HC Lincoln Riley (Oklahoma)
If the Buccaneers want to be trendsetters and land the next offensive genius, they will look to the college ranks. Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley is only 35 years old, but he is the mind behind College Football’s most prolific offense.
He led the Sooners to the College Football Playoff last year and helped turn Baker Mayfield into a star. Last season wasn’t a fluke either; his team continues to light up the scoreboard with two-sport star Kyler Murray in the shotgun.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Riley only has two years of experience with the Sooners and may not have NFL aspirations just yet, but Tampa Bay could try and follow in the footsteps of the Los Angeles Rams and their hire of Sean McVay.
HC Chris Petersen (Washington)
Many football fans are familiar with Chris Petersen, head coach of the Washington Huskies. He has spent the last five seasons in the northwest, turning his program into a perennial powerhouse.
Petersen runs a pro-style offense and has had success everywhere he lands. The jump from college to the pros isn’t all that common anymore, but Petersen seems like a candidate if the situation was right. Look for his name to be rumored a lot this offseason.
Even before his time in Washington, Petersen built Boise State into a strong program. The pinnacle of his success there coming in 2007 when he beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, one of the most memorable games in the history of the sport.