Todd Bowles Said His Relationship With Liam Coen Never Took A Hit
August 28th, 2026
Baker Mayfield, Jags coach Liam Coen and Todd Bowles share a laugh at the teams’ controlled scrimmages this week in Jacksonville.
It was an ugly chapter in Bucs history.
Liam Coen, then the Bucs’ offensive coordinator, was coming off a franchise-historic season in which the Tampa Bay offense proved to be one of the NFL’s best.
And just when it appeared all the coaching hires were finished, Coen, so it seemed, tried to squeeze Team Glazer for a raise. They agreed.
Then, in the dark of the night, Coen slipped off to Jacksonville. Team Glazer wanted the contract done ASAP. But they couldn’t find Coen when he was supposed to show up at One Buc Palace to sign the paperwork.
Unbeknownst to Team Glazer and the Bucs, Coen was interviewing with Jags shot-caller Shad Con Khan for the head coach job at Jacksonville. And Coen got the job and accepted it.
The Bucs were irate. They thought they had a deal in place. Even the league office had to get involved.
It was ugly. But one man stayed above the fray. That was KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
So with the Bucs playing their final worthless preseason game of the summer in Jacksonville tonight after two days of practicing with Jacksonville, the relationship between the Bucs and Coen has resurfaced. (If there is such a thing as a storyline for such a nonsense game where the vast majority of guys on the field will be looking for jobs within 48 hours, this is it.)
Bowles said his association with Coen is unchanged and unfazed.
“Oh my, me and Liam have always been great,” Bowels said. “We’ve been great the whole time. Our relationship hasn’t changed a bit.
“We talk, we text, we bounce things off each other.”
Bucs fans are left to wonder what might have been. Coen took over a dormant franchise and in his first season won the AFC South.
Meanwhile, the Bucs imploded. Coen’s former right-hand man with the Bucs, Josh Grizzard, was pushed out the door and in his place the Bucs hired one of Coen’s former colleagues with the Rams and perhaps his best friend, Zac Robinson.
Bucs fans were sadly left with a dose of what could have been?
August 28th, 2026 at 3:58 am
Coaches always stay cordial with each other, makes it easier for which ever one is sent packing first to possibly hit the other up for a job.
Coen however WILL ALWAYS BE El Serpente in the anals of BUCS history.
August 28th, 2026 at 4:05 am
If the Bucs have a bad season and Bowles gets thrown off the pirate ship, maybe he’ll end up in Jacksonville as Liam’s DC. š
August 28th, 2026 at 5:12 am
If my coworker tries to squeeze my company for more money and jumps to another company for a better opportunity that also resets the market, why would I be upset. If Iām Bowles, Iām thinking that whatās good for Liam is good for us all.
August 28th, 2026 at 5:55 am
Of course Bowles loves Coen for going to J Ville, and not taking his job!
August 28th, 2026 at 6:14 am
It was ugly. But one man stayed above the fray. That was KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Praise God!!!! TB saw the light!!!!
[Verse 1]
I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin
I wouldn’t let my Dear Savior in
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
Praise the Lord I saw the light
[Chorus]
I saw the light, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord, I saw the light
[Verse 2]
Just like a blind man I wandered along
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord – I saw the light
August 28th, 2026 at 6:25 am
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Liam covertly walks the plank and jumps pirate ship to sign on to one of the most coveted jobs in the worldāin fact, only 32 of these bossman positions exist in the entirety of the universe (parallel universes excluded).
When Liamās top secret activities were uncovered, some here became irate (like theyād pass on such an offer) and others (like me) spouted anger at the Glazers for not putting Todd out to pasture and elevating Liam to head coach. Seemed nobody was happy.
Then, as a final reminder we have owners who are good businessmen, but know little about the difference between football and winning football, good oleā Liam goes on to produce one of the greatest one-year turnarounds in NFL history. By taking a 4-13 team and flipping it to 13-4, our yearning for football savvy owners only deepened.
As some here often proclaim, itās a Bucs life ā¦
August 28th, 2026 at 6:27 am
Despite TB seeing the light with Liam C…. I think the biggest hurt that occurred was losing Dave Canales to the Panthers
I thought he was excellent and he knew how to use the personnel of the entire Buccaneer Offense
August 28th, 2026 at 6:43 am
the retool / reload after the sb might have been successful if they had made the proper move at the right time. unfortunately they chose bogo bowles.
