In some breaking news on Thursday morning, the Bucs have fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard after just one season as Tampa Bay’s offensive play-caller. It was an up-and-down year for Grizzard, but ultimately, he is the first coaching domino to fall with head coach Todd Bowles returning for 2026, barring anything shocking coming to pass.

With Bowles and general manager Jason Licht presumably leading the search for a fourth offensive coordinator in as many seasons, who are the top candidates for the post?

The Bucs are in an interesting position this offseason, similar to the process of hiring Dave Canales as offensive coordinator in 2023. Before that season, Bowles was on the hot seat with Tom Brady retiring and Baker Mayfield taking over at quarterback. After an 8-9 season in 2025, it will not be as highly sought-after as it was after Liam Coen’s departure.

However, the next play-caller will still have plenty of offensive firepower with Mayfield leading the way and plenty of weapons remaining. Not to mention, also getting a say in who the next quarterbacks coach will be, as the team also let go of Thad Lewis.

Here are the early front-runners and some other names to know:

The Early Front-Runners To Be Next Bucs OC

Rams Pass Game Coordinator Nate Scheelhaase

As soon as Josh Grizzard’s firing was announced, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase and Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken are the top two names to watch for the Bucs offensive coordinator opening. Starting with Scheelhaase, Garafolo reported that he impressed during the interview process last offseason before Grizzard was hired, and it is easy to see why.

After spending the 2024 season an offensive assistant and pass game specialist, Scheelhaase’s role has increased this season as he has overseen Matthew Stafford’s play as a top MVP candidate. Stafford threw for a league-leading 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns in the regular season, while Puka Nacua also had a career year with 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns.

That is a credit not just to the work of Scheelhaase, but also of head coach Sean McVay and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Still, given his prominent rise and previous experience in the college ranks, the 35-year-old will once again be a top name to monitor.

Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase – Photo by: USA Today

Before heading to Los Angeles, Scheelhaase spent six years on the Iowa State football staff working under head coach Matt Campbell in various roles (2018-23) and received high praise for his work there. In 2023, he served as the Cyclones’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach where he worked with Rocco Becht, who was the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2023.

Scheelhaase also spent two seasons coaching the running backs and wide receivers and took on run game coordinator responsibilities (2021-22). Before splitting duties for the program, he coached the receivers for two seasons (2019- 20) and the running backs for one season (2018).

Ravens Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken

With the surprising firing of head coach John Harbaugh following 18 seasons with the Ravens, it leaves offensive coordinator Todd Monken in an interesting spot.

Will Monken follow Harbaugh as the offensive coordinator at his next head coaching stop?

Is he ready to become a head coach himself?

Or is a return to Tampa Bay meant to be?

Monken was offered the Bucs offensive coordinator job in 2023, ultimately declining to head to Baltimore and work with Lamar Jackson. The 59-year-old who turns 60 next month comes with plenty of experience, having worked in Tampa Bay as both an offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2016-2018 under head coach Dirk Koetter. He then moved on to become the Browns offensive coordinator in 2019, spending a season with Baker Mayfield.

Former Bucs OC Todd Monken – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Both of those stops give Monken a leg up over other candidates in having familiarity within the building. After 2019, he only built up his resume further as Georgia’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2020-2022. During that span, Monken coached up walk-on quarterback Stetson Bennett and helped the Bulldogs win two National Championships. After getting the most out of his offenses in recent years, returning to the Bucs and working with Mayfield and a talented offense makes a lot of sense this time around.

Former Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel

It did not work out for Mike McDaniel in Miami after his tenure coaching the Dolphins started off promising. Viewed as a hotshot offensive mind, McDaniel hit the ground running with a 9-8 record in 2022, leading Miami to their first playoff berth since 2016. Things stagnated in ensuing seasons as they failed to record a postseason win and with the team finishing just 7-10 in 2025. Like Josh Grizzard, McDaniel was fired on Thursday morning.

Former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Sam Navarro

After posting an identical 35-33 record that Todd Bowles currently has with the Bucs, he could view staying in Florida as the best option should he not land a head coaching job elsewhere. There is no arguing McDaniel’s offensive genius, as he fits the mold of being a guru on that side of the ball but perhaps needing more seasoning before becoming a head coach again.

He has coached in the NFL for over 20 years despite being just 42 years old. There is no doubt that McDaniel would be a home-run hire at offensive coordinator, as he offers plenty of upside and has coached under and alongside Mike Shanahan, Gary Kubiak, Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, and Matt LaFleur over the years.

Some Other Potential Bucs OC Candidates

Rams Offensive Coordinator Mike LaFleur

Mike LaFleur has spent the last three seasons at the Rams offensive coordinator working directly under Sean McVay. That has allowed him to be a sponge, but he has yet to spread his wings like the other offensive minds who have moved on. LaFleur is firmly in the mix of being next in line and could even get a head coaching job this offseason. Should McVay allow him to make a lateral move to call plays, the Bucs come to mind as a logical next stop.

