The Jacksonville Jaguars hired head coach Liam Coen away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason. Coen was one of the top coaching candidates thanks to the job he did with Baker Mayfield while serving as the Bucs’ offensive coordinator. Now he is bringing that same coaching prowess to the Jaguars. After winning only four games last season, the Jags already have five wins this season, and Coen deserves plenty of credit for the turnaround.
The 39-year-old Coen has not had an easy life thus far. But everything he has experienced has made him a better coach. One of the significant turning points in his life was when he lost his mother back in 2006.
Liam Coen’s Wife Shares a Touching Sign from His Late Mother
Coen spoke to Jeff Howe and The Athletic about the passing of his mother and how it has affected his life.
“It was, all right, there’s two roads here,” he said. “One is I can go and let this really derail my life, and it can be a really good excuse. But I lived a really good life. I had one really adverse, tough situation in life come up to that point. I had great parents, great family, friends, no real adversity.
“This was my first. This was my thing. This was my trauma. You either use it as an excuse, an avenue where I can maybe go off the wrong path. Or you dive into the things you care about, that you love and you’re passionate about.”
Coen’s wife, Ashley, took to X to discuss how Coen’s mother’s spirit is still present at Jaguars games. She said, “I feel her constant presence. Every home game this year, a butterfly appears and flies towards the field to Liam. That’s her spirit, I just know it.”
First time Liam has publicly spoken about his mother, Elizabeth since her passing. I didn’t get the honor of meeting her, but I feel her constant presence. Every home game this year, a butterfly appears and flies towards the field to Liam. That’s her spirit, I just know it. #988 https://t.co/vtrsdbqQRL
— Ashley Coen (@ashleyfordcoen) November 6, 2025
These things can be difficult to discuss at times, but Coen speaking out about his mother and his struggles can be an inspiration to others.
Coen Hoping to Lead Jaguars Back to Playoffs
Coen has gotten off to a great start in Jacksonville, and he has a chance to help this team get back to the postseason. We have not seen the Jaguars in the playoffs since 2022, when they lost in the divisional round to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The AFC is wide open this season, but the Jags will likely be vying for a wild-card spot with the Indianapolis Colts, a few games ahead in the division. All NFL teams want to win, and it seems like the Jaguars have the right coach in place to keep them in contention for years to come.