The Bucs announced on Wednesday that they have completed a second interview with Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher for their vacant offensive coordinator job. This interview was done in person after Pitcher’s previous interview was done virtually.

The Bucs fired former offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, a move first forecast by Pewter Report, following a 31-14 loss to the Cowboys in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Leftwich was fired after the Bucs’ scoring plummeted from 30 points per game in 2020 and 2021 to just 18.4 points per game in 2022, which ranked 25th in the league.

The 36-year old Pitcher, who has no previous play-calling experience, has served as the Bengals quarterbacks coach, overseeing the development of Pro Bowler Joe Burrow, from 2020-22. Prior to that, Pitcher was the Bengals assistant receivers coach in 2019 and was an offensive assistant from 2016-18. Pitcher joined the Bengals after a four-year stint with the Colts as a scouting assistant (2012-13) and a pro scout (2014-15).

Pitcher Is One Of 7 To Interview For Bucs OC Position

Bengals QBs coach Dan Pitcher – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay interviewed several offensive coordinator candidates including Denver quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak, Minnesota wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell, New York Giants quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney, Jacksonville passing game coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, New Orleans passing game coordinator Ronald Curry and Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken in addition to Pitcher, who has interviewed twice with the team.

The appeal with Pitcher is that he has spent time working with a young quarterback like Burrow and Tampa Bay has a young quarterback to develop in Kyle Trask, a former second round pick in 2021. Trask is the only quarterback currently under contract for the Bucs in 2023, although that will change. Legendary quarterback Tom Brady was under center the past three seasons in Tampa Bay but retired last Wednesday at the age of 45.

After Pitcher’s second interview with the team he could be considered the front-runner. It remains to be seen how many other candidates will receive second interviews with the Bucs.