The Bucs offense was incredible in 2024. And while one man – Liam Coen – deserved a lot of the credit for that success, but he wasn’t the only one. With a passing attack that ranked third in yards per game and fourth in EPA/pass I wanted to take a deeper look at passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard, who is a potential replacement for Coen as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2025.

Josh Grizzard’s Background

Bucs pass game assistant Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Miami Dolphins

Before coming to Tampa Bay in 2024, Josh Grizzard spent seven years in Miami operating as a quality control coach and wide receivers coach at various times. In a league where new coordinators typically bring in their own coaches it speaks volumes that Grizzard was retained under Adam Gase and Clyde Christensen, Dowell Loggains, Chad O’Shea, Chan Gailey, Eric Studesville and George Godsey, and Mike McDaniel and Frank Smith.

During his time in Miami, he also crossed paths with the new head coach of the Chicago Bears, Ben Johnson. The two worked together in 2017 when Johnson was the assistant wide receivers as well as 2018 when Johnson was promoted to wide receivers coach.

While Grizzard is young at age 34, when you combine that kind of experience with the year he spent with Coen, you get an offensive mind that has been exposed to plenty of schemes/systems.

Josh Grizzard’s Role In The Bucs Offense

To use his own words when asked what his role in the offense was, pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard described his usage in season as, “During the season, it’s more of helping him [former Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen], get ahead on different parts of the gameplan. Looking at different tendencies around the league. Things that we can utilize from other places. Things that I’ve done in the past, things that he has done in the past, and just try to be like a sounding board for him on some ideas.”

One area that Grizzard shares a belief with Coen is the use of motion to help create opportunities for the offense. The Bucs had one of the highest motion rates in the NFL in 2024, and Grizzard was a contributing factor. When speaking about the use of motion he said, “It’s a lot of the things that Liam was around as well, whether it be at Kentucky or his history with the Rams. But we’re aligned in that on the utilization of motions and shifts to manipulate defenses, attack space. So, a lot of that stuff you’ll see here as well.”

Bucs pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard and OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When asked at the beginning of the season about his thoughts on snap motion, Grizzard, who was a part of the vanguard of the concept in Miami said, “Yeah, we are looking into applying pressure on the defense. And when you have somebody in motion at the snap it makes them communicate where their checks, they’re pressuring, how are they going to handle the motion, not knowing who it’s going to come from. So, when we try to apply the pressure to them by being in motion, we’re just creating advantages for ourselves. And also, to manipulate defenses, to find voids in zones through the use of motion. So, that’s definitely something we believe in.”

Grizzard’s role as a passing game coordinator had him working with multiple position groups, working with Tampa Bay’s quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends and even their running backs. He also oversaw the Bucs’ third down offense. In a December press conference, Coen credited Grizzard with the Bucs’ success on the money down where the Bucs led the NFL in third down conversions at 51.1%.

“I think, first of all, shoutout to Josh and really the staff in general have done a phenomenal job throughout the whole year,” Coen said. “The guys in charge of those areas – Thad Lewis is in charge of the red zone, ‘B-Mac’ (Brian McClendon) is in charge of two-minute, and ‘Grizz’ (Josh Grizzard) happens to be in charge of third downs. Their ideas, plays, and thoughts and schemes is what does come to life as what you see on Sunday. Definitely, not all of those plays come right from me – we have a full staff. These guys put a lot of work into those areas.

“Being able to operate a little bit in terms of maybe one week we’re operating on man-zone cans, maybe one week we’re operating off of all-purpose call-it-and-run-it plays…Mixing in some of those criteria and putting our guys in the best position to be successful. Then, oh by the way, our guys going out and executing. Our offensive line, the way that they’ve been able to protect, especially on some of those shorter third-and-up-to-7 windows. We’ve been able to protect at a pretty high level and the ball is able to come out still. I think that’s probably the combination. I think when you have Mike Evans, that usually helps too.”

Creativity And Diversity Of Offense

Bucs OC Liam Coen, RB Bucky Irving and pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Corey Perrine/USA Today

Having overseen the initial development of Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in his rookie season when Waddle caught 104 passes for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns, and working with Liam Coen to develop one of the most dangerous passing attacks in the NFL, Josh Grizzard offers a Dave Canales-esque air of intrigue and potential if the Bucs were to consider him for the role of offensive coordinator.

His exposure to different concepts and styles of offense gives him a strong foundation to build an offense that is multiple and less predictable. Having spent time with Miami head coach Mike McDaniel, who uses 21 personnel (two backs, one tight end) more than almost any other offensive designer in the league, as well as Liam Coen, who was more 11 personnel-heavy, that allowed Grizzard to see the virtues of how to create matchup advantages through the use of player groupings. It also gives him a unique vantage point into how he might try to continue the Bucs’ success with their own unique 21 personnel grouping of Bucky Irving and Rachaad White.

By his own admission, a big part of Grizzard’s most recent role has been to look around the NFL to find ways the most dynamic ways to attack defenses by using the latest and most creative ways to give his offense a chance to succeed. Those have been qualities that head coach Todd Bowles has looked for in his last two offensive coordinators. It should give Grizzard a strong opportunity to interview for the now vacant role of offensive coordinator for the Bucs.

You can check out Grizzard’s thoughts in his media availability session prior to the 2024 season by clicking here.