The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 24, and as any draft enthusiast knows, interviews from the NFL Combine play a major role in shaping a team’s decisions. These franchises are setting the course for the future and, hopefully, sustained success.
One intriguing prospect who made a memorable impression back in March was first-round hopeful Mason Graham. The defensive tackle out of Michigan took a playful shot at Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen during his interview.
Liam Coen Loved Mason Graham’s Jaguars Joke
Coen, entering his first year as head coach of the Jaguars, was greeted to an unexpected shout out when Graham entered the interview room. The Michigan standout walked in and yelled “Duval” which is the rallying the Jaguars use, a reference to Duval County, the section of Florida where Jacksonville is located.
Fortunately for Graham, Coen appeared to appreciate the fun-filled attempt at humor. In a recent interview with FanDuel’s Kay Adams on the “UP & Adams” show, the 6-foot-3, 320-pounder recounted how the joke landed perfectly.
“At my combine interview with the Jaguars, I hit Coach Coen with that. I hit the ‘Duval’ right when I walked in the meeting,” Graham said. “He just started laughing. Everyone started laughing. It was funny … I introduced myself and I said ‘Duval.’ They all just started dying [of laughter], and then we got more serious and got into the meeting.”
The inside joke had to do with Coen’s now-viral and somewhat awkward attempt at delivering the Jaguars’ trademark “Duval” chant in a moment that quickly became meme-worthy among fans.
Michigan DT Mason Graham wasted no time to say ‘DUVAL’ to Jaguars HC Liam Coen during his combine interview 😂🐆 @heykayadams | @MasonGraham_55 | @Jaguars pic.twitter.com/P8omoDetLT
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 24, 2025
‘Duval’ Moment Explained
For those unfamiliar, Coen’s “Duval” debut didn’t exactly go as planned. The botched exchange quickly led to hilarious comments and tons of shade on social media, including this tweet that predicted an 0-17 season for Jacksonville.
Despite that viral moment, Coen enters his first year with high expectations. He comes off a stellar stint as offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he led the team to the third-best rating in PFSN’s Offense+ metric last season.
With a healthy Trevor Lawrence under center, rookie standout Brian Thomas Jr. at wide receiver, and a versatile running back duo in Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, Coen has plenty of talent at his disposal. He also holds the No. 5 pick in this year’s draft, where PFSN’s latest mock draft projects the Jaguars to bolster their offensive line with Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.
Graham’s Rising Draft Stock
Whether Graham’s bold “Duval” delivery was enough to win over Coen remains to be seen. One thing is true: it certainly highlighted his confidence and charisma.
The Michigan product put together an impressive senior campaign for the Wolverines, posting 45 total tackles (seven for loss) and 3.5 sacks in 12 games. PFSN’s Brentley Weissman provided a scouting report on Graham.
“Overall, Graham is a high-impact player with the speed, quickness, and power to disrupt the game in both phases,” Weissman wrote. “Graham may not have the ceiling of a player like Jalen Carter, who athletically has more to offer, but his knack for interior penetration and stout run defending will make him a key contributor instantly for whichever team that drafts him.”