Three Coaching Adjustments Liam Coen Must Make in 2026

In his first year as head coach Liam Coen completely turned the Jacksonville Jaguars around, going from a 4-13 record in 2024 to a 13-4 record in 2025. After a 5-4 start, the offense took off and dominated the rest of the regular season, with Trevor Lawrence playing the best football of his career.

>The regular season was far more than anybody could have anticipated, but they ultimately lost in the first round of the playoffs, where Coen’s inexperience showed in big moments. We will discuss three things he must improve on in 2026.

Three Coaching Adjustments Liam Coen Must Make in 2026Being More ConservativeThe modern NFL demands aggressiveness, especially on fourth downs. It is one of the biggest deciders of games every week, and the Jaguars converted at an above average rate, ranking 13th in fourth-down percentage, while going for it the seventh most. But the number of attempts is not as important as the timing of them, and this was abundantly clear in the playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.

>Another example of this is in Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals, when the Jaguars had the opportunity to go up six with under two minutes left, but failed to convert on fourth down, leading to the Cardinals tying the game and sending the game into overtime.

>Coen’s tendency to go for the jugular is commendable but can oftentimes be short-sighted and could lose games that have no reason to be lost. A more calculated aggressiveness would be beneficial for the Jaguars to avoid unnecessary losses.

Involving Brian Thomas Jr.

>2025 was a major disappointment for Brian Thomas Jr. as he saw a huge statistical drop-off. Injuries, scheme fit, and drops all played a factor in his sophomore slump. Thomas Jr. had just one game with more than five receptions in 2025, and would go through massive stretches of a game with no involvement.

>Jakobi Meyers being added to the team, along with Parker Washington’s breakout, certainly contributed to this, but Thomas Jr. has a unique ability to create yards after the catch. Getting him involved early with screens, crossing routes, clear-out routes, or even being lined up in the backfield are all ways for him to get easy yards and command more attention from the defense.

>The Jaguars have a special talent at wide receiver, and with a strong receiving core alongside him, getting Thomas Jr. more easy touches opens things up for him and everyone else in the offense. Letting his talent go unused would be a disservice to him and the offense as a whole.

Starting FastThe Jaguars offense was the strength of the team, being able to score at will once they found a rhythm. But they consistently struggled to jump out in front, scoring just three opening drive touchdowns. Typically, this is where teams are at their best, given the first 10 to 15 plays are planned out before the defense is able to adjust.

>This has been a problem the Jaguars have faced for years, and in 2022 and 2025, they were able to overcome slow starts. Against the elite teams, however, every drive matters, and setting the tone with an opening touchdown can be the difference in a tightly contested game.

>With a full season of experience to learn from his mistakes, and a roster ready to compete now, Liam Coen should be able to navigate his way through his previous rookie mistakes and help to build upon the foundation he laid out in his first season.

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