The Buccaneers have fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard after just one season, per multiple reports.
The change comes on the heels of the Bucs confirming Todd Bowles’s return as head coach for the 2026
season despite the team’s disappointing 8-9 finish. The Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud initially reported his retention and added that significant staff changes were coming, of which this move marks the first domino to fall.
Grizzard, 35, was highly regarded in several circles and reportedly maintained an important role on the offense when Liam Coen led the team to franchise-best offensive output in 2024. When the Jacksonville Jaguars hired Coen, the Bucs opted to promote Grizzard for continuity’s sake.
Unfortunately, Grizzard couldn’t come close enough to replicated the top-5 offense seen in 2o24, as the Bucs fell off in basically every major metric, most notable in points per game (22.4, 18th in the league) and red zone efficiency. The team’s offensive Expected Points per Play (EPA) dropped from +0.118 to -0.011, success rate went from 48.9% to 42.1%, and red zone touchdown rate went from 66.7% to 52.8%.
Grizzard isn’t solely to blame, as the team dealt with a rash of injuries to every position group. Baker Mayfield seemed to be much more banged up then he let on, Bucky Irving missed a huge chunk of the year, the receiver corps was decimated, tight end Cade Otton missed multiple games, and the offensive line was down to third-string guards most of the year.
Those are very real challenges for a first-time playcaller, but unfortunately the biggest knock Grizzard likely couldn’t overcome was the team failing to improve in the final stretch despite being healthier than at any other point in the year. In the final 5 games, in which they went 1-4, the team averaged a paltry 20 ppg — 22nd in the league. With a full arsenal of Irving, Rachaad White, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and Emeka Egbuka, that’s simply hard to explain away.
With Bowles on a scorching hot seat to win again in 2026, this change should surprise no one as they will now start the process of hiring a fifth offensive coordinator in five years.
The NFL Network insiders Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport both immediately called attention to Todd Monken and Nathan Scheelhaase as top candidates in the search. Monken, who turns 60 this year, has plenty of familiarity with the Buccaneers organization, having served as OC from 2016-18 and interviewing again for the position in 2023 before accepting the same position with the Ravens.
Scheelhaase, who turns 36 this year, is the opposite end of the spectrum. A rising star under the vaunted Sean McVay coaching tree, which also gave the Bucs Coen, is likely to be a first-time NFL playcaller this year. Holding the vaunted role of pass game specialist and play designer for the Rams, which Coen also did, Scheelhaase did serve as offensive coordinator and playcaller for the Iowa State Cyclones prior to joining the Rams. He interviewed for the Bucs’ OC position last year, so that could be inside track when he’s allowed to interview next week.
The Bucs will likely look to resolve their search quick, as the last two searches took less than 2 weeks. More news on staff changes to come.
