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Josh Grizzard

Buccaneers Promote Josh Grizzard To OC

January 31st, 2025 at 10:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers are set to go internal for their Liam Coen replacement. Josh Grizzard is being promoted to the role of offensive coordinator, Mike Garafolo, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. The move is now official, per a team announcement.

This news does not come as much of a surprise. Grizzard, Tampa Bay’s pass-game coordinator, was recently mentioned as one of the top candidates for the OC gig in the event the team elected to promote from within to replace Coen. He interviewed on Wednesday, and in short order that meeting has now produced an agreement.

Grizzard’s coaching career dates back to Yale, when he worked as an assistant at his alma mater. The 34-year-old also spent time at Duke before beginning his tenure at the pro level. He first joined the Dolphins’ staff in 2019, remaining there until 2023 and occupying several roles along the way. Grizzard joined Todd Bowles last offseason, a move which has now produced his first career coordinator opportunity at any level.

Coen had a strong first season with the Bucs, overseeing a unit which ranked top-four in both passing and rushing yards. That made him a strong head coaching target for the Jaguars in particular, although he appeared to be on track to remain in Tampa Bay for the 2025 season. A new OC deal had been agreed to, on the condition Coen stopped looking into his HC options. He ultimately took part in a secret second interview with the Jags, though, and – after the firing of general manager Trent Baalke – accepted Jacksonville’s offer to lead the team.

That left the Buccaneers in the coordinator market for the second offseason in a row. Dave Canales‘ success during his first (and only) campaign in Tampa Bay earned him the Panthers’ head coaching gig, something which added to the value of Coen being on track to remain in place for more than one year. Instead, the team will now rely on Grizzard to replicate the offense’s balanced production from 2024.

Much of Tampa Bay’s key offensive players are on the books for next season, so expectations will remain high for another NFC South title moving forward. Grizzard’s stock will continue to rise if the Bucs can have success on offense in 2025, although the team will of course wish to avoid needing to replace its OC for three straight years. In any case, it will be interesting to see how Grizzard fares while leading an offense he is already familiar with.

Bowles faced questions about how willing outside OC candidates (of which there were five in this case) would be to take on the position in the wake of the Coen departure. Bowles’ own job security has been a talking point in recent years, but he will remain in the fold for at least 2025. He will hope to enjoy as much success next year with Grizzard as he did with his previous coordinator pick.

Buccaneers Interview Josh Grizzard For OC

January 29th, 2025 at 9:48am CST by Sam Robinson

Rumored as an internal candidate to replace Liam Coen, Josh Grizzard has now completed his first coordinator interview. The Bucs announced they have met with their pass-game coordinator about the job.

This marks Tampa Bay’s first internal meeting about replacing Coen, who backed out of an extension agreement to join the Jaguars as HC. Coen’s decision has left the Bucs searching for a new OC for a third straight offseason. The team fired Byron Leftwich after the 2022 slate and saw Dave Canales leave for the Panthers’ HC job last year. Now, Coen — who yo-yoed between pro and college OC posts for most of this decade — is changing jobs again.

Coen initially brought Grizzard to Tampa, adding him from Mike McDaniel‘s Miami staff. Grizzard, 34, has been in the NFL since 2017; he spent his previous seven seasons with the Dolphins, working under Adam Gase, Brian Flores and then McDaniel. Grizzard moved up from the quality control level to coach Dolphins wide receivers from 2020-21, but McDaniel dropped him back down for the 2022 and ’23 seasons. The Bucs eventually poached him for their pass-game coordinator role.

The Bucs are not expected to allow Coen to bring contracted staffers with him to Jacksonville, as that separation left them feeling burned. GM Jason Licht is rumored to be “furious” at Coen for the way he left, which featured the new Jags HC dodging calls from Bucs brass as he discretely negotiated a deal to leave. As Coen will call plays in Jacksonville, Baker Mayfield will have a sixth play-caller over the past five seasons.

