JUST IN:Rams’ former offensive coordinator Liam Coen is hired by the Buccaneers

This season, a second member of Sean McVay’s coaching staff was given a franchise. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have named former Rams assistant Liam Coen as their new offensive coordinator, according to a team statement. After helping quarterback Baker Mayfield develop last season, Dave Canales, who is now the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, will be replaced by Coen in Tampa.

Mayfield, a former Rams quarterback, had a career-year in 17 games under Canales’ tutelage, throwing for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also helped the Buccaneers to a 9-8 regular season record.

Even after the Bucs lost to the Detroit Lions in the Wild Card round, Mayfield helped the team win a postseason game. The Bucs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9. Now that Mayfield is expected to become a free agency, Tampa will be hoping that signing Coen will be sufficient to persuade the former first overall choice to sign a long-term contract extension with the Buccaneers.

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Coen is currently in his third job as an NFL coach after two stints with the Rams, both of which concluded with moves to Kentucky. The Buccaneers are Coen’s current team. Prior to switching to quarterbacks the following season, Coen began his coaching career in Los Angeles in 2018–19 as the assistant receivers coach. At that point, he quit the Rams to join Kentucky, where he was hired as the 2021 team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Then, in 2022, Coen made his way back to Los Angeles in the same capacity before playing his last season with the Wildcats.