In the NFL, contracts often seem more flexible than they first appear. Recently, Liam Coen made headlines when he decided to back out of the running for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach position to stay as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, this decision was short-lived as Coen opted for a second interview with the Jaguars after initially agreeing to remain in Tampa. Reports from two individuals familiar with the situation revealed that Coen was reconsidering his initial choice due to a significant development—Jacksonville’s decision to part ways with general manager Trent Baalke right after his contract agreement.
This shift may have opened the door for Coen to entertain returning to Jacksonville, despite his previous commitments. The decision has not come without precedent in the NFL, where players and coaches have often reversed their decisions regarding team affiliations, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the league.
Historically, there have been notable instances of this behavior. For instance, on January 19, 2002, Bill Parcells communicated to the Buccaneers that he would not be returning from retirement to take over coaching duties, leaving the franchise searching for a new leader. Parcells, citing his age as a reason for his reluctance, eventually returned to coaching a year later but only led the Dallas Cowboys to one playoff appearance over four seasons. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers went on to acquire Jon Gruden, who led the team to a Super Bowl victory in his first year.
Similarly, Bill Belichick made a surprising move on January 4, 2000, when he was set to become the head coach of the New York Jets. Despite being introduced as the coach, Belichick unexpectedly resigned during the press conference, noting his rights were subsequently traded to the New England Patriots, where he ultimately led the franchise to six Super Bowl titles. The exact reasons for his about-face remain unclear, with speculation that he wished to distance himself from being overshadowed by Parcells.
Another reflective situation involved Josh McDaniels, who confused many when, after agreement terms were established with the Indianapolis Colts on February 6, 2018, he decided against taking the job. The coach chose family stability over the opportunity and was offered a salary increase to remain with the Patriots as offensive coordinator. His decision ultimately led the Colts to hire Frank Reich, who had a pivotal role in their Super Bowl win against New England.
More recently, Kliff Kingsbury informed the Las Vegas Raiders on February 3, 2024, that he would not accept the offensive coordinator role after previously indicating he would join their staff. Instead, he decided to work with Dan Quinn in Washington and has been crucial to the development of quarterback Jayden Daniels as the team progressed to the NFC Championship.
In the season of unexpected changes, Frank Gore’s career path illustrates the complexity of free agency decisions. On March 10, 2015, he signed a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts shortly after he had verbally agreed to a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Gore recounted how the loss of key players, including quarterback Nick Foles’ exit to trade and Jeremy Maclin’s signing with the Kansas City Chiefs, influenced his desire to chase a championship more competitively with the Colts, where he believed he could have a better chance of winning.
These examples reveal that the world of the NFL can be as unpredictable as it is exciting, with many factors influencing the decision-making of coaches and players alike. All parties must navigate their careers amidst a landscape filled with ever-shifting dynamics.
