Bucs Interviewed 2 Candidates For Special Teams Coordinator

The Bucs have found their offensive coordinator but that doesn’t mean they’re done filling out the coaching staff. Bucs team reporter Scott Smith has announced that the Bucs completed an interview with former Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey on Friday, February 1, while completing an interview with former Titans special team coordinator Craig Aukerman on Monday.

There was an opening for the position after Keith Armstrong retired from being special teams coordinator last week. Armstrong came on with Bruce Arians in 2019 and held the role for five seasons.

Thomas McGaughey Coaching History 

It’s safe to say the McGaughey has been around the block after his two-year NFL playing career came to an end. He began in 1998 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of Houston. In 2001 he started with the Kansas City Chiefs on the Bill Walsh Miniority Fellowship, getting upgraded to assistant special teams coordinator in 2002. McGaughey went back to Houston for 2003 and 2004, but gained more experience as he became the special teams coordinator.

McGaughey began to have more of a mainstay and continuity as the years went on. Following two season with the Broncos, he had his first stint with the Giants for four years as their assistant special teams coordinator. In that time McGaughey was on the coaching staff when the Giants beat Tom Brady and the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Going back to the college ranks at LSU from 2011-2013, McGaughey narrowly missed crossing paths with Bucs head coach Todd Bowles at the Jets. McGaughey was with the Jets for one season as the special teams coordinator in 2014 and Bowles took over as head coach in 2015.

McGaughey went on to be the special teams coordinator for the 49ers, Panthers and again with the Giants to round out his coaching career. Injuries derailed the Giants on special teams last year and McGaughey was let go a day after the regular season finale.

Craig Aukerman Coaching History

Aukerman spent much time at the college level to begin his coaching career. He started at Findley in 2000 before stops at Miami of Ohio, Western Kentucky, a second stint at Miami and lastly Kent State in 2009. In that time he had roles such as wide receivers coach, special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.

ST Coordinator Craig Aukerman – Photo by: USA Today

His first break into the NFL came in 2010 with the Broncos as a defensive assistant. Soon after he went to the Jaguars for the next season in the same role, but was assigned as an assistant special teams coordinator the year after. Auckerman’s firs run with the Titans came from 2013 through 2015 also as an assistant on special teams.

He got a role as special teams coordinator for the Chargers in 2016 but then went straight back to the Titans in 2017, eventually working his way up to coordinator from 2018 to 2023. Aukerman was let go in December following a game in which Tennessee had two punts blocked and the Titans lost in overtime.

Bucs’ Special Teams Outlook

Every year players come and go on the coverage aspect of special teams. The Bucs do know they have a good one with Josh Hayes, who was a late round draft pick last season.

The Bucs also know they have a good thing with punter Jake Camarda, who has one of the stronger legs in the league and is quite athletic. Camarda will look to build on his great season and potentially win some more accolades.

Bucs WR Trey Palmer – Photo by: USA Today

If all goes well, the Bucs would love to re-sign kicker Chase McLaughlin. He was automatic this season hitting all of his extra points and hitting all but three kicks on the year. Two were blocked, however, the last came in a crucial time during the divisional round playoff game when the Bucs were at the Lions. McLaughlin was asked to constantly boot kicks from beyond 50 yards, sometimes going as high as 57 yards, hitting them with ease.

It’ll be curious to see if the Bucs decide to do anything in the return game. Deven Thompkins as a returner was solid, averaging 10.2 yards per punt return in 2022 and 9.4 punt returns in 2023. His kick returns were similar, averaging 21.9 in 2022 and 20.4 in 2023.

While Thompkins has been fine, the Bucs may have another in-house option in 2024 with Trey Palmer. There’s no question that Palmer has tremendous breakaway speed, which was best noticed on his 56-yard catch and run for a touchdown against the Eagles in the wild card round of the playoffs.

It’s an intriguing option that the Bucs may go to. But that depends on whoever is the new special teams coordinator.