The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ search for a new offensive coordinator is heating up, and former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has quickly emerged as the top name on many fans’ wish lists. What once felt like a pipe dream is now starting to look a lot more realistic.
A laundry list of teams have shown interest in McDaniel as a head coaching candidate, but Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reported that McDaniel would consider a strong offensive coordinator opportunity over a less-than-ideal head coaching vacancy.
That’s where the Buccaneers come in. With one of the NFL’s most talented offensive cores, Tampa Bay would clearly qualify as a premier landing spot for an offensive coordinator, but they’re far from the only team that fits that criteria.
The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t interviewed McDaniel yet, but he’s reportedly at the top of their wish list. He’s also scheduled to interview with the Los Angeles Chargers this week, a job that comes with the rare opportunity to coach one of the league’s best quarterbacks in Justin Herbert.
The Detroit Lions, however, were expected to be Tampa Bay’s biggest competition in the McDaniel sweepstakes. Instead, they made a shocking decision by passing on him in favor of former Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing -- a shocking move that suddenly opens the door for the Buccaneers in a very real way.
Lions hiring Drew Petzing just opened the door for Buccaneers to land Mike McDaniel
The Detroit Lions were objectively the most talent-rich offensive roster available in this hiring cycle and appeared to be the top destination for offensive coordinator candidates.
With Detroit now out of the picture, the Buccaneers have a legitimate case as the best remaining landing spot still hiring. After all, they already have an established quarterback in Baker Mayfield. A wide receiver room featuring Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan is among the deepest in the NFL. When healthy, an offensive line led by All-Pro Tristan Wirfs is one of the league’s best. And then there’s the explosive upside of Bucky Irving in the backfield.
To further fuel the excitement of Bucs fans, Sports Illustrated's NFL Insider Albert Breer is speculating that despite a plethora of head coaching options on the table, he foresees McDaniel taking an offensive coordinator job, with Tampa Bay being the potential fit.
Albert Breer on Mike McDaniel: https://t.co/hRyWwTkoBG pic.twitter.com/mzb0VbOwLg
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 19, 2026
"Mike McDaniel has made the rounds, and if I had to guess, he’ll probably wind up as an offensive coordinator in the next week or so. I’ve heard Tampa Bay could be a good spot for him, and that, if he does a good job, he could be set up to be Todd Bowles’s eventual successor."Albert Breer
Breer isn't the only insider linking McDaniel to the Bucs. ESPN's Jeff Darlington has been linking McDaniel to the Tampa Bay vacancy since early in the hiring process.
The reasoning makes plenty of sense. Accepting the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator vacancy would allow McDaniel to remain in Florida, where he’s been since 2022, while also stepping into a more talented, playoff-ready situation.
The job would also present a clear path toward career growth. Todd Bowles is firmly on the hot seat after the Buccaneers’ disastrous 2025 season, and if McDaniel were to come in and elevate the offense, he’d quickly position himself as the frontrunner to take over as head coach in the near future.
Still, the market remains highly competitive. McDaniel remains in the mix for head coaching opportunities with the Ravens, Browns, Titans, and Raiders, and is expected to be a potential candidate for the Bills’ job after they parted ways with Sean McDermott. He also still has interest from the Chargers and Eagles for their offensive coordinator openings.
Still, with one of the most attractive competing destinations now off the board, and with insiders like Breer and Darlington continuing to link McDaniel to Tampa Bay, it’s hard not to get excited about the potential pairing.