Last year, as he made his transition into becoming the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, Liam Coen tried to poach two important O-line coaches from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ staff to bring with him. Now, almost a year later, he’s got one of them.
Brian Picucci, who was elevated to the role of Bucs’ offensive line coach in 2025 after Coen’s departure, was just hired by his former offensive coordinator to take over the running game coordinator role. He will now oversee one of the NFL’s most underrated backfields with Travis Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten.
A Coaching Connection Years in the Making
Picucci’s hiring will probably not surprise many in the league’s various circles as both have built a football relationship unlike any other in the NFL. Besides both working for the Bucs in 2024, they both worked for the Kentucky Wildcats, where Picucci was a quality control coach.
Most shockingly though, is that Picucci was on the staff of the UMass team that was led by Coen at the quarterback position from 2004-2008. They also reunited when they were both coaching at the University of Maine in 2016-17.
The main reason that Coen poached Picucci away from the Bucs was because he saw an opportunity to elevate the run game. What started out as one of the best rushing attacks in the league, ranking as high as second early in the season, plummeted to 18th by season’s end, only averaging about 117.2 yards per game on the ground.
A Calculated Gamble for Both Franchises
While Picucci did not oversee running backs in his time with the Bucs, when he and Coen were working together, the Bucs’ offense was humming. In 2024, they ranked third in total offense, fourth in points scored and fourth in rushing.
For Bucs fans, it’s kind of a bizarre loss, as it doesn’t seem as if this will necessarily affect how Bowles and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson choose to rebuild their staff. Also, it wasn’t entirely Picucci’s fault that the O-line play around Baker Mayfield deteriorated. Injuries to key linemen such as Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke, and Tristan Wirfs did not help in that department.
Still, it forces Robinson’ hand now as he has to reconsider certain pieces of his staff, especially when it comes to the offensive line. In order for the Bucs to get back to their offensive level from two years ago, they need better protection around Mayfield, so it is paramount Robinson gets the hire right.
For the Jags, it shows that the persistence of Coen is key as he continues to build a staff that will set the franchise up for long term success. His staff for 2026 is starting to take shape, even with rumors that offensive coordinator Grant Udinski could become a head coach elsewhere. It also opens up the door for other Bucs assistants to potentially leave the team for pastures new.
All in all, this could be a move that helps both teams: the Jags as they continue to build a potent offense and the Bucs as they look to reset after a difficult season.
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