August 28th, 2026 at 6:47 am
So he lied to your face and yall still cool? Thats definitely a you problem
August 28th, 2026 at 6:58 am
What could have been ??? No playoff push was going to happen without a pass rush. I’ll take the draft pick over a hollow playoff appearance… And we got Rueben Bain out of it!
August 28th, 2026 at 7:13 am
Just the business side of the NFL .
and a blunder by the Glazers and Jason Lite who were left holding Todd ā¦
Dramatic turnaround for Jacksonville
August 28th, 2026 at 8:09 am
Why would it. He saved Bowlesās JOB. Then, got the hell outta town, and wasnāt here to be hovering over him. He never tried to undermine himā¦ He just accepted the OC Job, while never demanding to be HC. He just leftā¦ Taking a job that paid him A LOT of $$$$, and allowed him the opportunity to handpick HIS OWN GM (he never wouldāve accepted Lickt anyway), while fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a NFL Head Coach. Now, they are BOTH in a very elite, and exclusive club. Which together, make up 1/16th of itās total membership.
August 28th, 2026 at 8:10 am
Cutlass Quartermane Says:
So he lied to your face and yall still cool? Thats definitely a you problem
—
No we understand that they are all trying to feed their families in a rare and elite. club of men. You would do the same. I wanted Liam to coach the Bucs and was very disappointed but at the end of the day, he left for a better opportunity and I would have done the same. $10 million is a lot of Duval speech therapy money.
August 28th, 2026 at 8:18 am
@ Lefty_R Says: āDespite TB seeing the light with Liam Cā¦. I think the biggest hurt that occurred was losing Dave Canales to the Panthers
I thought he was excellent and he knew how to use the personnel of the entire Buccaneer Offense.ā
RIDICULOUS. Itās Absurdity. One of the DUMBEST things ever said on here. And, itās an outright LIE. Peopleās āemotionsā really make them say and do some real STUPID things.
August 28th, 2026 at 8:30 am
I doubt Liam and the Glazers exchange Christmas cards….
August 28th, 2026 at 8:34 am
@ Lefty-R – Oh, now I seeā¦ YOU were also, the same person who wrote that long weird prayer (or song lyrics, or whatever TF). My immediate first thought (about halfway through it before I stopped), was this person is DRUNK. Then, I scrolled back up to the top to look at the postās time (6:14)ā¦ And, Iām not sure!? But, there is definitely SOMETHING going on there. Now, THIS āCanalesā comment!? Yeah, something is BAD āoff.ā
Those two Offenses were NOTHING alike. I mean, not even CLOSE. And, NO ONE, would even TRY going there. Especially, when Canalesās Offense looked a whole lot more like LAST SEASONS. So, I donāt know WHAT the hell you āthoughtā YOU were watching!? I guess, if YOU liked last seasonās offense, then youād like Canalesās BETTER than Coenās. Seriously, I could feel the ABSURDITY, just typing that.
August 28th, 2026 at 8:46 am
When the owners chose Bowles over Coen as HC, they proved that they know very little about the state of the team.
Giving Bowles an extension after 2024 was the cherry on the top of the crap sundae.
He rewarded us all with the biggest collapse of a season in Bucs history.
Nothing beats the best. š¤”š¤”š¤”š¤”
August 28th, 2026 at 8:48 am
@ BucVoyager – Try a lot more around $12-$13-MILā¦ Iām thinking it was for like, 5-YEARS and $60-$65-MILLION. Thatās $60-MIL+ fully-guaranteed. U.S. DOLLARS. And, being a part of SUCH an elite and exclusive club. AND, all the perks of being with Khan. I mean, access to THAT YACHT ALONE (look up his ānewestā one)ā¦ I. Mean. COME. ON. While, already taking him places heās never been before, AND helping him fulfill his OBSESSION and DREAM of having a Contender in the league. Annnnddd, you can HANDPICK your own GM. Orrrrr, letās see hereā¦ You can be OC of the BUCS instead!? Now, Hmmmmmā¦
August 28th, 2026 at 8:52 am
@MelvinJunior dial back the anger and hatred, buddy.
