Winning the introductory press conference often proves to be meaningless; just look at Dan Campbell and Nick Sirianni as examples. If Liam Coen intended to demonstrate that he could handle media appearances far better than his predecessor, he didn’t quite succeed. The Jacksonville Jaguars had such confidence in Coen, the now-former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that they even fired their general manager to facilitate Monday’s arrangement.
On paper, Coen seems like a solid hire, yet his press conference failed to evoke the confidence one would hope for. While he said all the right things, hit the buzzwords, and portrayed a vision for Trevor Lawrence’s resurgence, he came off as more politician than passionate leader. His attempt at the local rallying call of “Duuuval!” felt forced, indicating he might need more practice in front of the mirror.
0-17 pic.twitter.com/p2ouXvtfBC
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) January 27, 2025
The social media reaction was harsh but arguably justified. Comments ranged from laughter at his demeanor to questioning his credibility.
the smile at the end like he really cooked with this lmaoooooo https://t.co/IjsDNPjE59
— sean yoo (@SeanYoo) January 27, 2025
— Kendra Middleton (@KenniMiddleton) January 27, 2025
Liam Coen receiving negative aura points today
pic.twitter.com/pEjPYpGE6K— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 27, 2025
Cringe is in. They’re winning the Super Bowl. https://t.co/bOFtbvIJCs
— Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) January 27, 2025
Aye man just draw the cool plays and all will be forgiven https://t.co/UR2AMoiQYD
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) January 27, 2025
If you were looking for a head coach with an innate charisma, Coen falls short. However, it’s crucial to note that press conference performance doesn’t determine championship success. He may not have the biting kneecap anecdote, and he wasn’t nearly as awkward as Sirianni, nor did he have the fidgety gaze reminiscent of Gase. Yet, he lacked the fiery spirit that fans often seek in a leader. The buzzwords were present, but genuine passion was noticeably absent.
In the contemporary NFL, coaches are expected to embody the franchise, inspiring both the locker room and the fan base. Unfortunately, Coen’s debut in front of cameras did not capture the essence of a leader. While a poor press conference isn’t the end of the road for a coach, it does serve as a reminder that success on the field will ultimately dictate his future—rather than just nailing a “Duuuval!” chant. If this awkward beginning is any indication, he may want to refine his media presence ahead of future engagements. Fortunately, if Coen can guide Lawrence and the Jaguars in the right direction quickly, fans are likely to overlook the cringe. Until that happens, he must convert his words into genuine conviction.