LaFleur has not only played a hand in Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua’s success, but he has helped build a balanced offensive foundation with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum serving as a potent 1-2 backfield punch. That will surely draw the attention of Todd Bowles, who has long sought a balanced offense to support his defense.

Rams OC Mike LaFleur and QB Matthew Stafford – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Kirby Lee

Before joining the Rams, LaFleur spent two seasons with the New York Jets as offensive coordinator. Under the guidance of LaFleur in 2022, the Jets offense tied for the most explosive plays in the fourth quarter (39) and recorded a league-best 41 explosive plays by rookies. Additionally, the Jets 10 offensive touchdowns by rookies was fifth-most in the NFL. Before joining the Jets coaching staff, LaFleur spent four seasons with the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan from 2017-20.

In his final three seasons in San Francisco, he served as the passing game coordinator and helped the 49ers offense finish in the top 10 in scoring (24.9) and total offense (370.6) while George Kittle set a then NFL record for tight ends with 1,377 receiving yards in 2019 and became a two-time All-Pro selection.

During the 2019 season that ended with a Super Bowl appearance, the 49ers offense had 13 different players record at least one touchdown catch, tying the NFL record for the most players with a touchdown catch in a single season. LaFleur served as an offensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons for two seasons before his San Francisco stop, first working with the tight ends in 2015 and then the wide receivers in 2016.

Jaguars Offensive Coordinator Grant Udinski

Grant Udinski is another name to watch but comes with the caveat of being the Jaguars offensive coordinator under head coach Liam Coen. That prevents the Bucs from interviewing him until Jacksonville is no longer in the playoffs, and the move could be blocked altogether as it would be lateral. With Tampa Bay blocking Coen from snagging multiple position coaches last year, he would likely do the same this time around to his former team.

Not to mention, Udinski will likely get head coaching looks this offseason with so many vacancies across the league.

Jaguars OC Grant Udinski – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Doug Engle

In any scenario where Udinski is given a chance to look for the next step as an offensive playcaller, his name would be near the top of the list. He spent plenty of time in Minnesota working with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, serving as the assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach in 2024. That year he played a pivotal part in Sam Darnold’s resurgence, then helped do the same for Trevor Lawrence this season.

Bengals Offensive Coordinator Dan Pitcher

Dan Pitcher was another coach who was offered the Bucs offensive coordinator position in 2023 but decided to turn it down. Pitcher has remained the Bengals as their quarterbacks coach and then serving as their offensive coordinator since 2024. With head coach Zac Taylor calling plays, he has yet to make the jump as a play-caller but comes with plenty of experience helping run Cincinnati’s offense and being there since 2016.

He has turned down opportunities to leave and has not wanted to, but he is a name to watch should he finally search for greener grass. He is reportedly a candidate for the Browns head coaching job.

Bengals QBs coach Dan Pitcher – Photo by: USA Today

Bears Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle

Declan Doyle has had a meteoric coaching rise, shooting all the way up to becoming the Bears offensive coordinator this season despite being just 29 years old. Doyle has yet to call plays with head coach Ben Johnson handling that for Chicago, but he is viewed as a promising young mind who could take the next step in eventually becoming an NFL head coach.

Before taking his current position, Doyle spent 2023 and 2024 in Denver as the Broncos tight ends coach. Before that, he was with the NFC South rival Saints from 2019-2022 as an offensive assistant. That is significant, as head coach Sean Payton thought highly enough of him to give someone in their mid-20s such large responsibilities. After being under Payton and Johnson, Doyle could be ready to make the leap and bring offensive innovation with him.

Broncos Offensive Pass Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Davis Webb

Davis Webb is very much like Grant Udinski in being a quarterback whisperer, currently as a key voice in the room for Bo Nix with the Broncos. Webb is another offensive coordinator candidate getting head coaching interviews, as he is schedule to meet with the Raiders. Should he fail to land a top job, the next logical step up for him would be as an offensive coordinator.

What better place than the Bucs, where he could follow the Dave Canales/Liam Coen path? Still just 30 years old, Webb is a bright mind who spent six years as a quarterback in the league, his last in 2022 being more of a player/coach with the Giants.

Falcons Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson

With the Falcons moving on from head coach Raheem Morris after the team finished 8-9, it leaves offensive coordinator Zac Robinson in a similar spot as Todd Monken. For Robinson, though, there will be no joining Morris elsewhere. The next head coach could be offensive-minded and decide to move on from him, which would open a path to becoming the next Bucs’ offensive play-caller.

Robinson comes from the Rams pipeline, having worked in various roles there from 2019-2023. His last season in Los Angeles was as a pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach before he took the job in Atlanta. That was not before Tampa Bay interviewed him as a potential successor for Dave Canales before ultimately going with Liam Coen.

Over the past two seasons, Robinson has guided a Falcons offense with a lot of weapons, such as Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. That gives hope he can do the same at his next stop with a better quarterback situation. Atlanta invested heavily in the position, but neither Kirk Cousins nor Michael Penix Jr. have panned out as expected.

At 39 years old, Robinson has enough promise to remain an offensive coordinator and is someone likely to be interviewed by multiple teams this offseason.

Information from the Rams website was used in compiling this story.