The sudden departure of Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who will be named the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, has created a void that could be filled by a familiar face. Bucs quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis has to be viewed as the front-runner for the job if Tampa Bay decides to stay in-house for the sake of continuity. Lewis played a vital role in developing Baker Mayfield in Canales’ new system, and helped take the 28-year old quarterback to new career heights this season.

But Tampa Bay might have some competition, as Las Vegas has put in a request to interview Lewis for the Raiders’ vacant offensive coordinator position, according to Rick Stroud from the Tampa Bay Times.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was actually asked on Monday if Lewis would be strongly considered as a potential replacement if Canales departed for a head coaching position this offseason.

“We would have to [have an interview process],” Bowles said. “We’ve got a lot of qualified guys here and there’s some qualified guys outside. We’ll see.”

One thing that could hold Lewis back is that like Canales was before he took the role as the Bucs offensive coordinator, Lewis also does not have any play-calling experience on his coaching resumé, either.

Thad Lewis Is Well Thought Of By Todd Bowles, Bruce Arians

Bucs QBs Baker Mayfield and John Wolford, QBs coach Thad Lewis and Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was very complimentary of Thad Lewis when he discussed his promotion from assistant receivers coach in 2022 to quarterbacks coach this past season back in May.

“Well, he was a heck of a college quarterback,” Bowles said. “He understood the game coming in. When Bruce [Arians] hired him as an intern, he was a very bright guy in the office – in early, out late. He has a great understanding of quarterback play and he has a lot of modern-day technique and scheme that he can help fit to a quarterback.

“He is very quarterback friendly. I think the world of Thad. I think he will be an offensive coordinator in light [speed] from now. I think it’s a good move for him and I am excited to see it.”

The 36-year old Lewis was a former NFL backup quarterback from 2010-17 and was a coaching intern in Tampa Bay in the summer of 2020 during training camp. He made a strong enough impression on former head coach Bruce Arians that he stayed on as an offensive assistant.

Arians promoted him to the role of assistant receivers coach in 2021, and Bowles kept him on the staff as the Bucs quarterbacks under Canales last year. Bowles fired offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and several other offensive assistants after the 2022 season when the offense regressed, but has always had an admiration for Lewis.

Bucs QBs coach Thad Lewis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In fact, if Bowles had fired Leftwich during the 2022 season, Lewis could have been considered as the replacement play-caller. The problem was that legendary quarterback Tom Brady was going through a very painful and public divorce that season, and Bowles didn’t want to rock the boat with Brady by giving him a new, first-time play-caller at midseason.

Arians gets credit for bringing Thad Lewis on staff, and believes he has a bright future as a play-caller in the league, too.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt,” Arians told Pewter Report. “He is a former quarterback and he’s extremely bright. [In 2021] I used to make him give me game plans. What would his game plan be? It would be spot on every week. There will be a time very, very soon where he’s calling plays in this league.”