This Area is Where Liam Coen is Looking to Self-Improve the Most

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen is part of a broad modern shift in NFL philosophy, both in head-coach hiring practices and in the development of the offensive schemes that now dominate the league. It all stems from his former head coach, the Los Angeles Rams' ringer Sean McVay, who became a pioneer in young offensive-minded hires at the position that have taken over the NFL.

The best coaches in the game evolve with the times and direction the sport is going. McVay has grown tremendously as a play-caller and in game management, allowing his franchise to continue the pursuit of a championship year-round. Coen is a terrific offensive mind himself and was a big reason for his unit's success and the team overall, with a 13-4 record and a division title in hand.

Coen Jags — Jan 11, 2026; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen before an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Buffalo Bills at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images | Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Heading into his second season as Jacksonville's head coach, Coen is spending the offseason evaluating himself and where he can improve the most. Self-awareness is key to growth for anyone, especially coaches. The Jaguars' head man is hoping to translate the growth to sustained success in the upcoming season and the years to follow.

Coen on evaluting himself, self-improvement, and how it can help the Jaguars win games

Around the NFL, it is hard to find many coaches who play the CEO role as a head coach. Recent changes from Dave Canales of the Carolina Panthers and Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos are the newest examples of that transition to gain a better focus across the staff and roster.

Coen is an outstanding offensive play-caller, and that is not about to change anytime soon, though there are times of impatience and angst when it comes to trusting the coaching on his defense. He has to remind himself of that word: trust, and it is an area he thinks he can grow more in.

“I think that maybe some patience on the defensive side, a little bit," Coen said. "Look, you’re constantly trying to be competitive about everything. There are emotions, but trust, fully trusting your staff and the people around you. I think that was something I was able to do. I think it's an area in which I can maybe grow a little bit more."

Having called plays for Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles and former Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops, Coen has allowed himself to have a perspective of the gains in trust they have on a certain side of the ball, which they may not have an elite expertise in. The controlling aspect can be tempting, but Coen has learned to trust his defensive coaching staff, especially on the hard days like game week or Sundays.

Coen Buc — Aug 23, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen looks on before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Self-awareness and improvement can help Coen win games this season, along with focusing on his side of the ball, the communication with quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and taking away the bias in the process, which he said allows him to breathe, or "woosah," like Marcus in Bad Boys II.

“Yeah, just a little ‘woosah’ and just that you're able to call it when you are back up on the headset calling the offensive plays and having that communication with Trevor," Coen said. "It's clear, it's concise, it's unbiased, it's unemotional. It's more just like, ‘Hey, we're moving on to the next drive and here we go.’”

Should the Jaguars have another excellent season with a consecutive AFC Title on hand, one of the reasons for it would be the self-growth that Coen had this offseason.