Jan 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the second quarter of a NFC wild card playoff against the Washington Commanders at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
It was a frustrating year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield got off to an explosive start, thanks in no small part to the emergence of rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, but things went south in the middle of the campaign.
Bowles and the Bucs finished the season at 8-9 in a three-way tie in the NFC South, but ultimately missed out on making the playoffs, as the Carolina…
Jan 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the second quarter of a NFC wild card playoff against the Washington Commanders at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
It was a frustrating year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield got off to an explosive start, thanks in no small part to the emergence of rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, but things went south in the middle of the campaign.
Bowles and the Bucs finished the season at 8-9 in a three-way tie in the NFC South, but ultimately missed out on making the playoffs, as the Carolina Panthers won the division on tiebreakers.
It was about as frustrating a season as imaginable for the Buccaneers, who entered the season fully expecting to make a deep playoff run. Now, heads are starting to roll as a result of the disappointments.
“Sources: Bucs fired OC Josh Grizzard after he served just one season on the job, replacing Liam Coen,” reported ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter on Thursday.
Sources: Bucs fired OC Josh Grizzard after he served just one season on the job, replacing Liam Coen. pic.twitter.com/jxRlWMSm5l
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2026
Grizzard wasn’t the only one on the offensive coaching staff to lose his job,.
“The Bucs also are moving on from quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis, per source. Tampa Bay will let the new offensive coordinator replacing Josh Grizzard pick his QB coach. Lewis was with Baker Mayfield for all three of his seasons in Tampa Bay,” reported Jermey Fowler, another ESPN insider.
Fans reacted to the dismissals on social media.
“Letting the new OC pick his own staff is the right move for consistency. It’s tough to see Thad Lewis go after his work with Baker, but a clean slate usually works best for a new system,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“This is a huge risk considering the chemistry Lewis had with Baker. Hope they know what they’re doing,” another fan added.
“Need to hire a Defense Coordinator to take over play calling since we’re keeping Bowles,” one Bucs fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see if the offense improves in Tampa next season.