda backed himself into a corner with that one.
Yes, Jaguars Owner Shad Khan said that before the 2024 season. What's said is said. I'm not sure how much more there is to say or analyze about it. It's kind of in the past. I guess. I suppose. Whatever.
Art from Glassboro, NJ
Good for Shad. Good for the Jaguars.
Yes. Yes.
Michael from Middleburg, FL
O, How much respect and trust do you think the players will have for a coach who did what he did with the jumping around?
I don't expect that will have any effect whatsoever on respect or the relationship Coen has with players. None. Whatsoever.
Keith from Saint Augustine, FL
Hope is maybe the best of things. I tingle now.
One fer hope and another fer tingling.
Ross from Mechanicsville, VA
Dear, Ozone. Can you relay a message to our new head coach? Mark Brunell would make a great offensive coordinator. In addition, the last time Tony Boselli and Mark Brunell worked in the same building, the Jaguars were magic. In that same vein, Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew could coach running backs and Keenan McCardell could coach wide receivers. Thanks for letting him know, Ozone! Glad to be excited for Jaguars football again!
I don't know the specifics of who will be involved in what role. I do know I have a better feeling about the future of the franchise than I've had in quite a while. This edition of the O-Zone will go on for more questions, as O-Zones do. But that's today's big message. That's the takeaway. All else is secondary.
Andrew from Lindale
Vince Lombardi wasn't the first choice of the Green Bay Packers. How'd that turn out?
Good.
John from Hopkins, MN
Do you think we're in a better spot today (1/24), than at the start of 1/22? How much time until we actually know the answer by your estimation? I personally think yes, but as always it's a wait and see game with these kinds of moves.
I absolutely believe the Jaguars are better today (1/25) than they were at the start of Wednesday (1/22). It seems many fans are starting to see this, feel this and sense this. When will we actually know if the Jaguars are better off? When next season begins. That doesn't mean the Jaguars will win their 2025 regular-season opener. It means that as next season continues and as we move forward, I think fans will like what they see from the Jaguars. A lot.
Arthur from Glassboro, NJ
Credit to Shad for pulling this off. Now let's just clean up the process a bit.
Done.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
I've always respected how bold Boselli is. However, half the time he's boldly right while the other half he's boldly wrong (just like he was defending Baalke). I don't think that's a good thing if he ends up with an influential position in the Jags front office.
I don't know if former Jaguars left tackle and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Boselli will have an influential position with the Jaguars' front office. I do know that if he does, what he said on the radio won't have much to do with how he functions in that position.
Rob from Orange Park, FL
"Baalke and the Jaguars mutually parted ways." Yeah, right!
It's right.
Don from Marshall, NC
Right back at you Tampa! Go Jaguars!
When it comes to being all in on the Jaguars and not being real concerned about what others might say or think, Don remains comfortingly "all in."
Al from Orange Park, FL
We have a new head coach! Let the second-guessing and criticism begin!!
What would the fun be without it?
Matt from the North and Pace, FL
So, you're saying there's a chance?!
Absolutely.
Pookie from Panda City
I'd be willing to bet a lot of money that Baalke passed on a potential Hall-of-Fame talent and instead took a "project" in Travon Walker only because Aidan Hutchinson was a product of Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. Given his history and what's out there about him, it seems to fit Baalke's personality perfectly (which also makes me laugh every time I read of Baalke and Khan "mutually parting ways." Do you really think Trent Baalke called Shad Khan and said, "Hey Shad, I think my presence here is hurting the team. I should probably just end my job now and head into the sunset. It's best for the team and the city." Really? REALLY?).
I'd be really surprised if that's why the Jaguars selected Walker instead of Hutchinson. I have zero doubt that Baalke essentially did last week what you described.
Nick from London, England
Great news on the arrival of Coen. Will he call the plays or Press Taylor?
I confess I laughed at this.
George from Savannah, GA
Kahn: "Swift and decisive action." I would hate to see his slow and deliberate action. He missed out on the best coaches available and best general manager. Another Urban Meyer fiasco.
You're suggesting that being hired first in a head-coaching or general-manager cycles makes you the best head coach. This suggests that people who make lists and rankings about head coaches and general managers know which head coaches and general managers will be successful. Suggestions such as these are incorrect.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Is Coen going to call the plays or is his daughter's 15-year-old boyfriend doing that? How about tight end? Is that being filled by his 10-year old son?
There's a press conference upcoming.
Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL
Regaining a little faith. A little.
This is dead-on in a couple of ways. One is that it's absolutely fair to be gaining faith in the Jaguars right now. The bold move to hire Coen was a good start. We have no idea how he will fare, but you have no idea how any head coach will fare when he begins. What we do know is the move to hire him was a positive step. Now it's up to the Jaguars to continue positive steps and continue the process of earning fans' faith. A step at a time.
