Former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield seemingly dodged a bullet.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen initially spurned the Jacksonville Jaguars for a handsome payday to stay, per reports. Instead, Coen is heading to Jacksonville after all following the Jaguars’ decision to fire general manager Tren Baalke.

“Liam Coen has informed the Buccaneers that he’ll be taking the Jaguars head coaching job, per sources,” The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reported on X on January 23.

Howe’s post concludes a day of surprises.

The Jaguars have a verbal agreement in place with Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, per sources. Pending the negotiation of a formal contract, Coen will be their next head coach. Simply put, what Jacksonville put in front of Coen was too much to walk away from.

“The Tampa Bay Bucs have been operating as if Coen was returning as the offensive coordinator after offering him a hefty deal,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini posted. “The contract was never signed and the Bucs were not informed he spent the day in Jacksonville meeting to become to next head coach, per source.

“Multiple text messages and phone calls were made to Coen and I’m told Tampa Bay has heard nothing.”

Russini’s is one of the latest in a series of events that spell bad news for Mayfield.

“Buccaneers have had no contact today with Liam Coen or his representation. The team has made multiple efforts to reach him and has not. Coen is in Jacksonville discussing a deal to become the head coach,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

“Liam Coen said he reached out to Bucs HC Todd Bowles to inform him of his interest in interviewing for the Jaguars head coaching job.”

Mayfield will change coordinators for the fifth time since the start of the 2022 season.

This will mark his second time parting ways with Coen, though the first time was by choice. Mayfield spent the final five weeks of the 2022 season with the Rams. They claimed him off waivers from the Carolina Panthers.

Mayfield signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Buccaneers the following season. He parlayed that into a three-year, $100 million pact in 2024 after a Pro Bowl season.

Mayfield has been candid about his desire for Coen, who was LA’s OC in 2022, to stay.

“The Jacksonville Jaguars were aware that Coen wanted to stay to coach Baker Mayfield with Tampa Bay as their offensive coordinator,” Russini said in a follow-up post. “Shad Khan knew it would take a major push to change his mind.”