Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is lining up a prospective coaching staff in the event that he gets the Bucs head coaching job or any other head coaching job in the NFL, Alex Marvez of NFL.com tweets. PFT first reported (on Twitter) that Koetter was telling assistants that he had been given the top job in Tampa, but Mike Florio has since walked that report back (link). 
[RELATED: PFR’s 2016 NFL Head Coaching Tracker]
Koetter has been identified as the leading candidate for the Bucs’ head coaching position ever since the team canned Lovie Smith. On Tuesday, Koetter had his first official sit-down with Bucs brass, though he has apparently discussed the head coaching job with the team before.
As Pro Football Rumors’ 2016 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker shows, Koetter was among the baker’s dozen of known candidates for the Dolphins’ head coaching job before the gig went to Adam Gase. Presumably, the Bucs are happy with the work Koetter has done with No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston and losing Koetter could be detrimental to his development.
Under Koetter’s guidance in 2015, the Bucs averaged 375.9 yards per game, good for 5th in the NFL. Tampa Bay also placed 5th in rushing yards per contest with 135.1 yards on the ground per game. With Koetter calling the plays, running back Doug Martin managed to get back to his old form while 2014 third-round pick Charles Sims made great contributions as a pass-catching option.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.