Exchanges of enthusiastic texts reveal QB Baker Mayfield's excitement for Zac Robinson's arrival with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fueling high hopes for their new offensive partnership.
When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired Zac Robinson to be their offensive coordinator, they did so knowing their quarterback would approve.
Baker Mayfield didn't work with Robinson for long, having only spent five games with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, where Robinson was the passing game coordinator before becoming the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator two seasons later.
But in that time, Robinson made an impression on Mayfield that ESPN's Adam Schefter reported it was a factor in Tampa's decision to hire him.
In Robinson's introductory press conference Tuesday, he talked about why Mayfield impresses him, and later Tuesday, Robinson spoke with Tom Krasniqi on WDAE Tampa Bay's Sports Radio and talked about Mayfield's reaction.
Robinson said his quarterback was "fired up" about the hire, and that the two exchanged exclamation-point-filled texts about working together.
“You know, we were both juiced," said Robinson, who noted that opportunities to hook back up with a quarterback he'd previously worked with was rare. "The fact that it worked out this time, man, we are definitely both pumped up."
There are a lot of reasons that Mayfield and the Bucs hope this offensive coordinator hire works out.
For Mayfield specifically, Robinson will be the ninth offensive coordinator he's had in his pro career, which began in 2018, and his fourth in four seasons in Tampa Bay.
Now, Mayfield isn't entirely a victim here.
Two of his first three coordinators in Tampa -- Dave Canales and Liam Coen -- left to become NFL head coaches, and both of them led their teams to division titles in 2025.
At the same time, a better offensive coordinator might have gotten Tampa a division championship this season.
Instead, Tampa fired Josh Grizzard after just a year on the job.
There's a chance Robinson and Mayfield's marriage will be a short one.
If things go well, Robinson could be hired for an NFL head coaching job, as Canales and Coen were after one season.
If things go poorly, then Mayfield, who is an unrestricted free agent after 2026, will probably move on from Tampa Bay, whether that's his choice or the organization's.
In any case, a lot is on the line for pretty much everybody in Tampa Bay's building in 2026, with the head coach being at the top of the list.
Another 8-9 season just isn't going to cut it.
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