Raiders’ Next HC? Liam Coen Emerges as Dark Horse Candidate: Buccaneers OC Brings Fresh Creative Approach to the Table

If the Las Vegas Raiders get a chance to speak to Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, both sides will know quickly if it is the best fit.

The Raiders or any other NFL teams looking for a head coach cannot interview Coen until three days after the Bucs’ wild-card game via virtual interview, per NFL rules.

Tampa Bay plays host to the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

As of now, only the Jacksonville Jaguars are the lone team to have requested an interview with Coen.

The Raiders could seek to interview Coen because of his résumé. Coen met with reporters Thursday and discussed the dream of becoming a head coach for any NFL club, but his focus is the wild-card game.

“That’s the one request I’m aware of at this moment,” Coen told reporters. “It’s an honor to even be in that category, but it’s not been something I’ve worked much on over the last few days. It’s an honor but not something worth thinking about at the moment.”

The Raiders should highly consider Coen.

He resurrected Baker Mayfield’s career by helping him put up high passing totals (4,500) and touchdowns (41) this season.

Tampa Bay is third in the NFL in yards per game (399.5) and passing yards (250.4). The Bucs’ run game is fourth in the NFL (149.2 yards per game).

Impressive numbers under Coen.

The Raiders can sell Coen on All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who finished the season with 1,027 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

The Raiders, however, need to figure out what to do with the quarterback and running backs situation.

As of now, it’s quarterback Aidan O’Connell and running backs Zamir White and Sincere McCormick. Running backs Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah are unrestricted free agents. The Raiders may end up releasing quarterback Gardner Minshew.

Another big sell for Coen, perhaps, is the $107 cap space the Raiders have, according to Over The Cap.

Coen is just a healthy 39-year-old and is under Sean McVay’s coaching tree when he was the Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator in 2022 before serving in the same position at Kentucky when Will Levis was the quarterback.

Maybe there could be a Levis trade to the Raiders if Coen is the coach.

A lot of possibilities for the Raiders and why Coen should be considered the favorite.