At a Glance
- Lynn Jones, associate editor of the Jacksonville Free Press, told Jaguars coach Liam Coen “congratulations on your success” after the team’s 27-24 wild-card loss to Buffalo on Jan. 11, 2026.
- Critics on X called the exchange inappropriate for a reporter; others praised it as uplifting.
- Sports commentator Pat McAfee defended Jones, blasting “curmudgeon” journalists who “hate sports.”
- Jones, a 25-year Black Press veteran, cited interviews with Barack Obama and Tiger Woods while rejecting “fake media” labels.
Why it matters: The incident spotlights ongoing tension between traditional sports journalism standards and evolving expectations of empathy and access.
A post-game press conference moment has ignited debate after Jacksonville Free Press associate editor Lynn Jones congratulated first-year Jaguars head coach Liam Coen despite his team’s season-ending defeat.
Following Jacksonville’s 27-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 11, 2026, Jones addressed Coen directly.
“I just want to tell you congratulations on your success, young man,” she said. “You hold your head up, alright? You guys have had a most magnificent season.”
She continued, “You keep it going we got another season, okay? Take care and much continued success to you and the entire team.”
Coen, 40, smiled and replied, “Thank you, ma’am.”
Social Media Reaction
Journalists on X quickly split over whether the exchange crossed a professional line.
- Ian Begley, SNY TV Knicks reporter: “Very nice exchange… Wouldn’t call it an exchange between a reporter and the coach, though. Uplifting the head coach after a loss is not part of a sports reporter’s job.”
- Brandon Warne: “This is not awesome. This is called being a cheerleader. Reporters should be in PR if they want to carry on like this.”
- Mark Long, Associated Press: “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.”
Conversely, many users found Jones’ words “wholesome.”
“This healed me and I’m not even a Jags fan,” one wrote. Another added, “That’s the kind of moment sports are made of.”
Pat McAfee Defends Jones
Sports commentator Pat McAfee entered the fray with a lengthy post on X.
“Love seeing these sports ‘journalists’ getting ABSOLUTELY BURIED for being curmudgeon bums… OBVIOUSLY NOT ALL OF THEM but a LARGE % of these things hate sports.. they hate what sports are for people (happiness).. They hate what sports are for society (unifier).. they’re political journalists by nature who’ve preyed on sports because they saw it as an easier path to ‘make it.'”
Jones Fires Back at Critics
Speaking to Jacksonville outlet WJXT, Jones said Coen appeared emotional, prompting her encouragement.
She specifically rebutted Long’s “fake media” jab: “I’ve been in this business more than 25 years. I’ve interviewed from Barack Obama to Terry Bradshaw to Tiger Woods, so he can say whatever he wants about fake news.”
Jones highlighted her credentials:
- Member of the Black Press, NNPA, and the National Newspaper Association
- Associate editor of the Jacksonville Free Press
- One of more than 230 African-American newspapers still printing nationwide
“Support the Black Press. You can call me fake all you want to, honey. I’ve been doing this a long time.”
Jaguars’ Season Recap
Led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence-an MVP dark horse-Jacksonville finished the regular season 13-4 before falling to Josh Allen’s Bills. A dominant defense carried expectations that ended abruptly in the wild-card round.
Key Takeaways
- Jones’ 25-year tenure challenges accusations of inexperience or fandom overriding journalism
- The backlash underscores rigid norms in sports media rooms where neutral questioning is prized
- McAfee’s defense amplifies a growing sentiment that some sportswriters appear disconnected from fan emotion
- The Jacksonville Free Press, founded to serve the Black community, continues legacy media visibility amid scrutiny
