REPORT: Meet Liam Coen, The Bears’ Latest (Excellent) OC Interview Choice
The Chicago Bears now have three offensive coordinator interviews lined up. The first two were Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak. Now Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen joins the list. As with the other two, this is an excellent plan of attack by head coach Matt Eberflus and GM Ryan Poles. Not only does Coen bring playcalling experience to the table, but he’s also another member of the Sean McVay coaching tree. So he is well-versed in that wide-zone offense Chicago ran under Luke Getsy.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports revealed the Bears plan to interview him at some point in the coming days. Coen spent most of the 2010s bouncing around college gigs before getting his NFL break in 2018 as the Los Angeles Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach. He spent three seasons there before getting the Kentucky job in 2021. That season, quarterback Will Levis enjoyed a breakout year with 31 total touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Coen returned to L.A. as offensive coordinator in 2022. However, after a tough year and uncertainty about McVay’s future, he went back to Kentucky last year.
There, he once again invigorated the offense, helping transfer QB Devin Leary throw 25 touchdowns.
Liam Coen is a proven playcaller.
That is the running them with the Bears’ interview choices thus far. Waldron and Kubiak also have similar experience. Coen is only 38 years old but has already showcased a true knack for the job. Kentucky improved dramatically both times he took over the job in 2021 and 2023. This is a running trend for McVay guys. All of them seem to have an ability to call plays. Waldron proved it up in Seattle. Kevin O’Connell proved it in Minnesota. Matt Lafleur keeps proving it in Green Bay. The Rams head coach has an unbelievable eye for offensive coaching talent.
One thing apparent right away about Liam Coen is his ability to make things easier for his quarterbacks. He coaches them up on pre-snap reads and teaches them how to play fast. Tempo was always something the Bears struggled with under Getsy. Coen also does a good job of balancing the run and pass, keeping defenses honest on what’s coming from snap to snap. He also incorporates a great mix of RPO and under-center concepts. His mixture of college and NFL experience could make him a perfect candidate to develop a future #1 overall pick.