Despite Kevin Stefanski's accolades, a prominent insider believes a Buccaneers reunion with Baker Mayfield is highly unlikely.
There is speculation among fans about whether or not the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should move on from head coach Todd Bowles. The Buccaneers finished 8-9 and missed the postseason for the first time since the 2019 season.
That speculation is likely to get even stronger now that the candidate pool includes Kevin Stefanski, who was fired by the Cleveland Browns Monday morning after six seasons as head coach.
Stefanski quickly becomes one of, if not the best candidate in this coaching cycle. He was just stuck in a bad situation in Cleveland. He went 45-56 in six seasons, reaching the playoffs twice and winning one playoff game, the franchise’s only playoff win since 2000.
Given all that, it would make sense for Buccaneers fans to yearn for the two-time Coach of the Year winner. However, one prominent Buccaneers reporter is quickly pouring cold water on that idea.
Greg Auman of FOX Sports took to Twitter Monday to seemingly squash any thoughts of Stefanski coming to Tampa Bay if the job opens up and reuniting with quarterback Baker Mayfield.
“Kevin Stefanski will be one of the top available coaches now that the Browns have move on,” Auman wrote. “Having said that, don’t look for any reunion with Baker Mayfield in Tampa in any role, regardless of what comes open.”
Auman noted that Stefanski and Mayfield have history, but it isn’t necessarily good history. “He’ll be in demand,” Auman said in a twitter reply. “Not a match in Tampa. History with someone doesn’t always mean a good history with someone.
All this could be for naught, anyway. Bowles is scheduled to hold a press conference with the media Monday. One could then assume the Buccaneers are not making a change if Bowles is set to meet with the media. Things can change rather quickly in the NFL.
If the Buccaneers move on from Bowles, they would be among six teams searching for a new head coach, including their division rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, who fired Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot Sunday night, despite the team ending the season on a four-game winning streak and finishing tied atop the NFC South at 8-9. The other teams with head coach openings: Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Browns, Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals.
Bottom line, don’t expect the former Browns head coach to relocate to Tampa Bay anytime soon.