The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fresh off a disappointing 8-9 season and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019, are holding their end-of-season review. Five coaches have been fired and two coaches will retire as part of the coaching staff changes.
Many are disappointed that head coach Todd Bowles was not among the coaches asked to turn in their keys. After a meeting with the team owners on Wednesday, Bowles was told he would be back for one more season, but that changes to the coaching staff would be needed.
First to go was offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, who was fired after one year on the job. Granted, the offense had a horrendous year from an injury standpoint, but in the last three games, when all the Buccaneers receivers and running backs were healthy, execution was still subpar.
In addition to Grizzard, special teams coach Thomas McGaughey was given his walking papers after one of the worst performances of a special teams unit in recent memory. How bad was it? In the last two games of the season, kickoffs were kicked out of the end zone to avoid giving up a long return. The team had zero confidence that it could tackle and eliminate long kickoff returns, so rather than take that chance, it let the opponents start at the 35-yard line. Punter Riley Dixon had two blocked punts, and kicker Chase McLaughlin had three field goal attempts blocked.
Quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis, defensive line coach Charlie Strong, and defensive backs coach Kevin Ross are also out after the firing purge. Strong, the former USF coach, dealt with injuries to Kalijah Cancey and draft pick David Walker all season. The Buccaneers defense had just 38 sacks this season, the lowest total in six years. The secondary finished in the bottom third of the league, giving up 254 passing yards per game. They also allowed 36 touchdowns.
Safety coach Nick Rapone, 69, and long-time NFL assistant and offensive consultant Tom Moore, 87, announced their retirements.
Todd Bowles issued this statement regarding the changes to the coaching staff: “These decisions are always difficult, but the disappointing end to the season required some changes to our coaching staff to ensure we live up to the high standards we have set here.
Bowles continued by saying, “Our goal is to compete for championships every year, and it is my responsibility to make these tough decisions to reach those expectations. I want to thank these coaches for all that they have contributed to our success over the years, and I wish them well.”
Grizzard had been with the Bucs as a passing game coordinator and a third-down specialist. Grizzard was promoted to OC, replacing Liam Coen, who took the job as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Buccaneers started the season 6-2, but went 1-7 the rest of the way, missing the playoffs. The offense ranked 17th in scoring (23 points per game) and 23rd in YPG (315 yards per game).
Bowles will now be hiring the fifth offensive coordinator since the 2022 season.
Some names to keep in mind are:
-Nate Scheelhaase, Rams Pass game coordinator
-Todd Monken, former Ravens/Bucs OC
-Zac Robinson, former Falcons OC
-Kliff Kingsbury, former Cardinals/Commanders OC
-Mike McDaniel, former Dolphins HC
-Brian Daboll, former Giants HC
-Tommy Rees Browns OC
This will be quarterback Baker Mayfield’s ninth offensive coordinator in his professional career. Despite the offense floundering in the second half of the season, this is still a good job for an OC, working with Mayfield, and given that the Buccaneers play in the weakest division in football, the NFC South.