The coaching changes have begun in Tampa Bay, as they have parted ways with offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, per multiple reports.
The Buccaneers decided to keep Todd Bowles for a fifth season as head coach, but the expectation was that changes would be made to the coaching staff, including at the coordinator level. That put Grizzard squarely on the crosshairs.
Grizzard was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2025 to replace Liam Coen after he was hired as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was previously the pass-game coordinator for the Buccaneers and also spent seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
The Bucs will now look for their fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons, following Byron Leftwich, Dave Canales, Coen and Grizzard.
Tampa Bay finished the season ranked 21st in total offense and 20th in expected points added per play. Quarterback Baker Mayfield finished 10th in passing yards (3,693), but only had two games in the final eight weeks of the season throwing for multiple touchdowns.
Injuries and offensive struggles led to the Buccaneers losing seven out of nine games following a 6-2 start. They missed the playoffs after losing the NFC South in a three-way tie to the Carolina Panthers.
Mayfield will wait to see who he will work with as the Bucs' search gets underway; whoever is hired will be the ninth offensive coordinator Mayfield has played under since coming into the league in 2018 with the Cleveland Browns. He worked with Alex Van Pelt in 2020 and 2021 and had two different stints with Coen, one with the Los Angeles Rams and one with the Buccaneers.
Three possible replacements for Grizzard have been noted by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. They include Rams passing-game specialist Nathan Scheelhaase, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
Scheelhaase is with the Rams in the playoffs, while Monken and Robinson both are free following the firings of John Harbaugh and Raheem Morris, respectively.
The Buccaneers are faced with the challenge of bringing in an offensive coordinator for a head coach whose seat will be warm entering the 2026 season. However, a healthy offense led by Mayfield should entice potential candidate. Mayfield was playing at an MVP level in the first half of the season.
Mayfield will also have a new quarterbacks coach in 2026, as the Buccaneers also let go Thad Lewis. Lewis had been with the Bucs since joining as an intern in 2020 and became quarterbacks coach in 2023.
It's likely whoever is hired as Tampa Bay's new offensive coordinator will pick his own quarterbacks coach.
The Buccaneers also moved on from a number of assistants in addition to Grizzard and Lewis. The Buccaneers parted ways with special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross and defensive line coach Charlie Strong.
"These decisions are always difficult, but the disappointing end to the season required some changes to our coaching staff in order to ensure we live up to the high standards we have set here," head coach Todd Bowles said about the coaching changes.
"These coaches have all put in tremendous amount of work and effort, but unfortunately, the results were not there this past season. Our goal is to compete for championships every year, and it is my responsibility to make these tough decisions in order 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."
In addition, Senior Offensive Assistant and longtime coach Tom Moore and safeties Coach Nick Rapone decided to retire.
Moore coached for 62 years, including nearly 50 years in the NFL. He got his start with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1977 and coached every year since, except for 2018.
He is perhaps best known for his 12 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, working with Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.
"Tom Moore is a legend in the coaching profession, and it has been an honor and a privilege to have him on our staff," Bowles said, via the Buccaneers' official website. "Tom's incredible knowledge and understanding about the game is unmatched and he has served as an invaluable resource for our entire coaching staff over these past seven years. He always offered up unique perspectives and very helpful insights that assisted our coaches with their game preparation, but it will be the personal interactions I had with him every day that I will miss the most."
The Buccaneers are officially entering a very important offseason following these coaching changes, as Bowles is now squarely on the hot seat in 2026.
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