Ever since the news of Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales leaving to become the Panthers head coach broke on Thursday, plenty of candidates have been thrown into the mix to be Tampa Bay’s next offensive mind and play-caller.

When looking at the pool of candidates, internally the team could look at promoting in-house quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis and wide receivers coach Brad Idzik to offensive coordinator. Both would offer their own unique spin on Canales’ offense, but if the Bucs decide to go externally, who are some top options?

When looking at the candidates, many are former NFL quarterbacks who have now made names for themselves in the coaching ranks – one way or another. Even Lewis was a former signal-caller himself, and that could be the direction the Bucs go if they want continuity and to keep Baker Mayfield and help him build off his resurgent 2023 season.

Bucs Top OC Options Are Former NFL QBs:

Zac Robinson – Rams QB Coach And Pass Game Coordinator

NFL QB Background: Seventh-round pick by the Patriots in 2010

Update: Zac Robinson was named the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Saturday evening, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

It appears that Zac Robinson is already a candidate of interest for the Bucs, as they requested him to be one of the first interviews for their now vacant offensive coordinator position.

Rams passing game coordinator Zac Robinson – Photo by: USA Today

Robinson, the one-time NFL quarterback, is an intriguing candidate for a couple of reasons, including the fact that he worked briefly with Baker Mayfield when he was with the Rams at the end of the 2022 season. That connection is one of the biggest links tying him to this position, but what also helps Robinson is he has been under Sean McVay since 2019.

Four of McVay’s one-time assistants are current head coaches of NFL teams (Matt LaFleur, Zac Taylor, Kevin O’Connell, and now Raheem Morris). Robinson could be next in line to get a promotion for an offensive coordinator spot, and he is still just 37 years old and has plenty of potential.

It could come down to an NFC South battle in getting his services, as Morris was just hired as the Falcons head coach. Robinson and Morris worked together for three years, and Robinson is also considered a strong candidate to be the offensive coordinator there. If that ends up being the case, it would be interesting to see if Atlanta then pursues Baker Mayfield as the Falcons quarterback.

Ken Dorsey – Former Bills OC

NFL QB Background: Seventh-round pick by the 49ers in 2003, 2-11 record as a starter, 2,082 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions

Update: Ken Dorsey was named the Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Sunday evening, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The next two options present some experience and are bigger names in the offensive coordinator market. Ken Dorsey is one of them, even after coming off being fired mid-season by the Bills. Up to his dismissal, he helped guide one of the best offenses in the NFL.

At the time, it was seen as a shocking firing and an argument could be made that Dorsey was head coach Sean McDermott’s scapegoat with the team at just 5-5 up to that point. McDermott could have believed that he could replace him as offensive coordinator and that Josh Allen would mask the transition, but the results were mixed.

Former Bills OC Ken Dorsey and QB Josh Allen – Photo by: USA Today

If there is a theme to this list, it’s that many of these former quarterbacks-turned-coaches have helped the growth of the signal-callers they are in charge of. That is no more evident than Dorsey’s time in Buffalo. After Allen was taken with the seventh pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he struggled in his rookie year and started to turn the corner in 2019.

That was also when Dorsey was brought in as his quarterbacks coach, and Allen’s emergence into an elite quarterback is also one of the biggest reasons why he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2022.

Dorsey has made his rounds in the NFL, back as a quarterback for the 49ers and Browns from 2003-2008 before entering the coaching ranks right after his time in the league. Interestingly enough, he started as a coach for the Lakewood Ranch Mustangs high school football team. Lakewood Ranch, Florida is less than an hour away from Raymond James Stadium, so he is familiar with living in the area.

It was already revealed that he would be getting an interview with the Bucs, so he could make his route full circle should he become the team’s offensive coordinator.

Kellen Moore – Chargers OC – For Now

NFL QB Background: Undrafted free-agent signing by the Lions in 2012, 0-2 record as a starter, 779 passing yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions

Update: Kellen Moore was named the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Saturday night, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Last but not least is Kellen Moore. Moore was rumored to have the Bucs’ interest as an offensive coordinator after he was fired from the Cowboys after the 2022 season, but that ended quickly as days later he found a home with the Chargers. But after they recently hired Jim Harbaugh away from Michigan, it looks like Moore will be forced out of town.