August 28th, 2026 at 8:53 am
@ CosmoKramer Says: āWhen the owners chose Bowles over Coen as HC, they proved that they know very little about the state of the team.ā
Or, anything about FOOTBALL. Or, the current landscape of the modern day state of THE NFL. And, that contract extension was just trying to save face after such an embarrassment.
August 28th, 2026 at 8:56 am
@ BuccoMarty – Does not concern YOU. Bucky Boy. There is no āhatredā whatsoever. Itās JUST TRUTH. Now, you can choose to interpret however YOU wish. By all means.
August 28th, 2026 at 9:03 am
Normally I agree with the Joe’s takes. This time, it’s a Clear, Pandering Job
bowles stayed above the fray??? Is that a joke? Coen WAS GOING TO “TAKE” bowles job if he stayed. It’s as cut and dry as Exactly That!
I’m trying not to laugh at this “staying above the fray, joke” but “in Reality bowles OWES Coen” for not taking his “Torture with retardedness” of the Players and Fans WHOM DESERVE FAR BETTER THAN todd bowles! bowles has established beyond a doubt that he’s a “Bad Coordinator” at his best….
EVERYBODY KNOWS that Coen did bowles a favor when he stayed smarter than bowles. And the “RESULTS ARE CLEAR”! Coen, whom Bowles OWES, Coen has his team in the PLAY OFFS in his VERY FIRST YEAR AS A “TRUE HEAD COACH”… bowles on the other hand “SOMEHOW found away to get the ENTIRE TEAM TO QUIT”!
Above the fray?? š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤”š¤”š¤”š¤”š¤£š¤£š¤£ Oh SURE….
Of course bowles likes Coen! Coen “LET HIM” keep his job…
I suppose you gotta do what you gotta do to pay the bills… Right (wink wink)
August 28th, 2026 at 9:04 am
@ Bucky Boy – You wanna talk REAL āhatred!?ā Then, letās talk about all the people (Baker Boi Bros and emotionally challenged Bucs Fans), who were wishing REAL āpersonalā HARM to Mike Evans, after he chose to leave town and take his talents to San Franā¦ And, āIā was accused of being drunk AND high, for DEFENDING HIM.
August 28th, 2026 at 9:08 am
bowles stayed above the fray??? Is that a joke? Coen WAS GOING TO “TAKE” bowles job if he stayed. It’s as cut and dry as Exactly That!
I’m trying not to laugh at this “staying above the fray, joke” but “in Reality bowles OWES Coen” for not taking his “Torture with retardedness” of the Players and Fans WHOM DESERVE FAR BETTER THAN todd bowles! bowles has established beyond a doubt that he’s a “Bad Coordinator” at his best….
EVERYBODY KNOWS that Coen did bowles a favor when he stayed smarter than bowles. And the “RESULTS ARE CLEAR”! Coen, whom Bowles OWES, Coen has his team in the PLAY OFFS in his VERY FIRST YEAR AS A “TRUE HEAD COACH”… bowles on the other hand “SOMEHOW found away to get the ENTIRE TEAM TO QUIT”!
Above the fray?? š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤”š¤”š¤”š¤”š¤£š¤£š¤£ Oh SURE….
Of course bowles likes Coen! Coen “LET HIM” keep his job…
I suppose you gotta do what you gotta do to pay the bills… Right (wink wink)
August 28th, 2026 at 9:37 am
It wasn’t Bucs choosing Todd over Liam, it was more like “do I fire this guy after he has just won 10 games?”
August 28th, 2026 at 9:40 am
Khan, while out on his yachtā¦ Yes, THAT YACHT. āFire up the chopper and send me Coen.ā Coen looking down, while making their approach to land ON THAT YACHT (sitting out in the middle of sea)ā¦ Just Pure INSANITY. I mean, could you even imagine!? INSANE. Crazy. I mean, we had our own planesā¦ A Navajo Chieftain (that we turned into a Panther, with new engines, wingtips, and a paint job LoL), then a King Air 300, and our last one was a Citation CJ-5 Jet, and my Dad had a little Cessna 182, that he could fly on his own. But, DAMNā¦ Thatās a whole different ballgame there!!!! Couldnāt even imagineā¦ Just think HOW WILD thatād be landing on that yacht. Seriously, if you havenāt seen Kahnās ānewestā yacht yet, youāve GOT TO check this out. Itās one of the most āimpressiveā in THE WORLD now!!!!
