As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off their search for a new offensive coordinator to replace Josh Grizzard, Todd Monken was one of the names at the top of the candidates list.
Monken spent the last three seasons calling plays for the Baltimore Ravens, overseeing one of the league’s most dangerous offenses, including an MVP campaign for Lamar Jackson. He previously served three years as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator from 2016–2018, and was also Tampa Bay’s top choice for the job back in 2023 before turning it down to go to Baltimore.
To many, Monken was the best man for the job. Factoring in his years of playcalling experience, his previous stint in Tampa Bay that included working with Mike Evans, and his time working with Baker Mayfield in Cleveland, he felt like a perfect fit.
At the end of the regular season, head coach John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens parted ways, a development that immediately cast doubt on Monken’s availability with the expectation he’d follow Harbaugh to his next destination. Still, the Buccaneers hosted Monken for an in-person interview on Wednesday. Later that same day, it was reported that Harbaugh was finalizing a deal to become the head coach of the New York Giants. While nothing is official yet, all signs point to Monken sticking with Harbaugh and heading to New York.
Now, Tampa Bay is scrambling. Options to fill the position are dwindling, and competition is high with plenty of other teams showing interest in the same candidates.
Best candidates still available for Bucs offensive coordinator position
Mike McDaniel, Former Dolphins Head Coach
After being fired by the Miami Dolphins, McDaniel quickly became one of the biggest names in this year’s coaching cycle. He’s already landed head coaching interviews with the Falcons, Browns, Titans, and Ravens, along with an offensive coordinator interview with the Lions, making him one of the most sought-after offensive minds available.
Still, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reported that McDaniel would consider a great offensive coordinator job over a not-so-great head coaching opportunity, which keeps the door open for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are hosting him for an in-person interview this week.
Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel will interview for the Bucs’ OC job Friday. He would consider a great OC opportunity better than a not-great head coaching vacancy.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 14, 2026
From a football standpoint, the fit makes too much sense. McDaniel would inherit one of the league’s most talented offensive cores, and his scheme could help Mayfield take another step forward as a quarterback. His biggest strength is designing dominant rushing attacks, and Bucky Irving has the talent to thrive in his system.
There’s also a clear career upside. With Todd Bowles firmly on the hot seat, a strong season running the Bucs offense could put McDaniel on the fast track to a head coaching job in Tampa Bay.
Nathan Scheelhaase, Rams Passing Game Coordinator
Scheelhaase is currently the Rams’ passing game coordinator and helped oversee the NFL’s best passing offense this season. While he doesn’t bring play-calling experience, a major quality the Bucs are prioritizing in their search, his time coaching under Sean McVay still makes him an intriguing option.
His role as McVay’s “play-drawer” 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 held similar roles before landing head coaching jobs.
Tampa Bay hasn't requested an interview with Scheelhaase yet in this coaching cycle, but they interviewed him last offseason so they already have a good idea of him as a candidate.
Scheelhaase has already drawn interest from the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, who have both requested to interview him for their head coaching vacancies. Many around the league view him as one of the next big rising stars in the coaching world, and the Buccaneers would be wise not to miss out on a candidate of his caliber.
Zac Robinson, Former Falcons Offensive Coordinator
Robinson has called a Falcons offense that has given Tampa Bay fits over the last few years. The Falcons were 3-1 against the Bucs over the past two seasons, and Robinson’s offense was a big reason why.
He also briefly worked with Mayfield during his short stint with the Los Angeles Rams, where Robinson served multiple roles under McVay including quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport has reported that Robinson a strong candiate for the Bucs job.
Former #Falcons OC Zac Robinson is flying to Detroit to interview for the vacant #Lions OC job on Thursday, sources say. Robinson, a strong candidate with the #Bucs, has a successful history with Jared Goff from their time in LA. pic.twitter.com/1SwESWgsFH
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 15, 2026
In addition to Tampa Bay, Robinson is also interviewing with the Detroit Lions for their offensive coordinator vacancy. In 2025, his Falcons offense ranked 14th with 333 yards per game and finished 8th in rushing, but the offense ranked 24th in scoring with only 20.8 points per game despite a very talented core.
His results in Atlanta were solid, but not overly inspiring. Still, Robinson’s experience with Mayfield, combined with his experience coaching in the NFC South, makes him an intriguing fit for the opening in Tampa Bay.