In a weekly column every Thursday on PewterReport.com, two Pewter Reporters will debate a topic with opposing viewpoints. Which Pewter Reporter wins the debate? You get to decide in the comments section below.

This week’s topic: Who Should Bucs Hire As The Next OC?

Point: Todd Bowles Must Go With A Proven Play-Caller Like Todd Monken Or Mike McDaniel

By Scott Reynolds

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard on Thursday, and after an 8-9 season in 2025, Bowles will start the 2026 campaign on the hot seat. He absolutely, positively must get this offensive coordinator hire right if he wants to get back to the playoffs this season and avoid being fired.

Over the last three years, Bowles has gone with three straight offensive coordinators without NFL play-calling experience and has had mixed results. Liam Coen, a Sean McVay disciple, produced Tampa Bay’s best, most prolific offense in 2024 because he at least had two years’ worth of play-calling experience at the University of Kentucky. I’m not sure Bowles has the time to roll the dice and take a chance on another unproven play-caller as he must be in win-now mode in order to save his job.

While Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, 35, or Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, 29, appear to be bright, young offensive minds, their lack of play-calling experience would make them risky hires for Bowles with so much riding on the success of the offense during the 2026 season. If Bowles could land an experienced play-caller like Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken or former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, that could present him with the best opportunity to win now.

Ravens OC Todd Monken – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Mitch Stringer

My preference would be for Monken, who coached Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as wide receivers coach under Dirk Koetter in 2016-17 before taking over as the offensive coordinator and play-caller in 2018. Then Monken worked with quarterback Baker Mayfield as the Browns offensive coordinator in 2019 but didn’t call plays in Cleveland. The fact that general manager Jason Licht and the Glazers have the familiarity with Monken and have witnessed his success in Tampa Bay is a plus.

The 59-year-old Monken spent three years at Georgia where he won two national championships with Kirby Smart in 2021-22 with Stetson Bennett, a former walk-on, at quarterback. Over the last three seasons Monken has been the offensive coordinator in Baltimore where he’s had success with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews and the Ravens weapons. He’s proven that he can effectively marry the running game and the passing game and put points up on the scoreboard.

Monken has a feisty, fiery, energetic coaching style akin to Bruce Arians. He has shown the ability to connect with today’s young athletes, especially given his three years in Georgia working with college-aged players. Monken, who had three years’ worth of head coaching experience at Southern Miss, is a great communicator and could also be viewed as a possible successor to Bowles in time – either if Bowles fails to win enough games in 2026 or retires in a few years.

Former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

McDaniel wouldn’t be a bad hire, either. He too can marry the running game and the passing game, and when the Dolphins had Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill healthy and playing their best football Miami had one of the league’s most explosive offenses.

Counterpoint: Bucs Should Pursue The Next Sean McVay In Nate Scheelhaase Or Grant Udinksi

By Adam Slivon

Although a veteran offensive coordinator hire would bring instant credibility into improving the Bucs’ offense next season, the path of least resistance and more realism is going with what has worked in recent years by bringing a young offensive mind into the fold. Former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel are two of the biggest names out there with play-calling experience, but Tampa Bay is in a situation similar to 2023 where neither might not want to come and coach under head coach Todd Bowles.

Bowles is on the hot seat and attempting to make a last stand in 2026 after firing Josh Grizzard, Thad Lewis, Thomas McGaughey, and parting with a few of his most trusted defensive coaches. Monken and McDaniel will be coveted by other teams, with the former likely to join John Harbaugh wherever he lands if he doesn’t find a head coaching job. With Monken having already turned down the Bucs once back in 2023, do they believe things will be different this time around?

With McDaniel, there is a high possibility he will land on his feet and find another head coaching job as soon as this offseason. Not to mention, there are other more enticing offensive coordinator jobs available. He could return to Washington under Dan Quinn and work with Jayden Daniels or help Dan Campbell get the Lions back into the Super Bowl hunt running that high-powered offense.

Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase – IMAGN Images – Mark J. Rebilas

While the Bucs could bring them in with the thought of making them the next head coach after Bowles, the best path to finding an offensive coordinator would be going for the next young bright mind. Most notably, Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase is someone who interviewed last year and was in consideration for the job before Grizzard was promoted. Scheelhaase has checked all the boxes out in Los Angeles, has called plays in college for Iowa State in 2023, all while being just 35 years old. He comes with collegiate playing experience as a quarterback and has coached just about every offensive position over the last decade.

His latest resumé bullet point? Working firsthand with Matthew Stafford as the Rams pass game coordinator.

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

Tampa Bay did well plucking a Sean McVay mind in Liam Coen last time, and hiring Scheelhaase would also keep a very similar offensive system in place. If they cannot land him, Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, and Broncos pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Davis Webb are also all on the table. Udinski and LaFleur will be harder to pry away, as they are already offensive coordinators with the Jaguars and Rams, respectively. 

Still, their current team could let them go to call their own plays and not create tension. Webb is very intriguing and as a former NFL quarterback, he would pair well with Baker Mayfield. There are many more available options by going with a younger, more unproven offensive coordinator. That is likely the only path for Todd Bowles to find one, and while there is more risk, the reward would be developing his ultimate successor at head coach.