Buccaneers fire five assistants, including OC Josh Grizzard, as Todd Bowles makes major changes

Tampa Bay made sweeping staff changes after missing the postseason for the first time since 2019

By Jordan Dajani

Jan 8, 2026 at 3:30 pm ET • 2 min read

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles is making major changes to his coaching staff as the team announced Thursday that offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and four other assistants will not be retained. After missing the postseason for the first time since 2019, the Bucs have also dismissed special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis, cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross and defensive line coach Charlie Strong.

Additionally, safeties coach Nick Rapone and offensive consultant Tom Moore have elected to retire. Moore, 87, joined the Buccaneers' coaching staff in 2019 as an offensive consultant. He won four Super Bowls during his 62 years as an NFL coach, including one as the offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts when they beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

"These decisions are always difficult, but the disappointing end to the season required some changes to our coaching staff in order to ensure we live up to the high standards we have set here," Bowles said in a statement. "These coaches have all put in tremendous amount of work and effort, but unfortunately, the results were not there this past season. Our goal is to compete for championships every year, and it is my responsibility to make these tough decisions in order to reach those expectations. I want to thank these coaches for all that they have contributed to our success over the years, and I wish them well."

Grizzard just wrapped up his first year as offensive coordinator as the successor to Liam Coen after he accepted the Jacksonville Jaguars job. Previously, Grizzard served as Tampa Bay's pass game coordinator for one year after coming over from the Miami Dolphins.

This season, the Bucs finished ranked No. 21 in the NFL in total offense, averaging 320.4 yards per game, and tied for 17th in points per game (22.4). The Bucs began the season 6-2, but dropped seven of their final nine games en route to an 8-9 finish and finish behind the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South.

The Buccaneers now launch their fourth offensive coordinator search in as many years. Byron Leftwich served in the role from 2019-22, followed by Dave Canales in 2023, Coen in 2024 and then Grizzard.

Furthermore, Baker Mayfield will experience more turnover at offensive coordinator. It's something he's become all too familiar with since being selected No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Baker Mayfield's offensive coordinators

Year	Offensive coordinator
2018	Todd Haley and Freddie Kitchens
2019	Todd Monken
2020	Alex Van Pelt
2021	Alex Van Pelt
2022	Ben McAdoo, Liam Coen
2023	Dave Canales
2024	Liam Coen
2024	Josh Grizzard
2026	???

Los Angeles Rams passing game specialist Nathan Scheelhaase, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson are some names to watch for the position, NFL Media reports.

As the Buccaneers flailed down the stretch, it became clear they regressed on both sides of the ball. That includes the play of Mayfield. The two-time Pro Bowler appeared to be a legitimate MVP candidate through the first six weeks of the season, before the offense began to go awry. Now, Tampa Bay is searching for someone who can get the most out of the star signal caller.