Buccaneers fire OC Josh Grizzard as part of staff overhaul

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired first-year offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard as part of a series of changes to the coaching staff Thursday.

The Buccaneers also fired special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis, defensive line coach Charlie Strong and cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross.

In addition to the firings, Bucs senior offensive consultant Tom Moore, who is 87, retired after 62 years of coaching, and safeties coach Nick Rapone, 69, also retired.

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The coaching staff overhaul came one day after sources confirmed to ESPN that embattled head coach Todd Bowles would return to the Bucs in 2026.

The coaches met with the organization Thursday morning and were informed of the news, among several anticipated changes for the Bucs after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

“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 released by the team. “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.”

Bowles will now be seeking Tampa Bay’s fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons — and the fourth in four seasons for quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the organization is also discussing possibly having a true defensive coordinator, as Bowles has been calling plays since 2019, when he was first Tampa Bay’s defensive coordinator.

Under McGaughey, the Bucs allowed 28.2 yards per kick return — third worst in the league. The Bucs also tied for the league lead in field goals blocked by opponents with three. Tampa Bay’s kickoff coverage situation became such a challenge that late in the season, the Bucs resorted to touchbacks.

Lewis had been with the Buccaneers as an intern since 2020 before serving as assistant wide receivers coach from 2021 to 2022 and his current role since 2023. The thought process behind firing Lewis, according to sources, was to allow the new offensive coordinator the chance to bring in his own quarterbacks coach.

The Bucs (8-9) missed the playoffs this season, ending a streak of four consecutive NFC South division titles, despite winning five of their first six games.

Grizzard was promoted to offensive coordinator in January 2025 to replace Liam Coen, who left the Bucs to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Grizzard previously served as Tampa Bay’s pass game coordinator in 2024 and was responsible for third-down playcalling, which led the league at a 50.9% conversion rate that season.

But with Grizzard as offensive coordinator, the Bucs took several steps backward on offense statistically in 2025, finishing 21st in the NFL in total offense despite an attack led by Mayfield, six-time Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans, star left tackle Tristan Wirfs and promising young running back Bucky Irving.

Tampa Bay went from averaging 28.6 offensive points per game in 2024 with Coen to 21.4 with Grizzard and sank to a 41.2% conversion rate on third down.

Tampa Bay’s offense also was plagued by injuries throughout the season, as Evans, Wirfs, Irving, veteran receiver Chris Godwin Jr., starting offensive linemen Luke Goedeke, Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch, and second-year receiver Jalen McMillan all missed significant time.