Jaguars' Rookie Coach Takes Team from 4-13 to Playoffs

When Liam Coen walks into the Jacksonville Jaguars locker room after each victory, players know what's coming: an energetic fist pump and his signature phrase, "How's that feel?"

It's a tradition borrowed from his father, a high school coach in Rhode Island. But for the Jaguars, it represents something much bigger than a postgame celebration.

Just one year ago, Jacksonville finished with a dismal 4-13 record. Their defense ranked dead last in pass coverage, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence was struggling to find his footing.

Then owner Shad Khan took a chance on Coen, a 40-year-old first-time head coach. Almost nobody saw what would happen next.

This season, Coen led the Jaguars to 13 wins, an AFC South championship, and a home playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. It's the second-most victories in franchise history.

"It makes us want to fight for him and fight for the organization," tight end Brenton Strange said about his coach's infectious energy. Players say Coen knows exactly what they need to hear before game day.

The transformation started with culture. Coen, along with executive Tony Boselli and general manager James Gladstone, implemented a "one voice" approach where everyone in the organization shares the same message and standards.

Coen mixed up locker room assignments so players could bond with new teammates. He created competitive drills during offseason practices that brought the entire team together.

Why This Inspires

The change wasn't just about X's and O's. Coen asked his players to be mentally and physically tough, to love football, and most importantly, to care about each other first.

When situations weren't working, the team adapted quickly. They made tough decisions early, ensuring everyone was committed to the same goal.

"What's different about this team is we just stay steady and we just keep going no matter what," Strange said after a dramatic overtime win in Week 12.

Running back Travis Etienne Jr. credits Coen with changing the entire team's mindset. The coach created a growth process that every player bought into from day one.

The proof showed on the field as wins piled up: 11, then 12, then 13. With each victory, Coen's fist pumps got bigger and the locker room celebrations got louder.

Players say they noticed the difference from the moment Coen arrived in January. The atmosphere inside the facility felt completely different from the previous season.

Now the Jaguars are hosting a playoff game, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence is playing the best football of his career.

For a team that lost faith just one year ago, belief has returned to Jacksonville.