{"id":683329,"date":"2026-01-17T03:41:37","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T03:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/683329\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T03:41:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T03:41:37","slug":"bucs-2026-offensive-coordinator-interview-tracker-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/683329\/","title":{"rendered":"Bucs 2026 Offensive Coordinator Interview Tracker"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Bucs have already been busy this offseason searching for their next offensive coordinator after firing Josh Grizzard. Grizzard was the latest one-year play-caller for Tampa Bay, as head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht have found it to be an annual tradition to interview a host of candidates and select one as the next man up.<\/p>\n

After firing Byron Leftwich in 2022, the team went on to hire Dave Canales in 2023, Liam Coen in 2024, and Grizzard in 2025. With bright offensive minds in short supply across the NFL, and Bowles being a defensive-minded head coach, selecting the right person becomes that much more crucial.<\/p>\n

For instance, Coen\u2019s impact coincided with the Bucs having a 10-win season in 2024 and quarterback Baker Mayfield having a career year. The run game was revived, and the points per game reached 2020-2021 levels when Tampa Bay was competing for (and winning) the Lombardi trophy.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of names on the market for this gig, and Pewter Report will update this post with which candidates the Bucs plan on interviewing in the coming days and weeks until the offensive coordinator position is filled.<\/p>\n

Check back often on PewterReport.com<\/a> for the most recent news and updates.<\/p>\n

LATEST UPDATE: January 16th at 9:45 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

Most Recent Bucs Offensive Coordinator Candidate News
\nUPDATE: Former Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel<\/p>\n

Although Mike McDaniel has been a busy man interviewing across the league for various head coaching jobs, he took time on Friday to meet with Tampa Bay for the team\u2019s offensive coordinator job. The team officially announced the highly anticipated meetup in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

We’ve completed an interview with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel for our offensive coordinator position.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

McDaniel has been a hot commodity since he was let go of in Miami, interviewing for head coaching vacancies with the Browns, Falcons, Titans and Ravens as well as an interview for the open offensive coordinator position with the Lions. In addition, he also is scheduled to meet with the Chargers early next week<\/a> for their offensive coordinator position.<\/p>\n

\"Dolphins<\/p>\n

Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel \u2013 Photo by: IMAGN Images \u2013 Sam Navarro Bucs<\/p>\n

McDaniel was 35-33 over four seasons in Miami. His offense was prolific at times, ranking second in points per game, first in yards per game and fourth in EPA\/play in 2023. Those marks all fell in subsequent years as he dealt injuries and inconsistent play at the quarterback position. He is known for his innovative mind on the offensive side of the ball, including ushering in the recent wave of fast-snap motion that has taken over the league.<\/p>\n

UPDATE: Ravens Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken<\/p>\n

Todd Monken interviewed with the Bucs in-person on Wednesday, with the team announcing the news last night.<\/p>\n

We’ve completed an interview with Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken for our open OC position.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The 59-year-old has plenty of offensive experience, the latest being as the Ravens offensive coordinator for the past three seasons. While he has orchestrated high-powered attacks led by quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, he spent time in Tampa Bay as an offensive coordinator already in 2016-2018 under former head coach Dirk Koetter.<\/p>\n

Monken also overlapped with quarterback Baker Mayfield for a season with the Browns in 2019 and is the most intriguing name of all the options mentioned below. Will he return to town as the offensive play-caller, or will he again turn down a potential job with the Bucs like he did in 2023? One variable that will be a factor against his return is the news that John Harbaugh will be the next coach of the Giants and is likely to bring Monken with him<\/a>.<\/p>\n

UPDATE: Giants Interim Head Coach Mike Kafka<\/p>\n

On Tuesday morning, the Bucs announced that they have completed a virtual interview with Mike Kafka.<\/p>\n

We’ve completed a virtual interview with New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka for our OC position.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Kafka started last season as the Giants offensive coordinator and ended it as the interim head coach after Brian Daboll was fired. Kafka oversaw rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart take the reins and provide plenty of reason to be excited about the future in New York. Still, he will not return as the team searches for its next head coach.<\/p>\n

\"Giants<\/p>\n

Giants Interim HC Mike Kafka \u2013 Photo by: IMAGN Images \u2013 Kevin Wexler<\/p>\n

Kafka has moved up the coaching ranks after being the Chiefs quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator from 2018-2021. He worked with Patrick Mahomes at the rise of him becoming an elite quarterback, and as a former quarterback who once played in Tampa Bay, there are connections to be made here. Still just 38 years old, he checks a lot of boxes that teams have at offensive coordinator.<\/p>\n

Falcons Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson<\/p>\n

After it was reported that Zac Robinson was set to interview with the Bucs, the team announced on Sunday evening that they completed a virtual interview with the Falcons offensive coordinator.<\/p>\n

We’ve completed a virtual interview with Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson for our open OC position.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Spending two years in Atlanta, Robinson worked under head coach Raheem Morris during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The Falcons had the league\u2019s 13th-ranked (22.9 ppg) scoring offense in 2024, but the unit fell to 24th (20.8 ppg) this past season as the team went 8-9 in back-to-back seasons, which cost Morris his job.<\/p>\n

