Jaguars Slammed for Passing on Ben Johnson as Shahid Khan’s Claims Fall Apart With Liam Coen Hire

If you’re a Jags fan, buckle up—this offseason is giving Succession vibes. Picture Shad Khan as Logan Roy. Power plays, failed alliances, and public missteps. But the latest twist is a stinger! Missing out on Ben Johnson for the head coach position, thanks to the polarizing presence of former GM Trent Baalke. It’s a storyline even HBO couldn’t script better. But that’s Shad’s right-hand man… UFF!

Here’s the tea: Khan wanted Johnson badly. And you can’t blame him! The young offensive mastermind literally transformed the Lions’ O-line into one of the most fierce. So, Khan saw him as the Jaguars’ golden ticket to a fresh start. But when Johnson snubbed Jacksonville for Chicago, whispers pointed to Baalke.

Johnson reportedly refused a second interview, unwilling to work with the controversial GM. You’d think Khan would see the red flags waving like penalty markers on a blown play, but nope. His loyalty to Baalke blinded him. By the time Khan finally parted ways with Baalke—“respectfully separating, effective immediately,” as the statement went—it was too late.

And Liam Coen? The Bucs’ OC walked into this chaos like the guy playing hero. BUT is he? Coen pulled a move straight out of the NFL playbook: he stiff-armed the Jaguars, opting to stay cozy in Tampa. As a result, Khan has reportedly offered him the Ben Johnson contract to attract him. First move? Fire Baalke. Next? Give him the entire team. And that’s where ESPN’s Evan Cohen draws the line…

He called out Khan’s botched handling of Johnson, saying: “I believe their first choice was Ben Johnson and they screwed this whole thing up. What they gave him [Liam] is the Ben Johnson offer. I bet you Ben would have taken this [offer] over the Bears’ job. They are giving Liam Coen what the Niners gave Kyle Shanahan.”

According to Cohen, the Jaguars had the money, the pitch, and the potential. That’s why, in Evan’s words, Khan basically gave Coen everything: “You hire the GM, bring the QB, and it’s your team.”

The irony? The Jaguars had a template for success right in front of them. Look at Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch in San Francisco—a partnership born from a bold move and mutual trust. Shanahan gave Lynch the keys, and the Niners turned into a powerhouse. Jacksonville? They fumbled, plain and simple.

But Shad’s Liam Coen announcement won’t even tell you that he has fumbled. “I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville.” Yes, as you should be. But those are just words, like when he said, in the pre-2024 season: “Make no mistake: this is the best team assembled by the Jaguars ever.” Oh, mistakes were made. And a lot of them. So much so that the Jags stumbled to a 4-13 season. Result? They go and get Coen as Khan wrote in his announcement: “I am pumped that Liam is accepting the challenge to build a winner.”

Meanwhile, Khan has lost not just Johnson but also the credibility to lure top-tier talent. Plus, he has also lost his right-hand man. YIKES! Now, the Jaguars are left with Liam Coen as their last shot. Sure, Coen’s no slouch, but is he really the QB whisperer this team needs?

Can Liam Coen prove that the Jags did not need Ben Johnson?

When Evan Cohen dropped the bomb, “They [Jaguars] are giving Liam Coen, who is not nearly as proven as Ben Johnson, everything,” it was like a mic drop moment. But is he wrong? Let’s break this down. Ben Johnson, under Detroit’s wing, led the franchise as the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense in 2024—33.2 points per game. On top of that, the Lions hit franchise records with 564 points and 15 wins.

Now, compare that to Liam Coen’s resume. Promising? Sure. Proven? Not quite on Johnson’s level.

But Coen did coach Baker Mayfield to his career-best season with the Bucs—4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and a ridiculous 71.4% completion rate. Not just that, even Tampa boasted a top-five offense, securing another NFC South title. Sounds solid, right? But Jacksonville isn’t Tampa. And Trevor Lawrence is no Baker Mayfield. Not yet, at least.

Now, here’s where it gets spicy. The Jaguars promised Coen big money, “Ben Johnson-level money,” to lure him back after an earlier rejection. Oh, and they let him choose the next GM. Bold move, but it reeks of desperation.

Can you blame them? Johnson turned them down, and Pederson was out after a disastrous 2024 season. Four wins. Lawrence sidelined. Fans ready to storm the gates.

However, Coen’s adaptability and offensive creativity are his calling cards. He turned a rookie RB, Bucky Irving, into a top-10 rusher and revived Tampa’s offense.

But replicating that magic in Jacksonville? It’s a tall order. Not that he can’t do it. So, the job hand as of now reads: he’ll need to rebuild Lawrence, leverage that No. 5 draft pick, and figure out how to win in a division that’s constantly up for grabs.