Report: Bucs target Kentucky's Liam Coen for OC job

Field Level Media|published: Fri 2nd February, 10:21 2024

Jul 31, 2022; Irvine, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen during training camp at UC Irvine. credits: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are targeting Kentucky's Liam Coen as their new offensive coordinator, NFL Network reported Friday.

Coen, 38, has alternated between the Wildcats (2021, 2023) and the Los Angeles Rams (2018-20, 2022) over the past six seasons.

He was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during both stints at Kentucky. With the Rams, he was coach Sean McVay's assistant wide receivers coach (2018-19), assistant QBs coach (2020) and offensive coordinator (2022).

Coen would replace Dave Canales, who departed Tampa to become head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

Coen's starting quarterback during part of the 2022 NFL season in Los Angeles was Baker Mayfield, a pending free agent who is coming off a resurgent season with the Buccaneers in 2023.

His 2022 Rams struggled to move the ball, finishing 27th in the league in scoring and last in total offense.

Kentucky went 7-6 in 2023, averaging 29.1 points and 339.5 yards per game. The Wildcats lost 38-35 to Clemson in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 29.

Coen was a record-setting quarterback at UMass, where his roommate and favorite target was former Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, before starting his coaching career in the college ranks at Brown, Rhode Island, Maine and his alma mater.

—Field Level Media