It appears that at least one coach of the initial candidates interviewing to be the Bucs offensive coordinator has made the cut. According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher will have his second interview with the Bucs coming up this week.

The difference this time around is that the interview will be in person, as their first encounter was conducted via Zoom with Pitcher preparing for the AFC Championship Game against Kansas City. In a very close game, the Bengals fell to the Chiefs, 23-20, on a late field goal to advance to the Super Bowl.

Bengals QBs coach Dan Pitcher – Photo by: USA Today

Pitcher is in his seventh season in Cincinnati with the last three serving as the Bengals quarterbacks coach and working with Joe Burrow. He’s found success with Burrow and the Bengals winning the AFC championship last season, making it back there this year and also winning two straight division titles.

Prior to becoming Burrow’s quarterbacks coach, Pitcher was an offensive assistant in Cincinnati from 2016-18 and the assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019. His first NFL job was in the Colts’ scouting department during the 2013 season. The Bucs like the fact that Pitcher has some personnel experience in addition to be around one of the game’s youngest and brightest offensive minds in Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor.

Different Scenario For Pitcher With Bucs

Outside of meeting in person, there’s another change going into this interview. Since Pitcher and the Bucs last met, the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady, has retired at the age of 45. Pitcher had previously interviewed with the Bucs on Friday, January 27.

Bucs GM Jason Licht and QB Tom Brady – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

At the time, Brady’s status about whether he would return for a fourth season in Tampa Bay or if he would retire was still in question but not known one way or another. Five days later on February 1, Brady announced his second retirement and said this time he was done for good as an NFL player after 23 seasons.

The magnitude of this announcement could have scared off other candidates for the offensive coordinator position. It certainly puts the Bucs in a directionless position until they find their next quarterback. But given the weak division they’re in with the NFC South, it doesn’t put them in free fall.

That’s why having a coordinator like Pitcher would be beneficial, as he’s worked with young quarterbacks in his career if the Bucs decide to go with Kyle Trask or take select another one in the draft. Given his history in the league, it shouldn’t prohibit him from working well along side a veteran like Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr if Tampa Bay can go that route.

Whoever gets the chance, Pitcher at least has shown that he is willing to be the play-caller no matter who the quarterback is.