On Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will officially interview in person one of their top targets for the offensive coordinator vacancy left behind by 2025 play calling flop Josh Grizzard, as Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken is looking for a new job after his team canned John Harbaugh after more than a decade, including a Super Bowl victory in 2012 with Joe Flacco under center.
Monken has earned a lot of criticism for not getting the most out of generational quarterback talent Lamar Jackson, with the Ravens failing to make the playoffs this season. But Monken was hailed as a great offensive coordinator before the annoyance of many missed opportunities set in for Ravens fans, and there is every chance that a change in scenery brings Monken back up the ranks as one of the best offensive coordinators in the NFL.
Baker Mayfield briefly worked with Monken as his offensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns in 2019, and while that was overall a very forgettable year for the Browns, Monken, interestingly enough, worked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator just before his time in Cleveland.
Todd Monken left a lasting impression on one Buc
Although Mayfield may not have much to remember Monken by, Tampa Bay Buccaneers star No. 2 wide receiver Chris Godwin surely does. Godwin had his breakout season in his second year in the NFL with Monken as a wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator for the Bucs, churning out 59 catches for 842 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging an ultra efficient nine yards per target as probably the best No. 3 wide receiver in the NFL that season.
Maybe the Penn State alumn would have broken out whether or not Monken was there; he probably would have. But it does not change the fact that Godwin had his breakout season under Monken and then went on a positive trajectory thereafter, nailing 86 catches for 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns a year lafter to set career highs.
Godwin and the wide receivers on the Bucs are much better than the crew Monken had last season with Baltimore, and that is something working both in his and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers favor when it comes to the partnership. Jackson and Monken got blamed for the ills of a group of very overrated Ravens receivers with poor character, whereas the Bucs have hard working, selfless, and very taletned wideouts who are just waiting to be coached by a better coordinator than Grizzard. Monken has flaws and may not be the best fit for Baker, but the wideouts will love him - and that might end up being the best fit for Baker regardless.