UPDATED: Bucs Offensive Coordinator Interview Tracker

The Bucs have already begun the process of looking for a replacement for offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who took the head coaching job with the Panthers on Thursday. Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht are leading the search, as the team is looking for its third offensive coordinator in three years following Canales’ departure and the firing of offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich after the 2022 season.

Pewter Report will update this post with which candidates the Bucs plan on interviewing in the coming days and weeks until the offensive coordinator position is filled.

Check back often on PewterReport.com for the most recent news and updates.

LATEST UPDATE: January 26 at 1:30 p.m. ET

Most Recent Bucs Offensive Coordinator Candidate News

Rams QBs Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Zac Robinson

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Bucs have submitted a request to interview Rams quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Zac Robinson. He and quarterback Baker Mayfield worked together in December of 2022 when Mayfield was claimed by Los Angeles off waivers and was the Rams quarterback when Matthew Stafford was injured.

Robinson, a Sean McVay protégé, is in high demand around the league for vacant offensive coordinator positions, including NFC South division rivals Atlanta and New Orleans. The Falcons are the favorites to land Robinson given his working relationship with new head coach Raheem Morris from their days together with the Rams.

If Robinson lands with Atlanta it could prompt the Falcons to get into a free agent bidding war with the Bucs for Mayfield’s services if the Falcons want to go the free route at quarterback, as neither Desmond Ridder nor Taylor Heinicke is the answer under center.

Former Bills Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bucs plan on interviewing former Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. Buffalo fired Dorsey midseason and replaced him with interim play-caller Joe Brady. Dorsey, who won a national championship at the University of Miami, was a backup quarterback in the NFL with Cleveland and San Francisco for six years..

He started his coaching career in Carolina as the Panthers quarterbacks coach from 2013-17 before taking on the same position in Buffalo in 2019. Dorsey was the Bills offensive coordinator during the 2022-23 seasons.

Former Eagles Offensive Coordinator Brian Johnson

CBS’ Jonathan Jones reported that the Bucs are going to interview former Philadelphia 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. Johnson was the former offensive coordinator at the University of Florida where he worked with Bucs backup quarterback Kyle Trask.

Former Chargers Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that the Bucs plan on interviewing former Chargers and Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. 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 offensively in 2023 under Moore, averaging 20.4 points per game after scoring 23.4 points per game in 2022. Moore, head coach Brandon Staley and the rest of the Chargers staff was fired this offseason.

Bucs QBs Coach Thad Lewis May Get The Opportunity To Interview

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 Ken Dorsey, Brian Johnson and 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. Lewis is in demand due to his work this past season with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who had a career year in his first season in Tampa Bay.

Bucs Interviewed 10 Offensive Coordinator Candidates Last Year

The Bucs interviewed 10 candidates last year, including Dave Canales, who ultimately got Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator job.

The other candidates included 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.