Jeff Darlington Thinks A Mike McDaniel-Bucs Marriage Isn’t Crazy
January 10th, 2026
Bucs target for OC?
Joe had former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel coming to the Bucs before McDaniel had a chance to pound a shot to get over the shock of getting canned in South Florida.
McDaniel is regarded as one of the sharpest offensive minds in the Mike Shanahan tree. The Bucs would be wise to pounce on him.
One guy heavily plugged in to not just the Bucs but the Dolphins, the pride of Seminole High School, Jeff Darlington of ESPN, doesn’t think linking McDaniel to the Bucs is crazy. In fact, he specifically brought up the Bucs in relation to McDaniel.
Darlington believes McDaniel would be interested in running the Tampa Bay offense.
“I’ve been texting with McDaniel, and he’s already willing to take on another challenge, whether that’s an offensive coordinator role like the Bucs have, or a head coaching opportunity, perhaps with the Cleveland Browns or a team like that remains to be seen. But I can tell you that McDaniel and any vacancy for an offensive coordinator job, seems like something we should be paying attention to.”
Then yesterday on Twitter, Darlington had an interesting retweet of a Bucs fan typing that Darlington linked McDaniel to the Bucs.
You can see the Twitter where Darlington used a pair of eyes. For those who are unfamiliar with the ways of social media, a pair of eyes means “look” or “look out.”
Joe would be very interested to see McDaniel work with Baker Mayfield. Further, Joe wonders if McDaniel could help lure back Mike Evans for just one more season. His 2023 Dolphins offense ranked No. 1 in the yards per carry, rushing touchdowns, passing yards and total yards. And those Dolphins ranked second in yards per pass attempt and total points.
January 10th, 2026 at 1:01 am
This is not happening 🤣🤣🤣 lions or Bucs 🤣🤣🤣I’m take the Detroit job all day. What !!! Coaching with Danny C.
January 10th, 2026 at 1:02 am
This would actually get me excited. We’re not getting a new DC, we’re going to have to SCORE! MM with our weapons would be a legitimate Offense EVERY week.
January 10th, 2026 at 1:11 am
No one sane would work fo Bowzo and Bud Licht.
January 10th, 2026 at 1:23 am
MM would come to the Bucs over Lions….
Dan Campbell would steal th playcalling away from MM if he doesn’t like what’s going on there….Bowles sure as hell wouldn’t.
MM would befriend for the next HC as well and get to still enjoy the Florida weather, and a team with a top 5 WR arsenal to play with…
January 10th, 2026 at 1:34 am
He’s going to be a head coach. Way too many vacancies out there this year.
January 10th, 2026 at 1:40 am
He needs to be offered whatever it takes, inckuding the HC position, he had the same record as Bowles with lesser talent, tougher division, injuries to Tua, could be better with JL as the GM, better culture, offense with studs everywhere. Imo its a no brainer because the risk is so little to do so, but has higher upside. The Bucs cant afford to lose Baker if they are in the same situation next yea, if it goes well this year as HC then it would offer Baker continuity for the first time in his career
January 10th, 2026 at 1:41 am
So JBF is ‘Moving On’ from the Bowles decision. OK it will fade away and looks like the fans on the run will frlock back to the NFL hype. Soon after the SB the pre season hype will begin and it will be lapped up. My Sister says she does not care just likes to watch football on Saturday and Sunday. Let the games begin. Who has the head bag franchise? They will sell better than the hats.
January 10th, 2026 at 1:42 am
If I were McDannels I would come to Tampa over Detroit’s OC. Especially if the Glazers gave him some type of some unofficial assurance he would get first dibs on the head coaching job if Bowles defense doesn’t improve.
January 10th, 2026 at 2:27 am
if i’m mcdaniels, i’m coming to the bucs…
bowles job security is a puddle of quicksand in the swampy panhandle…
and i would ask them to resign rachaad white, if i’m mcdaniels…
keep the3 headed monster with a mcdaniel’s playbook…
keep the stacked receiver room, including ME13…
ask mcdaniel if he wants otton…or the dude playing TE in arizona…lol…one can dream…
roll with mcdaniels, imho…
unless…hopefully he doesn’t define himself by pronouns lol
January 10th, 2026 at 3:10 am
I could go for that. Sorta.
January 10th, 2026 at 4:21 am
I’m thinking he’s destined for a head coach gig! But we can hope!
January 10th, 2026 at 4:37 am
The Glazers don’t want Mike D, they wanted Harbaugh if he would have work the Gm here. HC for the Raiders is good landing spot.Ya’ll are going to be disappointed They won’t even ask him for an interview. Goff is a better qb than Baker.
Don’t give me #’s the eye test says it all. Where’s the Giants x coach ? I don’t want to hear about OC in the playoffs right now “ waiting to be interviewed by the Bucs 🤣🤣🤣 what a lateral move 👏🏾👏🏾🤣🤣🤣
January 10th, 2026 at 4:50 am
The time to have just bitten the bullet, blown-it all up, and started the rebuild, would’ve been before the ‘deadline’ when we were like 2-6 or whatever it was in year-2 of Bowles. Well, no… Since, it wouldn’t had made a bit of damn difference anyway, with JL as GM. HE CANNOT BE part of ANY future ‘rebuild’ from here on out. If it’s another complete total disaster again this year, then BOTH LICKT AND BOWLES MUST BE LAUNCHED. Bottomline. Period. End of Story.
January 10th, 2026 at 4:55 am
Would love to see this happen. Reading the ones being interviewed so far seem weak. Bucs need to go bold.
