Mike McDaniel and the Buccaneers are a match made in football heaven

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator search is ramping up, and several high-profile names have already been brought in for interviews.

So far, the Bucs have interviewed Falcons Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson, former Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan, Giants Interim Bead Coach Mike Kafka, Lions Passing Game Coordinator, David Shaw, and Cardinals quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork.

Their most intriguing interview, however, is one that will take place later this week, as Tampa Bay is set to host former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel for an in-person meeting regarding the open offensive coordinator position.

Buccaneers can't afford to let Mike McDaniel leave the building without a contract

McDaniel immediately stands out as the best man for the job among this crop of candidates. Around the league, he’s widely regarded as one of the NFL’s premier young offensive minds. He’s earned a reputation as a creative, player-friendly coach whose offensive system elevates quarterback play, creates explosive plays, and maximizes the efficiency of the running game.

Tampa Bay has all the pieces in place to lure in McDaniel. They have a solid quarterback in Baker Mayfield and a star running back in Bucky Irving who would thrive in his scheme. They also boast one of the most talented wide receiver groups in the league and, when healthy, one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.

Mayfield has flashed the ability to be one of the NFL’s better quarterbacks, and in pursuing McDaniel, the Bucs are clearly hoping he can help unlock that level more consistently. There may be no better coach on the market to make that a reality.

And if the surplus of talent on the offensive roster isn’t enough to excite McDaniel, the Bucs also provide a clear opportunity for career growth. With head coach Todd Bowles firmly on the hot seat, if McDaniel does a strong job with the offense but Bowles’ defense underwhelms yet again, McDaniel would have the inside track to the head coaching position in Tampa Bay.

McDaniel also enjoyed his time living in Miami, and coaching in Tampa would allow him to stay in the state of Florida — but this time with a far more talented roster and the opportunity to spend a year focusing solely on the offense, where he thrives, without the pressure that comes with being a head coach.

The McDaniel sweepstakes won’t be an easy one to win, however.

While the Bucs are only interviewing him for their offensive coordinator opening, he’s also lined up for head coaching interviews with the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, and Baltimore Ravens, along with an offensive coordinator interview with the Detroit Lions. He’s also rumored to be at the top of the wishlist for the Philadelphia Eagles and their offensive coordinator opening.

That means the Bucs will have to be willing to enter a bidding war if they want to land the biggest fish in this coaching market.

Last offseason, Tampa Bay reportedly offered Liam Coen between $4–5 million to remain as their offensive coordinator — a deal that would’ve made him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in NFL history. It’s fair to assume they’d need to meet or surpass that figure to reel in a candidate as high-profile as McDaniel, especially if he has head coaching offers on the table.

Luckily for Tampa Bay, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reported that McDaniel would consider a great offensive coordinator situation over a not-great head coaching job. That means an opportunity to run an offense as talented as the Bucs’ could prove more appealing than taking on a full rebuild with a volatile organization like the Browns or Titans.

With Todd Monken, the Bucs’ other rumored top target, likely off the market to join John Harbaugh with the New York Giants, the urgency in Tampa Bay’s search is only increasing.

The Bucs can’t afford to miss on this hire, and Mike McDaniel represents both the highest upside and the most difficult candidate to land. But urgency has a way of forcing bold decisions, and that may be exactly what Tampa Bay needs right now.

If the front office is serious about maximizing a roster that’s far too talented to have performed as inconsistently as it did in 2025, landing one of the NFL’s best offensive minds would be the best move they could possibly make.

In McDaniel, they’d be getting more than just any old coordinator. They’d be making a potential franchise-altering upgrade to their coaching staff that could stabilize the offense now and quietly lay the foundation for him to become the head coach in waiting in Tampa Bay.