Former Chargers OC Kellen Moore and QB Justin Herbert – Photo by: USA Today

It comes as little surprise that he has again blipped on the Bucs’ radar, and he will be getting an interview for the offensive coordinator position this time around.

Moore is still just 35 years old, and he is not far removed from a decorated college career at Boise State before enjoying a short NFL career with the Lions and Cowboys. After hanging up his cleats, he traded them in for a headset immediately in Dallas as the quarterbacks coach and became the offensive coordinator in 2019. Even after Jason Garrett was fired, Mike McCarthy kept him in the role before they had some philosophical differences.

Still, the Cowboys had a lot of success on that side of the football and Moore is thought of highly around the league. He will get another opportunity to call plays soon, and his next spot could be in Tampa Bay.

2 More Former NFL QBs The Bucs Should Consider Interviewing

Brian Griese – 49ers QB Coach

NFL QB Background: Third-round pick by the Broncos in 1998, 45-38 record as a starter, 19,440 passing yards, 119 touchdowns, and 99 interceptions

This would be an interesting reunion for Brian Griese and the Bucs. Griese was the quarterback for the team for a short time in two different stints. His most notable effort was between 2004-2005. In 2004, he started ten games and threw for 2,632 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. In 2005, he started the first six games and led the team to a 5-1 record before suffering a torn ACL and becoming a cap casualty. After staying in the league until 2008 which ended with a short run back with the Bucs, Griese has had an interesting path.

49ers QB Coach Brian Griese – Photo by: USA Today

From 2009 to 2022, he was employed by ESPN and worked as a College Football analyst and helped cover Monday Night Football. That was until he got into coaching.

The 49-year-old Florida native headed across the country to San Francisco in 2022 to join the 49ers as their quarterbacks coach. The connection there is that Kyle Shanahan was briefly with the Bucs in 2004-2005 as an offensive quality control coach, while Griese was drafted by the Broncos and played five seasons under Mike Shanahan, Kyle’s father.

Since joining the 49ers, he has helped guide and transform Brock Purdy from Mr. Irrelevant to one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL. Backing that claim is the fact that Purdy led the league with a 113 passer rating, and had a 72.8 QBR while throwing for 9.6 yards per attempt.

Having an elite set of playmakers helps, but he does not get enough credit for becoming a borderline-elite quarterback in the process. With that, Griese also does not get enough flowers for being Purdy’s position coach throughout his NFL career.

With the connections that Brian Griese has with the Bucs and working with one of the best offensive minds in all of football (and playing for his dad), coming back to Tampa Bay could make a lot of sense – and he could be more loyal to stay with the team and in the area. His name is one to keep an eye on.

Mark Brunell – Lions QB Coach

NFL QB Background: Fifth-round pick by the Packers in 1994, 78-73 record as a starter, 32,072 passing yards, 184 touchdowns, and 108 interceptions

Mark Brunell is the most accomplished former NFL quarterback of the names listed here, as he was a three-time Pro Bowler with the upstart Jaguars in the 1990s and carved out a long playing career with a handful of teams. With what he has done with Jared Goff as his quarterbacks coach, he has a chance to carve out an impressive coaching resume as well.

Lions QB coach Mark Brunell and QB Jared Goff – Photo by: USA Today

Brunell has been a coach since hanging up his cleats in 2011, serving as an assistant coach at Providence before being the head coach of Episcopal School of Jacksonville from 2013-2020. After a 51-32-1 record and two conference titles there, he was then hired by the Lions in 2021.

Coincidentally, that also was when Goff arrived via trade to the Motor City, and his career was revived playing under Ben Johnson and Mark Brunell on offense. After many counted Goff out after his tenure with the Rams, he has rebuilt his reputation and is coming off leading the Lions to a 31-23 win over the Bucs and is playing in the NFC Championship game this Sunday.

For Brunell, Goff’s success could put his name in some hats around the NFL for an offensive coordinator position, including the Bucs. He hung around the league in his final seasons as a backup and mentor for Mark Sanchez, and he could help coach Baker Mayfield and the rest of the Bucs’ offense. He surely has learned quite a bit of Ben Johnson’s scheme and could go about implementing his version of it in Tampa Bay.