Jaguars head coach Liam Coen did not hesitate when he was asked about Florida’s move to hire Jon Sumrall. His reaction said it all.
This was not the usual polite offseason endorsement. This was a coach who knows Sumrall deeply, respects him genuinely, and believes Florida just landed the right man at the right time.
Coen described Sumrall as a leader of people, someone who impacts not only a locker room but an entire building. He praised Sumrall’s passion, his competitiveness, and his complete understanding of the game. Even though Sumrall has been a defensive coach for most of his career, Coen said he views football through a big picture lens in all three phases. That kind of endorsement does not come cheaply in this profession, especially from an NFL head coach.
“He understands good football,” Coen said. “He can recruit his tail off.”
The admiration did not end there.
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Coen bought Sumrall’s house in Lexington in 2021, a detail that shows just how connected their families and careers have been. He described the Sumrall family as perfect fits and completely SEC in every way, and that Jon is one of the people Coen looks up to in this profession.
That is not ordinary praise. That is genuine reverence. For Florida fans wondering what kind of leader they are getting, Coen’s reaction might be the strongest endorsement yet. It was heartfelt, personal, and grounded in real experience.
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