Were reporter's comments to Jaguars coach too nice after playoff loss?

Did a reporter cross the line of journalistic integrity after the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-24 AFC Wild Card playoff round loss to the Buffalo Bills?

A polarizing discourse among current and former ESPN reporters and TV personalities ensued after longtime Jacksonville Free Press reporter and editor Lynn Jones publicly empathized with the Jaguars' first-year coach, Liam Coen, during the team's postgame press conference on Sunday, Jan. 11.

Jacksonville lost in the final minute after Buffalo's Josh Allen ran in a go-ahead touchdown at 1:04 left in regulation. The Bills advanced to the divisional round. The Jaguars' season ended.

"I just want to tell you, congratulations on your success, young man," Jones said to Coen during post-game media availability. His glum face turned into a smile as she continued, "You hold your head high. You guys have had a most magnificent season. You did a great job out there today. So you just hold your head up, OK?"

Jones continued by bellowing the Jaguars team chant "Duval," which refers to Jacksonville's county name, and more pleasantries to uplift Coen.

"You the one, all right?" Jones said. "You keep it going, we got another season, OK? Take care and much continued success, you and the entire team."

Jacksonville finished 13-4 in the regular season, won the AFC South and earned home-field advantage in the wild card game on Jan. 11 against Buffalo.

#DUUUVALpic.twitter.com/2j94VSA965— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 11, 2026

ESPN's top NFL insider, Adam Schefter, praised the exchange as "awesome" and reposted it on X.

Many of Schefter's current and former ESPN colleagues, including Stan Verrett, Jemele Hill and Dan Patrick called Jones out on X for violating journalistic principles of remaining impartial while covering a team and a story.

"You're not there to be cheering in a press box," Patrick said on his daily NBC Sports show on Monday, Jan. 12. "You're not there to be cheering in a press conference."

Hill criticized the exchange as "strange" and "a little awkward," plus it adds to fans' growing belief that reporters tend to be biased as "homers" in the coverage of their favorite teams.

"One of the first things you learn as a journalist is that you’re not there to be a fan," Hill said. "Because when you have to write or say something critical, it blurs the lines and some coaches start treating you like you work for the team — and you don’t."

Strange. A little awkward. I’m told this reporter represents a community newspaper and has been a staple for multiple decades, so now it makes a little more sense now.

I’m not trying to belabor the point, but people already accuse the media of being biased, homers, etc., and one… https://t.co/WkAyjniVMM— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) January 12, 2026

ESPN's Tampa Bay Buccaneers reporter Jenna Laine discussed the history of females fighting for their place in the male-dominated sports journalism field and how things have changed for them over the past few decades.

"This reporter sounds incredibly sweet and thoughtful. I can tell she comes from a place of love," Laine said. "But if one of us — her female peers — did this after a postseason game in 2007, we would not have been allowed back. Women have fought really hard to be in these spaces."

This reporter sounds incredibly sweet and thoughtful. I can tell she comes from a place of love. But if one of us - her female peers - did this after a postseason game in 2007, we would not have been allowed back. Women have fought really hard to be in these spaces. https://t.co/LMjaAPcSsO— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) January 12, 2026

ESPN NBA reporter Vince Goodwill's hot take held journalists accountable for chiding Jones.

"I find it more… fascinating that folks can eat off the basis of journalism, profit off it, but when actual journalists say 'these are the rules,' the folks choose to dip in and out of journalism," Goodwill said. "Fascinating, tis all."

I find it more… fascinating that folks can eat off the basis of journalism, profit off it, but when actual journalists say “these are the rules”, the folks choose to dip in and out of journalism. Fascinating, tis all.— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) January 12, 2026

Similar to Goodwill, ESPN's Pat McAfee, who hosts a daily morning talk show on the network, slammed Jones' detractors on X and in his Monday episode.

"Love seeing these sports 'journalists' getting absolutely buried for being curmudgeon bums," McAfee wrote. "Obviously not all of them, but a large percentage of these things hate sports. They hate what sports are for people (happiness). They hate what sports are for society (unifier)."

The former Indianapolis Colts kicker continued, "They’re political journalists by nature who’ve preyed on sports because they saw it as an easier path to 'make it.' Their days are numbered. My show being broadcast on ESPN 10 hours a week with zero creative say from any 'journalism school' puppets is living proof of that."

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… pic.twitter.com/KOVLOUwXQ6— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 12, 2026

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ESPN debates Jaguars reporter pitying coach after playoff loss