Although Grizzard came to Tampa during Coen’s stopover, the Bucs could ensure some continuity for Mayfield by promoting from within. Of course, Grizzard being on the QC level as recently as 2023 could give the team pause due to experience. Three Rams staffers may be sought for a semblance of continuity as well. Via PFR’s OC/DC Search Tracker, here is where the Bucs’ process stands:

  • Marcus Brady, pass-game coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/25
  • Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/27
  • Josh Grizzard, pass-game coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/29
  • Dave Ragone, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/28
  • Nate Scheelhaase, offensive assistant/passing game specialist (Rams): Interviewed 1/27
  • Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/25

NFC Coaching Rumors: Bucs, Bowles, Kafka, Martindale, Lions, Falcons, Cardinals

January 27th, 2025 at 9:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Liam Coen‘s Buccaneers divorce has become one of the most memorable staff separations in recent years. In addition to the Bucs’ OC search, multiple additional fallout items have emerged from Coen backtracking on an extension agreement to accept the Jaguars’ HC offer. Some around the league are now wondering how willing coordinator candidates will be to join up with Todd Bowles, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones writes. Bowles has evaded firing rumors for multiple seasons, though it was quieter on that front in 2024. While it is a bit odd that he continues to win division titles (3-for-3 in that regard), the rumors about the veteran HC’s murky status in Tampa persist.

On that note, Jones adds the Bucs should not be expected to let any coaches out of their contracts to follow Coen to Jacksonville. Bowles, Jason Licht and assistant GM Mike Greenberg attempted to reach Coen on Thursday, when he was supposed to sign his Bucs extension. Coen had already delayed the signing. The one-and-done Tampa Bay OC had even fibbed about a personal matter to continue his Jags negotiations, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter indicated during a Pat McAfee Show appearance the Bucs were plenty irked about his exit process.

Here is the latest from the NFC side of the coaching carousel:

  • The Bucs have completed four interviews with outside candidates, but an internal Coen replacement option has surfaced as well. Pass-game coordinator Josh Grizzard is on the radar to be promoted, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes. Grizzard, 34, has been in the NFL since 2017 and joined Bowles’ staff to work under Coen. The Bucs thought they had avoided a scenario in which they use a fourth OC in four seasons, via the Coen agreement, and Mayfield will now have a sixth play-caller since the 2021 campaign. An internal promotion would help ensure some familiarity.
  • Mike Kafka is still in the running for the Saints‘ HC job, though Kellen Moore and Mike McCarthy may be more likely to land the job. If the Giants’ OC were to pull an upset and jump from a 3-14 team to another club’s top coaching job, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes he would be expected to bring Wink Martindale with him as DC. Kafka and Martindale worked together in New York for two seasons, before the latter’s explosive 2024 exit. Martindale, who spent the 2024 season as Michigan’s DC, interviewed for the Colts and Falcons’ DC jobs this month.
  • Acting swiftly to fill the void created when Kelvin Sheppard made the jump to replace Aaron Glenn, the Lions are elevating another recent NFL linebacker. Detroit will promote Shaun Dion Hamilton to its LBs coaching post, 247Sports.com’s Matt Zenitz tweets. Hamilton attempted to make the Lions’ active roster in 2022 but instead found a job on their coaching staff. Dan Campbell hired Hamilton, an ex-Washington defender, as an assistant. He moved up to assistant LBs coach in 2023, and at 29, is climbing the ladder again.
  • The Falcons are making two hires for Jeff Ulbrich‘s defensive staff. They added Mike Rutenberg as pass-game coordinator and Nate Ollie as D-line coach. Rutenberg will follow Ulbrich from the Jets, having coached their linebackers for four seasons. The Robert Saleh hire oversaw the development of Quincy Williams from waiver claim to All-Pro, while Ollie was also on Saleh’s first Jets staff. The Colts hired him as D-line coach in 2022, and he landed with the Texans as assistant D-line coach last year.
  • The Cardinals are losing their linebackers coach to a college coordinator role. Virginia Tech hired Sam Siefkes to be its next DC. Jonathan Gannon had hired Siefkes after two years as a Vikings assistant. Prior to that, he had served in the college ranks, heading up Wofford’s defense. Additionally in Arizona, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes the team is not bringing back D-line coach Derrick LeBlanc. On the Dolphins’ staff before heading to Arizona in 2023, LeBlanc had spent nearly two decades at the college level.

