Breaking: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Dismiss Multiple Assistants as Offense Faces Overnight Shift
In a move signaling a material reset after an 8-9 finish, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fired several coaches, including the offensive coordinator and key position coaches, in a bid to retool for the next season.
What happened
The Buccaneers terminated offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard along with special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, quarterbacks coach Thaddeus Lewis, cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross, and defensive line coach Charlie Strong. The sweeping staff purge follows an uneven campaign that started strong, but ended with disappointment.
Grizzard arrived as OC to replace liam Coen,who left after one season to take the head coaching job with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coen had himself succeeded Dave Canales, who left after one season to coach the Carolina panthers. Both Canales and Coen previously guided teams to the NFL playoffs.
Head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged the difficult decision,saying the late-season downturn forced changes to meet the club’s high standards. The shift comes after an 8-9 record,a decline from a promising 6-2 start to the year.
Staffing changes at a glance
The move unravels a coaching chain that began with Canales, then Coen, and now Grizzard. No immediate replacements for the fired assistants have been announced.
| Role | Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Coordinator | fired | Josh Grizzard | Grizzard had replaced liam Coen, who left for the Jaguars; Coen had replaced Dave Canales. |
| Special Teams Coordinator | Fired | Thomas McGaughey | No replacement named yet. |
| Quarterbacks Coach | Fired | Thaddeus Lewis | No replacement named yet. |
| Cornerbacks Coach | Fired | Kevin Ross | No replacement named yet. |
| Defensive Line Coach | Fired | Charlie Strong | No replacement named yet. |
Why this matters: on-field impact and beyond
The coaching shakeup comes as the Buccaneers confront a dramatic drop in offensive efficiency. After finishing 2024 ranked 3rd in passing yards, the club slipped to 21st in 2025.The unit previously ranked among the top five in rushing, passing and points, but slumped to 21st on the ground, 20th in the air and 18th in points in the latest season.
At quarterback, baker Mayfield enjoyed a strong start under Coen after a productive tenure with Canales, with a notable early-season level of play before injuries affected consistency late in the year.
Bowles emphasized a standard of excellence, suggesting the changes aim to restore the performance expected in Tampa Bay. The club faces a period of assessing internal options and potential external candidates to fill the vacant roles.
Season snapshot: how the offense stacked up
| Season | Passing Ranking | Ground Ranking | Air Ranking | Points ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3rd | Top 5 | Top 5 | Top 5 |
| 2025 | 21st | 21st | 20th | 18th |
evergreen takeaways for readers
Coaching stability often fuels quarterback development and play-caller trust. When a team rotates through coordinators, the on-field rhythm can suffer, especially for a quarterback entering his prime years. These decisions reflect a franchise’s determination to balance continuity with the need for fresh ideas to regain momentum.
Looking ahead, the Buccaneers will weigh internal options versus external talent to fill the open roles. The ability to quickly align a new OC with Mayfield and the rest of the offense will inform how quickly the unit can reclaim its earlier-season form.
Reader questions
What should be the Buccaneers’ top priority as they search for new coordinators and position coaches?
Do you believe Mayfield can recapture the early-season form with a fresh offensive philosophy and improved support from the play-caller position?
Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion.
For broader context on staff changes in the league and how teams navigate coaching transitions, follow coverage from established sports networks and credible outlets such as the official team pages and league reports.
External reference: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – NFL.com
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