Bucs Begin Offensive Coordinator Interview Process

Just one day after losing offensive coordinator Dave Canales to Carolina where he was named as the Panthers new head coach, the Bucs have begun the interview process for his replacement in what figures to be a busy offseason in Tampa Bay. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Bucs will interview former Cowboys and Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on Monday.

Moore, 35, is interview with Cleveland on Friday and has already interviewed virtually with Philadelphia. It’s a curious move by the Bucs given Moore’s penchant for being such a pass-first play-caller.

Moore was fired from the Cowboys after the 2022 season as head coach Mike McCarthy assumed the play-calling duties in Dallas. McCarthy criticized Moore for “wanting to light up the scoreboard” instead of running the ball to provide some offensive balance by running the ball.

“I’ve been where Kellen’s been,” McCarthy said, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News this past offseason. “Kellen wants to light the scoreboard up, but I want him to run the damn ball so I can rest my defense. I think when you’re a coordinator, you know but you’re in charge of the offense.

“Being a head coach and being a play caller, you’re a little more in tune with (everything). I don’t desire to be the No. 1 offense in the league. I want to be the No. 1 team in the league with the number of wins and a championship. And if we’ve got to give up some production and take care of the ball a little better to get that, then that’s what we’ll do because we have a really good defense.”

The Cowboys offense actually improved its scoring output with McCarthy calling plays in 2023. Dallas averaged 26.8 points per game under Moore in 2022 and led the league in scoring this year with 30.1 points per game. Meanwhile, the Chargers offense regressed in 2023 under Moore, averaging 20.4 points per game after scoring 23.4 points per game in 2022.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles fired offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich after a 31-14 playoff loss to Moore, McCarthy and the Cowboys in 2022 for that same reason. Leftwich ignored the running game and forced 45-year old Tom Brady to lead the league in pass attempts once again during the 2022 season.

Bucs general manager Jason Licht will be assisting Bowles in the offensive coordinator interview and hiring process again this year.

Bucs Also Will Interview Brian Johnson For The Vacant OC Role

The Bucs will also interview another fired offensive coordinator for their play-caller vacancy. According to CBS’ Jonathan Jones, Tampa Bay will interview former Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, 36, who was fired after his offense generated just nine points against Todd Bowles’ team in a 32-9 Wild Card win by the Bucs.

The Eagles scored 24.6 points per game in 2023 after scoring 29.1 points per game in 2022 during their Super Bowl run. Quarterback Jalen Hurts also regressed during the 2023 season, as Philadelphia’s promising 10-1 start dissolved into an 11-6 finish and a first-round playoff loss to Tampa Bay.

Former Eagles OC Brian Johnson, QB Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Siriani – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs interviewed nine candidates last year before hiring Dave Canales, including 49ers pass game coordinator Klint Kubiak, Vikings receivers coach Keenan McCardell, Giants quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney, Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, Saints quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry, Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher.

Kubiak, Cooter, Brown and Pitcher had different roles last year when they interviewed with Tampa Bay. Monken and Pitcher turned down the offensive coordinator job last year when offered due to concerns about Bowles’ job security. It is unclear if any of those offensive-minded coaches will be candidates again this year.

Bucs quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis is well thought of by Bowles and the organization and is expected to be an in-house candidate as well. But unlike Johnson and former Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Lewis does not have any play-calling experience.

Lewis has drawn interest as an offensive coordinator candidate from the Raiders, according to Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud, and the Bills, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Buffalo will also interview its interim play-caller Joe Brady for the job, too.

There are currently as many as eight vacant offensive coordinator roles in the NFL, including the Bucs, Falcons, Panthers, Saints, Browns, Steelers, Eagles, Bills and Raiders.