August 28th, 2026 at 9:59 am
‘It was an ugly chapter in Bucs history.’
So TRUE!… Keeping IBS and not firing him to make Lian Coen the Bucs HC…
One of the Bucs owners MOST recent blunders of the century!!!!!
August 28th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Hahaha,…. Melvin a prayer?
Not really, it’s a song by Johnny Cash and he sand it in a Columbo episode many moons ago
Also, kind kind of a spinoff of one of my favorite Movie characters of all time
The Late Great Reverend Cleophaus James
And I would take Dave Canales over almost anybody that was mentioned in the above article
August 28th, 2026 at 10:21 am
Yep what could have been. Not him staying as the OC but the glazers having the stones to fire Todd and promote Coen.
Now that weāre here, not only should Todd not be upset but he should ask Coen if he has a few hours after practice every night to teach him modern football and how to manage a game and the team effectively. It took Coen 12 months to do something Todd had never done in his 8 years of being a head coach.
August 28th, 2026 at 10:33 am
The NFL is the good old boys club. Its a small club, so they typically don’t burn bridges if they can help it. Business is business.
August 28th, 2026 at 10:58 am
coen just chills out on the yacht when it’s not football season…mack daddying the days away with khan, while sipping pina coladas
August 28th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
i don’t get around much, but this site is the only place where I’ve read that the Glazers had a seriously realistic opportunity for firing Bowles to hire Coen. The former had just won another division title with ten wins, and the latter, his subordinate, had never been a pro head coach. The Jaguar deal came out of nowhere from a desperate, eccentric owner. Coen was without a contract, which is only a commitment when it is signed. He did nothing outside the rules that define ethical behavior in his business. Imagine the alternative: Coen puts the Glazers on the spot, telling them that if they fire his boss, he’ll be glad to take the job. Imagine the press conferences. And remember that, at the time, no reasonable person was clamoring for Bowles’ removal. And, really, is it more noble to take the job of the guy who gave you your opportunity or to take a similar job with another branch of the same company? As an aside, I don’t think Coen would have won fourteen games with all the injuries the Bucs suffered last year. There is no “What might have been.”
August 28th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
As I have said many times on this site, ALL of you would have done EXACTLY what Coen didā¦ take the money. If you are mad about him going to Duval try blaming the people who made or let it happen: The Glazers and Kahn. You have to admire Kahn going hard after Coen at the last minute to get his guy and sad because team Glazers didnāt have the courage to do what should have been done.
August 28th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
Mobucs:
Iāve seen this opinion before and respectfully itās flawed.
What youāre referring to is optics. The glazers own the team and they can choose to hire and fire anyone they please. Theyāve fired coaches before and promoted in-house coordinators twice by my count.
Coen didnāt need to ask for a promotion. The glazers could have told him we want you to be the HC and will make the move if you agree.
What many of us on here are opining is that the glazers either donāt have their fingers on the pulse of the team and league, or they were scared of the optics. It was beyond obvious to us that Coen was light years ahead of Todd and he proved us correct in ā25.
August 28th, 2026 at 2:02 pm
@ melvin Junior
“RIDICULOUS. Itās Absurdity. One of the DUMBEST things ever said on here. And, itās an outright LIE. Peopleās āemotionsā really make them say and do some real STUPID things.”
Someone needs a mirror and to pay better attention during Geography.
August 28th, 2026 at 8:43 pm
Thanks for the response, Obvious. You’re right, of course, about the optics. But I think a lot of the NFL is about optics, as are so many things in this media age. Attention to optics may seem shallow or cowardly, but it is based on real world consequences. I don’t think the Glazers anticipated the boldness of the Jags or the suddenness of Coen, whom they felt comfortably under their control for another year. I agree that 2025 was a win for Coen and Co., but I think more time is needed before a final judgment.