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University of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and co-offensive coordinator Chandler Whitmer.
While the on-field product on offense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should look very much unchanged from 2025 in 2026, behind the scenes things are going to be about as different as they can be.
With new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson comes a sea of change — one that now includes a new quarterbacks coach in Chandler Whitmer, who comes to Tampa Bay after spending 1 season as the co-offensive coordinator at Indiana University.
What Whitmer did in his 1 season with the Hoosiers is what landed him with the Buccaneers. Indiana was the first team in modern college football history to go 16-0 on the way to winning the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Whitmer also helped turn quarterback Fernando Mendoza into a Heisman Trophy winner and the expected No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL draft.
“The Bucs agreed to terms with Chandler Whitmer as their quarterbacks coach, sources tell The Insiders,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on Tuesday. “Whitmer, 34, spent last season Indiana’s co-OC/QB coach, developing Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza on the way to a national title. He had multiple NFL offers but chose Tampa.”
Whitmer, 34 years old, was the offensive pass game specialist for the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, when Robinson was offensive coordinator.
“Sources: Indiana quarterback coach Chandler Whitmer has accepted a job with the Tampa Bay Bucs,” Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel wrote. “Whitmer was Fernando Mendoza’s quarterback coach during this Heisman Trophy season, Whitmer’s lone year at IU … Whitmer has spent three seasons with the Chargers and one with the Falcons prior to coming to Indiana. He also worked at Clemson and Ohio State as a graduate assistant.”
Tampa Bay Gets Full Makeover On Offense
The Buccaneers are getting a full makeover to their coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball after Josh Grizzard was fired after one season after Tampa Bay lost 7 of its last 9 games and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Part of Tampa Bay bouncing back in what should be an ultra-competitive NFC South Division in 2026 is something the coaches really don’t have much control over, and that’s the health of their best players.
While quarterback Baker Mayfield played in every game, he was at way less than 100 percent for most of the second half of the season. After rushing for over 1,000 yards as a a rookie, running back Bucky Irving missed 7 games.
The Buccaneers were also missing a trio of Pro Bowl players for good chunks of the season with injuries; wide receivers Mike Evans (9 games) and Chris Godwin (8 games) as well as left offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs (5 games).
Another promising young wide receiver, Jalen McMillan, missed 13 games with a serious neck injury.
Title Turned Whitmer Into Hot Commodity
Whitmer’s ascension has made him a hot commodity in coaching circles and was cemented by Indiana’s title run and Mendoza’s brilliant play.
“Whitmer is a guy that has an absolutely impeccable resume and he’s worked with some great quarterbacks already,” Sports Illustrated’s Hondo Carpenter said. “It’s just a name you continue to hear, a name that continues to keep coming up in coaching circles.”
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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