Liam Coen’s Jacksonville Jaguars were eliminated in the Wild Card Round after losing 24-27 against the Buffalo Bills. The Jaguars had done well during the regular season, qualifying for the playoffs with a 13-4 record.
Coen’s team was being considered as a strong playoff team as well, expected to make a deep postseason run. So, when it all came crashing down on their home turf, Coen got emotional over the loss.
During the press conference, he answered all the questions that the media had for him. Then a reporter named Lynn Jones gave some words of encouragement to Coen, who was visibly emotional. The reporter told him to keep his head up and see the positives in this season’s journey.
A sweet moment shared between Coen and the reporter didn’t sit well with several members of the media. In their opinion, it’s not a reporter’s job to console a coach or anyone else.
“Nothing “awesome” about fans/fake media doing stuff like that. It should be embarrassing for the people who credentialed her and her organization, and it’s a waste of time for those of us actually working,” Mark Long wrote.
“Either be a reporter. Or be a fan. You can’t do both,” AP’s John Wawrow wrote.
“Actually, it’s pathetic,” The Athletics’ Jay King wrote.
“What would give you the impression that was a reporter?” Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wolken wrote.
“Awesome? Are you serious. That’s not a reporter. That person shouldn’t even have a credential. Schefter once was a real reporter. If he thinks this is cool, he’s totally lost his way,” TBN Sports’ Mike Harrington wrote.
“That can’t be a reporter. Cause if so, I would not have used the term awesome,” The Atlantic’s Jemele Hill wrote.
The media community is very clear with its stance on the heartwarming exchange. The sentiment isn’t wrong, it just shouldn’t have come through a reporter on duty.
What Did Liam Coen Tell His Team After the Loss?
It’s been less than a year since Coen was hired as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his first season as the head coach, he took the Jaguars to the playoffs. This was the franchise’s only ninth playoff appearance.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence told Eva Geitheim what Coen had to say to his team after the loss.
“He talked about how proud he was to coach this group, how much fun it was, rewarding it was to coach us,” Lawrence said. “We feel the same way as players. We’re all in this together, the camaraderie between the players, but also between the players and staff.”
Lawrence said that Coen is a great coach, and he couldn’t imagine anyone else being better to coach the team.
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