Can Mike McDaniel or Brian Daboll Fix the Buccaneers' Run Game?

The search for a new offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has so far included Brian Callahan, Zac Robinson, Todd Monken, Mike Kafka and David Shaw. But no matter who ultimately takes the job, the offensive scheme will need to fit what the Buccaneers have in place on offense.

With the firing of offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and the return of head coach Todd Bowles in 2026, the Buccaneers’ fifth OC in the last five years will come in looking to revive a once potent offense that limped to the end of this season and missed the playoffs.

Injuries played a major factor in 2025, most glaringly along the offensive line. Although many offensive weapons missed time to injury, the new coordinator will have an experienced corps to work with as nearly the entire offense will be back. 

The Buccaneers’ focus should be aimed at a new offensive coordinator who can adjust to their strengths, which has been the rushing attack.

In 2024, behind offensive linemen Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke, Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton and Cody Mauch, Tampa Bay rushed for more than 2,500 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. The line was also No. 4 in the NFL in Win Block Percentage (70.21), No. 6 in the league in Run Block Percentage (73) and No. 5 in yards before contact per attempt (1.62). Wirfs, Goedeke, Bredeson, Barton and Mauch had a combined 79 starts.

This past season, those numbers dropped dramatically as Wirfs, Goedeke, Bredeson, Barton and Mauch only combined for 53 starts. As a team, the Buccaneers rushed for 1,947 yards and just 4.1 yards per carry. Because of injuries the offensive line dropped to No. 16 in the NFL in Win Block Percentage (67.21), No. 26 in Run Block Percentage (70) and No. 17 in yards before contact per attempt (1.43).

Presuming all get healthy in the offseason, the Buccaneers will have an experienced offensive line with a proven track record of run blocking for dynamic running back Bucky Irving, who played in 10 games this season due to injuries.

Two names that might seem like long shots for Tampa Bay -- because both men are under consideration for head-coaching openings -- are former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll. Although both are known for developing quarterbacks, they also have overseen productive running games as offensive coordinators and head coaches.

The Buccaneers are set to interview McDaniel on Friday.

Before becoming head coaches in 2022, McDaniel and Daboll were notable top offensive coordinators who had led their respective teams, the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, to the playoffs in 2021. That season McDaniel’s Niners rushed for more than 2,100 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 22 rushing touchdowns, but fell in the NFC Championship game.

Under Daboll, Buffalo rushed for more than 2,200 yards on the season and had 20 rushing TDs, but lost in the AFC divisional round. As head coaches the ultimate results were mixed — and both were fired this season — but there were flashes during their tenures.

In 2023, McDaniel’s Dolphins offense rushed for more than 2,300 yards (5.1 ypc) and an eye-popping 27 rushing touchdowns. In 2022, Daboll won Coach of the Year with the help of his offense's 2,500-plus rushing yards and 21 rushing TDs.

The smart move for the Buccaneers might be to wait and see. If neither end up as head coaches in this coaching cycle, Tampa Bay could be the place for one of them to revive their coaching careers without having to develop a quarterback.

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