A fourth candidate is confirmed to be on the Buccaneers’ post-Liam Coen radar. Nick Caley, who joins Coen in having worked on Sean McVay‘s staff, is in the mix to replace him.
Caley interviewed for the Bucs’ OC post Monday. Caley follows Nate Scheelhaase as Rams assistants to meet with the Bucs about this job. Caley, the Rams’ pass-game coordinator, met virtually with the Bucs about the position.
Although Caley and Coen both come from the McVay tree, the two did not work together in Los Angeles. Caley arrived in L.A. as tight ends coach weeks after Coen returned to be Kentucky’s OC. Most of Caley’s career steps came in New England.
He had interviewed to move up to the Patriots’ OC post in 2023, but the team chose Bill O’Brien. Caley, who had spent eight seasons on Bill Belichick‘s staff, relocated after that decision. The Pats circled back to Caley in 2024, interviewing him twice about the OC position. But Jerod Mayo went with Alex Van Pelt.
The Rams’ TEs coach position has been somewhat of a launching pad in recent years. Thomas Brown had served in that role before becoming the Panthers’ OC; Caley has been a tight ends coach in each of the past eight seasons. The Patriots named Caley as Rob Gronkowski‘s position coach in 2017, and he stayed in that role through the 2022 season. McVay’s orbit has been a good place to fly for aspiring coordinators and HCs, and Caley’s name has now come up for multiple teams once again.
The Jets have shown interest in Caley, to the point he may be their top candidate, but no interview has taken place as of yet. Caley, 41, would be an interesting Bucs option due to his familiarity with McVay’s system. Coen came to Tampa after two stints under McVay, and Baker Mayfield doubled down on his 2023 rebound by throwing 41 touchdown passes and piloting the team back to the playoffs. With the Bucs feeling a bit burned by the way Coen left for Jacksonville, they can at least attempt to foster some continuity by poaching Caley from L.A. But they may be competing with the Jets, and perhaps other teams, to do so.
Baker has had 2 OC’s promoted to HC while Watson has a 2 time HC of the year close to being fired after he couldn’t play? Boy did Cleveland mess that up!
Maybe they’d be able to keep Caley *two* seasons before he becomes a head coach. From what I gather, Caley is seen as a sure thing to interview his way into a head coach job if given the chance.