Since news broke Thursday that Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales would be leaving to become head coach of the Panthers, a number of candidates have been thrown into the mix to be Tampa Bay’s next offensive mind and play-caller. It’s here.
Looking at the candidate pool, the team may consider promoting an in-house quarterback coach. Thad Lewis And wide receivers coach Brad Idzik will become offensive coordinator. Both would add their own spin to Canales’ offense, but who would be the top option if the Bucks decide to move outside?
Looking at the candidates, many are former NFL quarterbacks who are currently making their mark on coaching positions. – in any case. Lewis is a former signal-caller himself, and if the Bucks want continuity and want to keep Baker Mayfield and help him build into a resurgent 2023 season, that could be the direction. .
Bucs’ top OC options are former NFL QBs:
Zach Robinson – Rams QB coach and passing game coordinator
NFL QB Career: 2010 7th round pick by the Patriots
Latest news: Zach Robinson was named offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday night, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Zach Robinson already appears to be a candidate of interest to the Bucs, asking them to be one of their first interviews for the currently vacant offensive coordinator position.
#Rams QB coach and passing game coordinator Zach Robinson has been asked to interview for the vacant position. #Bucks Sources say it is the OC’s job. Possible reunion with Baker Mayfield.
Robinson is one of the busiest coordinator candidates attracting active interest from the government. #Saints, #Steelers,…
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 26, 2024
Rams passing game coordinator Zach Robinson – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Robinson, a former NFL quarterback, is an interesting candidate for several reasons, including the fact that he briefly worked with Baker Mayfield while he was with the Rams at the end of the 2022 season. That connection is one of the biggest ties tying him to the position, but what further helps Robinson is that he has been working for Sean McVay since 2019.
Four of McVay’s temporary assistants are currently head coaches on NFL teams (Matt LaFleur, Zac Taylor, Kevin O’Connell, and now Raheem Morris). Robinson could be promoted to the offensive coordinator position next, and he’s only 37 years old, so that’s a possibility.
It could be an NFC South battle to acquire Morris, as he was just hired as the Falcons’ head coach. Robinson and Morris have worked together for three years, and Robinson is also considered a strong candidate for offensive coordinator. If that becomes the case, it will be interesting to see if Atlanta pursues Baker Mayfield as quarterback for the Falcons.
Ken Dorsey – Former Bills OC
NFL QB Career: Seventh round pick of the 49ers in 2003, 2-11 as a starter, 2,082 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, 18 interceptions.
The next two options have some experience and are well-known in the offensive coordinator market. Ken Dorsey was one of those players, who returned after being released by the Bills midway through the season. Until his firing, he helped coach one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Bills Offense Weeks 1-10: 3rd in EPA/Play, 1st in Success Rate.
Bills offense from Weeks 11-20: 6th in EPA/Play, 7th in Success Rate
Bills Defense Weeks 1-10: 17th in EPA/Play, 23rd in Success Rate
Bills Defense Weeks 11-20: 7th in EPA/Play, 16th in Success Rate
— Lindsay Rhodes (@lindsay_rhodes) January 23, 2024
At the time, this was seen as a shocking firing, and an argument could be made that Dorsey was a scapegoat for Sean McDermott, the team’s previously 5-5 head coach. McDermott could have replaced him as offensive coordinator and may have believed that Josh Allen would cover up the transition, but the results were mixed.

Former Bills OC Ken Dorsey and QB Josh Allen – Photo courtesy of USA Today
If there’s a theme to this list, it’s that many former quarterbacks turned coaches have helped their signal callers improve. Nowhere is that more evident than in Dorsey’s Buffalo days. Allen struggled in his rookie year after being selected No. 7 in the 2018 NFL Draft, but began to turn a corner in 2019.
It was also at this time that Dorsey was brought in as quarterbacks coach, and Allen’s emergence as an elite quarterback is one of the biggest reasons why he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2022.
Dorsey starred in the NFL, returning as quarterback for the 49ers and Browns from 2003 to 2008, before taking a coaching position shortly after his time in the league. Interestingly, he started working as a high school football coach for his Mustangs team at his Lakewood Ranch. Lakewood Ranch, Fla., is less than an hour away from Raymond James Stadium, so he’s used to life in the area.
that It was already revealed that he would interview with the Bucks.so if he becomes the team’s offensive coordinator, he can circle his route.
Kellen Moore – Chargers OC – For now
NFL QB history: Signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2012, went 0-2 as a starter, with 779 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.
Last but not least is Kellen Moore.moore The Bucs were rumored to be interested as offensive coordinator. He was released by the Cowboys after the 2022 season, but that ended quickly, as he found a home with the Chargers a few days later. However, the recent hiring of Jim Harbaugh from Michigan State may force Moore out of town.

