The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard after just one season. They find themselves in all too familiar territory, back in the market yet again for a new play caller, as it will be the fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons for Tampa Bay.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield regressed under Grizzard, and the offense became too predictable at times. Even when Tampa Bay finally got healthy at wide receiver at the end of the season, Grizzard failed to utilize the talented playmakers he had at his disposal.
The next offensive coordinator’s top priority will be to help get Mayfield, and the offense as a whole, back to where it belongs as one of the best units in the NFL.
Best candidates for Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator opening
Nate Scheelhaase, Passing Game Coordinator, Los Angeles Rams
Scheelhaase interviewed for the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator opening last offseason before Tampa Bay ultimately chose Josh Grizzard.
Scheelhaase is currently the Rams’ passing game coordinator, and Los Angeles finished with the No. 1 passing offense in the NFL this season. He’s a Sean McVay protégé and previously served as McVay’s “play-drawer,” a role that has become a launching pad for future head coaches.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, and former Bucs offensive coordinator and current Jaguars head coach Liam Coen all drew up plays for McVay before eventually landing head coaching jobs.
At just 35 years old, Scheelhaase has had the benefit of learning from the best offensive coach in football. The Buccaneers have already seen the upside of hiring from the McVay tree, and Scheelhaase looks like the best candidate available for the job.
Mike McDaniel, Former HC
The Dolphins made a stunning decision to fire Mike McDaniel, who is widely regarded as one of the best offensive minds in the NFL.
His scheme is rooted in the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, with the two spending 14 years working together across multiple teams.
Perhaps McDaniel’s greatest strength is his ability to scheme a strong rushing attack — something the Buccaneers could desperately use after falling from the No. 4 rushing offense in 2024 all the way to No. 21 in 2025.
McDaniel will immediately become a sought-after head coaching candidate in this cycle, but if he doesn’t land a job, the idea of staying in Florida and focusing solely on offense could be appealing. Taking the reins of one of the most talented offensive groups in the NFL in Tampa Bay could give him the perfect opportunity to rebuild his stock while taking this Bucs offense to another level.
Todd Monken, Offensive Coordinator, Baltimore Ravens
Monken might not be as young as the other candidates listed, but he’s an experienced leader who brings both offensive coordinator and head coaching experience to the table.
One key detail that could make Monken a frontrunner is his familiarity with both Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers organization. He coached Mayfield with the Browns in 2018 and previously served as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator from 2016 to 2018.
He spent three seasons calling plays for the Baltimore Ravens, during which they averaged over 27 points per game. The Ravens finished with a top-four scoring offense in each of Monken’s first two seasons. While 2025 was his worst year in Baltimore, the offense still ranked 11th in the NFL at 25 points per game, better than the Buccaneers’ 20.5 points per game, and that was with Lamar Jackson missing four games due to injury.
If the Buccaneers decide they want a proven, veteran play caller to maximize their current window, Monken might be the safest option on the market.
Grant Udinski, Offensive Coordinator, Jacksonville Jaguars
Like Scheelhaase, Udinski also interviewed for the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator job last offseason.
Udinski has spent his career around some of the best offensive minds in football. In 2022, he was hired by the Minnesota Vikings as an assistant to head coach Kevin O’Connell. He was promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2023, then elevated again to assistant head coach in 2024.
Still just 30 years old, he left Minnesota last offseason to join the Jacksonville Jaguars as Liam Coen’s offensive coordinator. Being developed under both O’Connell and Coen is extremely valuable experience. While it would be highly unorthodox for him to leave an offensive coordinator job for what would appear to be a lateral move in Tampa Bay, there’s one key difference — he doesn’t currently call plays in Jacksonville.
If Udinski wants to grow his role and call plays for the first time in the NFL, Tampa Bay could give him that opportunity. And perhaps he could bring some of the magic of Coen’s offense back to the Buccaneers after they got a taste of it in 2024.