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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still searching for a replacement for former offensive coordinator Dave Canales, and it appears that search has led the franchise to exploring the college ranks.
Tampa Bay will interview Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen for their OC vacancy, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Canales left Tampa Bay this offseason to become head coach of the Carolina Panthers. The 2023 season was his first as offensive coordinator of the Bucs.
Coen is in his second stint as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He served as the program’s OC and quarterbacks coach in 2021 before departing the organization in 2022 to become offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams.
The 38-year-old landing an interview with the Bucs comes as little surprise as he has familiarity with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who the franchise hopes to re-sign in free agency this offseason following a solid 2023 campaign.
When the Rams claimed Mayfield off waivers for the final five games of the 2022 season, Coen was L.A.’s offensive coordinator.
Mayfield had arguably the best regular season of his career in 2023, completing 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in 17 games, in addition to rushing for 163 yards and one score.
He led the Bucs to the NFC South crown and an upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild card round before a loss to the Detroit Lions in the divisional round.
The Buccaneers are hoping to build upon that success, and Coen’s familiarity with Mayfield could help the franchise reach new heights in 2024.
Coen got his start in coaching as a quarterbacks coach for Brown in 2010. He also coached in a variety of roles for the University of Rhode Island, UMass and Maine before breaking into the NFL as an assistant wide receivers coach with the Rams in 2018.
Coen remained as L.A.’s wide receivers coach through the 2019 season and was named the team’s quarterbacks coach in 2020.
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