Former Chargers OC Kellen Moore and QB Justin Herbert – Photo courtesy of USA Today
It’s no surprise that he was once again on the Bucs’ radar, this time interviewing for the offensive coordinator position.
Moore is only 35 years old and had a stellar college career at Boise State before enjoying a brief NFL career with the Lions and Cowboys. After he hung up his cleats, he quickly traded in for a headset as quarterbacks coach in Dallas and took over as offensive coordinator in 2019. Mike McCarthy kept him in the job after Jason Garrett was fired. Some philosophical differences.
Still, the Cowboys have had a lot of success in that side of their football, and Moore is highly regarded around the league. He’ll be given a chance to call plays again soon, and his next spot could be in Tampa Bay.
Bucs should consider interviewing two more former NFL QBs
Brian Griese – 49ers QB Coach
NFL QB Career: 1998 third-round pick of the Broncos, 45-38 record as a starter, 19,440 passing yards, 119 touchdowns, 99 interceptions.
This would be an interesting reunion for Brian Griese and the Bucks. Griese briefly quarterbacked the team in two different stints. His most notable efforts were from 2004 to 2005. He started 10 games in 2004 and had 2,632 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. In 2005, he started his first six games and led the team to a 5-1 record, but suffered a cap injury with a torn ACL. Griese remained in the league until 2008, but after a brief return to the Bucks, he has had an interesting path.

49ers QB Coach Brian Griese – Photo courtesy of USA Today
From 2009 to 2022, he was employed by ESPN, where he worked as a college football analyst and helped cover Monday Night Football. That was until he started coaching.
The 49-year-old Florida native will travel across the country to San Francisco in 2022 to join the 49ers as quarterbacks coach. The connection is that Kyle Shanahan briefly spent time with the Bucs as the offensive quality control coach in 2004-2005, and Griese was drafted by the Broncos, working under Kyle’s father, Mike Shanahan. He played there for five seasons.
Since joining the 49ers, he has been instrumental in leading and transforming them. Brock Purdy From Mr. Irrelevant to one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. Supporting that claim is the fact that Purdy led the league with a passer rating of 113 and had a 72.8 QBR while throwing for 9.6 yards per attempt.
Having an array of elite playmakers helps, but he doesn’t get enough credit for becoming a borderline elite quarterback in the process. As a result, Griese didn’t get enough success as Purdy’s position coach throughout his NFL career.
Considering Brian Griese is connected to the Bucs and working with one of the best offensive minds in football (and plays for his father), a return to Tampa Bay could make a lot of sense – and he Might stay more loyal to the team and the region. His name is noteworthy.
Mark Brunell – Lions QB Coach
NFL QB Career: 1994 5th round pick of the Packers, 78-73 record as a starter, 32,072 passing yards, 184 touchdowns, 108 interceptions.
Mark Brunell is the best former NFL quarterback named here, a three-time Pro Bowler with the upstart Jaguars in the 1990s, and a long career with few teams. He also has a chance to build a great coaching career, building on what he did with Jared Goff as a quarterbacks coach.

Lions QB Coach Mark Brunell and QB Jared Goff – Photo Credit: USA Today
Brunell has been coaching since leaving the Spikes in 2011, serving as an assistant coach at Providence and then as head coach at Jacksonville Episcopal School from 2013 to 2020. He was hired by the Lions in 2021 after amassing a 51-32-1 record and two conference titles there.
Coincidentally, that was also the time when Goff arrived in the Motor City via trade, and his career was revived playing in the offense under Ben Johnson and Mark Brunell. Many counted Goff out after his time with the Rams, but he rebuilt his reputation, led the Lions to a 31-23 victory over the Bucs and will play in this Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.
For Brunell, Goff’s success could put his name on the offensive coordinator position in the NFL, including with the Bucs. He remained in the league for his final season as a backup and mentor to Mark Sanchez, allowing him to help coach Baker Mayfield and the rest of the Bucs’ offense. He certainly learned quite a bit from Ben Johnson’s scheme and could implement his own version of the scheme in Tampa Bay.