Like former Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Robinson has roots in Sean McVay\u2019s Los Angeles Rams offense. Robinson spent five seasons with McVay, elevating from the Rams assistant quarterbacks coach to passing game coordinator\/QB coach before calling plays for the first time in Atlanta in 2024. Robinson was the Rams quarterbacks coach when Baker Mayfield was in L.A. for the end of the 2022 season. Those connections were enough to land an interview, but it remains to be seen if he impressed enough to get the job.<\/p>\n

Cardinals Quarterbacks Coach Israel Woolfork<\/p>\n

Israel Woolfork, along with Lions pass game coordinator David Shaw, have already met with the Bucs over virtual interviews.<\/p>\n

We’ve completed interviews with David Shaw, Detroit Lions Passing Game Coordinator, and Israel Woolfork, Arizona Cardinals Quarterbacks Coach, for our offensive coordinator position.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Woolfork, 35, began his coaching career in the NFL in 2022 with the Browns after receiving the team\u2019s Bill Willis Coaching Fellowship, then he was hired by Jonathan Gannon in 2023 to be the Cardinals\u2019 quarterbacks coach.<\/p>\n

While in Arizona, Woolfork worked with quarterback Kyler Murray upon his return from the reserve\/PUP list in 2023 until veteran Jacoby Brissett eventually took over for Murray as the starter during the 2025 season. Under Woolfork\u2019s tutelage, Murray and Brissett combined to throw for 4,328 yards and 29 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Still ripe as an offensive mind, Tampa Bay could elect to get ahead of the curve with someone who has quickly shot up the coaching ranks.<\/p>\n

Lions Pass Game Coordinator David Shaw<\/p>\n

David Shaw has a lengthy coaching background and is among the more experienced options out there for a potential offensive coordinator job. Shaw, 53, started coaching in the NFL in 1997 as the Eagles\u2019 offensive quality control coach. From there, he served in that same role for the Raiders from 1998 through 2000.<\/p>\n

\"Lions<\/p>\n

Lions pass game coordinator David Shaw \u2013 Photo by: IMAGN Images \u2013 Junfu Han<\/p>\n

In 2001, he was Oakland\u2019s quarterbacks coach under former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden, then he took on the role of quarterbacks and wide receivers coach with the Ravens from 2002 through 2004. He was the Ravens\u2019 wide receivers coach again in 2005, then he returned to the college ranks and served as San Diego\u2019s pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2006.<\/p>\n

Then came a long stint with Stanford, where Shaw was first the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Cardinal from 2007 through 2009 before spending 2010 as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach. He then became Stanford\u2019s head coach in 2011 and served in that role through 2022.<\/p>\n

Coming back to the league with the Lions, he was a part of an offense that ranked fifth in both points per game (28.3) and yards per game (373.2) while ranking third yards per play (5.97), passing yards per game (253.1) and interception percentage (1.37%). They also had the NFL\u2019s eighth-best red zone offense. His time in various roles, including as a college head coach for over a decade, makes him a qualified option for the Bucs offensive coordinator position.<\/p>\n

Former Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan<\/p>\n

Brian Callahan was the first name linked to the Bucs offensive coordinator position. Callahan led off the interview process, with Tampa Bay meeting with the former Titans head coach virtually.<\/p>\n

We’ve completed a virtual interview with former Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan for our offensive coordinator position.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Callahan, 41, was fired six games into his second season as Tennessee\u2019s head coach. After finishing his 2024 debut season at 3-14 \u2013 a finish that landed the Titans the No. 1 pick in the 2025 Draft, which they spent on quarterback Cam Ward \u2013 Callahan started 1-5 in this past season. He was then fired, making for a combined 4-19 record as the team\u2019s head coach.<\/p>\n

\"Titans<\/p>\n

Titans QB Cameron Ward and former HC Brian Callahan \u2013 Photo by: USA Today<\/p>\n

Prior to his 23-game stint as the head coach of the Titans, Callahan served as Zac Taylor\u2019s offensive coordinator with the Bengals from 2019-2023. However, Taylor was the team\u2019s play-caller, with Callahan having a role in designing the offense and helping with the game plan each week. When he took the Titans\u2019 job, Callahan called plays during the 2024 season and started the 2025 season by calling them only to hand over those duties after three games.<\/p>\n

During his time in Cincinnati working with Taylor and quarterback Joe Burrow (from 2020-2023), Callahan was part of two AFC North-winning teams, as well as two AFC Championship Game appearances and a Super Bowl appearance.<\/p>\n

Between 2021 and 2023, the Bengals offense was top 10 in a number of categories, finishing sixth in points per game (24.9), seventh in passing (250.8 yards per game), seventh in red zone efficiency (61.5%), 10th in third-down percentage (41%) and sixth in time of possession (31:00). Callahan has experience calling plays, but how teams view his time with the Titans will determine his coaching future.<\/p>\n