The Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be still holding a grudge against Liam Coen after his shock decision to leave for the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this month.

Coen and the Jaguars requested the opportunity to interview two ᴀssistants from the Buccaneers organization as the new head coach continues to build his staff.

But Coen has been told in no uncertain terms that the Bucs will not allow him to speak to the staff members he wants to hire.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Jaguars tried to speak to Bucs offensive line coach Kevin Carberry and ᴀssistant offensive line coach Brian Picucci.

But the Bucs issued a firm no to their approach. Teams usually accept interview requests when ᴀssistants are interviewing for a promotion.

These moves are thought to have been sideways, however, meaning the Bucs have every right to reject the request.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have declined Liam Coen’s request to interview two coaches

Reports suggest Bucs general manager Jason Licht is ‘furious’ with Coen after his shock exit

The Jaguars tried to speak to Bucs OL coach Kevin Carberry (L) and ᴀssistant Brian Picucci (R)

The Tampa Bay Times also claimed that Bucs general manager Jason Licht is ‘furious’ with Coen and head coach Todd Bowles ‘might be as well’.

Coen, 39, was set to stay on in Tampa Bay as the league’s highest-paid coordinator after talks with the franchise. He had been scheduled to interview with the Jaguars in person (after an initial virtual interview) but withdrew his name from consideration.

A day later, Coen went to Jacksonville after all to discuss becoming the team’s new head coach and went on to seal a whirlwind exit.

Coen has managed to land a major piece of his coaching staff, however, in the form of Green Bay ᴀssistant Anthony Campanile as his defensive coordinator.

Campanile will be tasked with turning around one of the worst units in franchise history.

The 4-13 Jaguars ranked 31st in yards allowed and 28th in points in 2024 under first-year defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. 

Nielsen was fired along with coach Doug Pederson, offensive coordinator Press Taylor and most of Pederson’s staff.