The Tampa Bay Buccaneers thought they had Liam Coen as their offensive coordinator...until they didn't, with Coen now taking the head coaching job at the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With so much information from both sides swirling around, Coen reportedly secretly traveled to Jacksonville for a second interview, and the Buccaneers were trying to get in contact with him to sign his new deal.
Then we have the story of Coen's personal matter in which he was unable to return calls from the Bucs, which many later found out was due to his child being sick, to Coen then per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times telling Bowles that things had changed with the Jaguars and that he was going to travel for the interview only for Bowles to reportedly be tipped off within an hour of that call taking place that Coen was already in the Jaguars building, it is very messy.
And ESPN's Adam Schefter, who was a guest on the Pat McAfee Show, revealed how upset the Buccaneers are over the whole ordeal. ... and how unprecedented he claims it to be.
"In 20 years, this century, I don't remember the last time I heard one team this hot and bothered about a coach taking another deal," Schefter said. "They were hot. I don't remember the last time I heard a team that irate over a coaching decision."
So there's a lot to unpack, and now, with Coen's departure, the Buccaneers must hire Baker Mayfield as their third offensive coordinator in three years.
It was looming as a big get for Tampa to retain Coen, but it is clear things changed when the Jaguars fired general manager Trent Baalke, and now Liam is taking control of the Jaguars.
There are two sides to the story (see the "sick kid'' reaction from Coen's wife above), and whichever you believe is yours to decide, but this feels like it got messy when it didn't need to, and now, after a superb year together, Coen and the Bucs have parted ways in a sour way.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!