A seasoned journalist who faced a fierce online backlash for comments made to Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen has robustly defended her actions, stating she takes 'no offence' from the criticism.
The Viral Exchange That Sparked Controversy
The incident occurred following the Jaguars' playoff defeat to the Buffalo Bills in January 2026. During the post-game press conference, Lynn Jones-Turpin, associate editor of the Jacksonville Free Press, chose not to ask a question. Instead, she directly addressed the first-year head coach, saying: ‘You hold your head up. You guys have had a most magnificent season.’
This departure from the typical interrogative style of sports journalism prompted an immediate and angry reaction from some quarters of the NFL media corps. Critics accused her of 'cheerleading' and wasting a valuable opportunity to question Coen on the specifics of the loss.
A Defence Built on Decades of Experience
In response to the uproar, Jones-Turpin has now publicly addressed her detractors, leaning on her substantial career to justify her approach. ‘There are no rules, I said what I wanted and I have no qualms about it,’ she told News4Jax.
She emphasised her more than 25 years in journalism, listing interviews with high-profile figures from Barack Obama to Tiger Woods. Crucially, she framed her work within the context of the Black press, of which she is a proud representative.
‘I am a member of the Black press in NNPA, the National Newspaper Publishers Association, that has been around more than 100 years,’ Jones-Turpin stated. ‘I’m the associate editor of Jacksonville Free Press, one of more than 230 African American newspapers still printing in this country today.’
Reactions and the 'Fake Media' Accusation
The criticism reached a peak when Associated Press reporter Mark Long described the act as having nothing 'awesome' about it, calling it 'a waste of time' and suggesting it was 'embarrassing' for those who granted her credentials. He implicitly branded her part of the 'fake media'.
Jones-Turpin's retort was dismissive and confident: ‘He can call me fake all you want to, honey. I have been doing this a long time. People know me.’ She also detailed her long connection to the Jaguars organisation, having worked as an administrative assistant for the team back in 1995, and at the Jacksonville Free Press since 2008.
She found a prominent ally in ESPN host Pat McAfee. He supported her publicly, labelling many of her critics 'curmudgeon bums' and arguing that a 'large percentage' of sports journalists 'hate what sports are for people (happiness)'. McAfee concluded by thanking Jones-Turpin directly, urging society to stop taking such negative voices seriously.
The episode has ignited a broader conversation about tone, access, and diversity within sports media, highlighting the distinct perspective and historic role of the Black press in American journalism.
