At just 40 years old, Liam Coen has gone from first-time head coach curiosity to one of the most compelling stories of the NFL postseason. His debut season with the Jacksonville Jaguars delivered immediate results: a 13–4 record, an AFC South title, and the No. 3 seed in the conference. What began with an awkward, viral “DUUUVAL” introduction has quickly turned into something far more serious.
Now, Coen prepares for his first playoff game as a head coach, hosting the No. 6 seed Buffalo Bills, a battle-tested postseason opponent that arrives in Jacksonville at 12–5. The moment is big. The expectations are real. And the spotlight is no longer optional.
Quarterback’s path into coaching
Coen’s football journey started long before Jacksonville. A four-year starter at UMass, he built his reputation as a cerebral quarterback with a deep understanding of structure and timing. That mindset followed him directly into coaching once his playing career ended, beginning at the college level with stops at Brown, Rhode Island, UMass, and Maine.
Those early years shaped his approach. Coen became known as a meticulous planner, someone who could translate complex ideas into practical execution. That skill set would eventually open doors at the highest level.
Learning under McVay and building credibility
Coen’s NFL breakthrough came with the Los Angeles Rams, where he worked under Sean McVay. The exposure to McVay’s offensive structure and weekly preparation standards became foundational to Coen’s coaching identity.
His career path soon developed a rhythm: college coordinator, NFL assistant, NFL coordinator. Stops at Kentucky, then a return to the Rams as offensive coordinator, refined his ability to balance scheme with personnel. By the time he arrived in Tampa Bay as offensive coordinator in 2024, Coen was fully formed as a play caller.
The Buccaneers finished top-five in both scoring and total offense that season, accelerating his head coaching trajectory.
More: Sean McDermott's journey to Buffalo and the postseason questions that remain
Jacksonville’s immediate turnaround
When Jacksonville hired Coen in January 2025, the reaction was mixed. He was young. He had never been a head coach. And his introductory press conference, highlighted by an awkward attempt to rally the fanbase with a drawn-out “DUUUVAL,” became instant internet fodder.
What followed erased any doubt. Jacksonville played disciplined, explosive football from the opening month. Coen’s offense consistently dictated pace, while the Jaguars showed weekly adaptability that reflected strong preparation and in-game management.
At 13–4, Jacksonville didn’t just win the AFC South. It controlled it.
First postseason test against experience
The reward for that season is a home playoff game. The challenge is who’s coming to town.
Buffalo brings postseason scars, experience, and urgency. The Bills have been here before. Coen has not. That contrast defines this matchup. Jacksonville enters as the higher seed, but Buffalo arrives with the comfort of familiarity under playoff pressure.
For Coen, the test is layered. It’s about managing the moment. It’s about preparation under scrutiny. And it’s about proving that his regular-season success translates when margins disappear.
Expectations were met
Coen’s first season has already exceeded expectations. Division title. Thirteen wins. A top-three seed. None of that disappears regardless of Sunday’s outcome.
But postseason football is where reputations begin to solidify. For a first-year head coach, especially one as young as Coen, this is an opportunity to accelerate the narrative from rising star to legitimate long-term presence.
What started with a nervous press conference has evolved into one of the league’s most intriguing coaching stories. Now, with Buffalo coming to EverBank Stadium, Liam Coen steps fully into the stage that defines NFL legacies.
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