2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

January 26th, 2025 at 9:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Last year, half the league changed up at offensive and defensive coordinator. As most HC-needy teams have now filled their open positions, the coordinator carousel has accelerated. Here is how the market looks now. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-21-25 (1:59pm CT)

Offensive coordinators

Chicago Bears (Out: Chris Beatty)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Ken Dorsey)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Brian Schottenheimer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Ben Johnson)

  • John Morton, pass-game coordinator (Broncos): Hired

Houston Texans (Out: Bobby Slowik)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Press Taylor)

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Klint Kubiak)

New York Jets (Out: Nathaniel Hackett)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Promoted

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Ryan Grubb)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Liam Coen)

Defensive coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Jimmy Lake)

Chicago Bears (Out: Eric Washington)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Lou Anarumo)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Mike Zimmer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Aaron Glenn)

  • Larry Foote, inside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Kelvin Sheppard, linebackers coach (Lions): Promoted

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Gus Bradley)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

  • Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach/running game coordinator (Packers): Hired
  • Jonathan Cooley, pass-game coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
  • Patrick Graham, former defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
  • Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/27
  • Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/28

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: DeMarcus Covington)

  • Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/21
  • Terrell Williams, defensive line coach (Lions): Hired

New Orleans Saints (Out: Joe Woods)

New York Jets (Out: Jeff Ulbrich)

  • Chris Harris, former defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/29
  • Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): To be hired

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Nick Sorensen)

Buccaneers Request OC Interview With Rams’ Nate Scheelhaase

January 25th, 2025 at 9:52am CST by Ben Levine

Todd Bowles isn’t wasting any time looking to replace Liam Coen. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Buccaneers requested an interview with Rams coach Nate Scheelhaase for their offensive coordinator job.

[RELATED: Jaguars Hire Liam Coen As HC]

Even just garnering a coordinator interview is a major career step for the fast-rising coach. Scheelhaase had a long run in the college ranks, including a one-year stop as Iowa State’s offensive coordinator. That performance helped him generate some NFL interest, and he ended up joining Sean McVay‘s staff in Los Angeles as an offensive assistant and passing game specialist.

The Rams’ passing offense left a bit to be desired in 2024, as Matthew Stafford‘s touchdown percentage and passing-yards-per-game mark flirted with his career-lows. On the flip side, Scheelhaase and the offensive staff helped squeeze a career-low 1.5-percent interception rate out of the QB (excluding his three-game showing in 2010), and his 50.1-percent passing percentage was the second-best of his career.

In Tampa Bay, Scheelhaase would be tasked with overseeing an offense that finished top-five in both points scored and offensive yards. While Coen got a career year from Baker Mayfield, the quarterback also showed success under former OC Dave Canales. Assuming Mayfield’s resurgence continues, Tampa Bay’s new OC can be confident that they’re inheriting an elite offense.

Scheelhaase lacks experience, but he would provide some continuity with his Rams-inspired offense. Coen was also a product of McVay’s system, and Bowles could look to once again pick from that coaching tree. The Buccaneers could also find that continuity within their current staff, and Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston says both pass-game coordinator Josh Grizzard and pass-game assistant John Van Dam are internal candidates for the gig.

Staff Notes: Raiders, Bears, Bucs, Dolphins

February 15th, 2017 at 9:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

New Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing had a year remaining on his deal, but the contract allowed the ex-quarterbacks coach to interview for other clubs’ offensive coordinator vacancies, according to Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune (Twitter link). Without naming any particular team, Downing confirmed previous reports that multiple clubs expressed interest in hiring him as OC. Instead, Oakland parted ways with former play-caller Bill Musgrave and installed Downing as coordinator.

Here’s more from the 201 hiring cycle:

  • The Bears have interviewed Bob Bicknell, Ronald Curry, and George McDonald as part of their effort to find a new wide receivers coach, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Bicknell has coached wideouts at the NFL level since 2012, spending time with Buffalo, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Curry, a former NFL wide receiver himself, has worked on the Raiders’ and 49ers’ staffs, while McDonald has spent the past several years in the coaching ranks.
  • Ex-Saints defensive assistant James Willis is a candidate for the Bears‘ assistant defensive line coach position and will interview this week, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. New Orleans relieved Willis of his duties last month after he’d spent two years with the club. Willis previously coached in the NCAA with Alabama, Auburn, and Texas Tech.
  • The Buccaneers announced that they’ve hired Danny Breyer as a defensive assistant. Breyer spent the 2016 campaign as an analytics staffer in Tampa Bay, worked for the Dolphins year prior, and coached in the college ranks before heading to the NFL.
  • The Dolphins have hired Josh Grizzard as an offensive quality control coach, tweets Caplan. Grizzard previously worked as an assistant quarterbacks and quality control coach at Duke, where he’d spent the past four years.