January 10th, 2026 at 5:03 am
I would def agree the Lions Job would be much more premo – much MUCH more speed to play with, with Gibbs, Jameson, and St Brown. Frankly would be a way more fun to design plays with a more expansive playbook. The defense has much more young talent. The tards poo pooing the interview of Callahan and Robinson need to level set expectations and stop being delusional about their own team like we can just grab whoever we want. The Bucs immediate future is in a weird place right now. Not to mention you might only be here for a year
January 10th, 2026 at 5:06 am
Miami ‘THOUGHT’ they had “Old Hairball” locked up! He might still be heading there yet, BUT word is the GIANTS has caught his eye!!!! I don’t blame him… It’s NYC and I really like their YOUNG TALENT. Especially, IF they can extend WanDale, and can get Carter to get his head out of his ass. They can get good in a hurry… Nabers is ELECTRIC. An absolute FREAK. A TOP-5 WR, when healthy 💯. A Mamdani NYC could be a MAJOR ‘negative’ for them, though! Honestly, I cannot see HIM at either place… BOTH need YOUNG ‘Energetic’ HC’s, and preferably FO’s.
January 10th, 2026 at 5:16 am
We don’t have the type of ROSTER that McDaniel even likes. He wants and needs ‘ELITE’ SPEED. We just don’t have it. Really, anywhere on the roster. That’s JL (and Bowles) FOR YA. Their entirely completely FLAWED SYSTEM of Drafting Players, Evaluating TALENT, and with just overall Roster Construction.
January 10th, 2026 at 5:47 am
MelvinJunior – McDaniel has been with different teams for 20 years. One huge advantage is that McDaniel and his family may want to stay in FL and not make a big move to another state again. That could be a positive for us.
January 10th, 2026 at 5:52 am
He is a great offensive mind and probably could be our next coach if he does a great job here! I think that is part of the reason he might take the job.
January 10th, 2026 at 5:52 am
I can’t see Toilet Bowles working with that much personality
January 10th, 2026 at 5:59 am
But why would Bowles hire his future replacement? Wouldn’t Bowles be under extreme pressure if the offense plays well, and defense sucks
January 10th, 2026 at 6:12 am
Dan the Bucs Fan – Agree too.
January 10th, 2026 at 6:33 am
The Bucs job is not a job anyone wants. The owners kept the HC due to financial reasons, if the HC fails again in 2026 he’s done. So that makes the OC and every other coaching spot likely a one year gig based on Bowles 4 year track record with the Bucs.
The Bucs are once again find themselves in having to promote people into positions that they previously haven’t held. This sometimes works but when you have to do this with so many vacancies, the chance of success is very small.
January 10th, 2026 at 6:49 am
They gave us Lovie, Koetter, Bowles. Bruce failed, till Brady came. The Glazers aren’t good at hiring head coaches. Wouldn’t matter if they fired Todd , they’d just hire another loser. They let Coen out of the building. Clueless billionaires who think they’re smarter than the rest of us. Hopefully a Gruden, or a Brady type fall on their laps, only way we win again.
January 10th, 2026 at 7:02 am
Meh.
January 10th, 2026 at 7:07 am
A) Hugh Glazerhouse won’t pay up, B) he and Toilet Bowles would kill each other, 3) he stinks
January 10th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Unfortunately, @Cardiac Kidz is right. The Bucs the TEAM is not a bad gig, but the situation every assistant position is in is terrible. Everyone knows the fan base doesn’t like Bowles, he’s on thin ice, and he always throws his coaches under the bus and doesn’t (really) take personal responsibility. It’s likely a one-year job. We should’ve just got rid of the head coach, and then all the assistant coaches would come in with him. The Glazers put the organization in a very rough spot.
January 10th, 2026 at 7:28 am
It may come down to whether he prefers living in Florida, or in Michigan.
January 10th, 2026 at 7:42 am
Washington is out of the picture, they promoted from within to OC
January 10th, 2026 at 7:54 am
Living in Miami and then go to Detroit? Or Cleveland? I doubt that. He should come here with the plan being replace Todd after next season IF the offense is. Top 10.
January 10th, 2026 at 7:57 am
Damn. McDonald is a recovering alcoholic and you have him pounding shots.
January 10th, 2026 at 8:04 am
Not going to happen. He’ll get a HC job.
January 10th, 2026 at 8:38 am
Ego is a REAL consideration
So higher a successful OC and then go looking for another for 2027 when the 2026 OC gets hired away as HC
😆😆😆😆 psychotic laughter 🤭
January 10th, 2026 at 8:47 am
Dont know if that can happen but I think it would be great. Get somebody good already before the good ones are gone. Or wait till the last minute as usual.
January 10th, 2026 at 9:20 am
The only thing the Bucs have over Lions is the weather. I just can’t fathom why any coach worth a crap would walk into this situation? It’s the same 2 unaccountable guys driving the boat that’s headed toward the iceberg.
January 10th, 2026 at 9:33 am
So much to unpack here. McD and his family will not take the job @ one Buc. Because they won’t interview him. All coaches and players in all sports have some type of ego, that what get’s you to these levels. Mc D has way too much swag he would be fan favorite. Do we have good wr sure but they are not separation wide receivers. I love our Bucs and I like playing match maker. It’s fun
because I played ball in college met a lot of Hall of Fame players when the pro Bowl was here in Hawai’i. This HC here has an ego also. So ? Has this HC ever had a coach under his watch defensively go on to show his coaching tree ?But he’s
a defensive guru.
January 10th, 2026 at 9:44 am
Being in Ohio, I only have to look next door for a perfect example of what makes a football team great. Indiana isn’t packed with elite players at every position. Yet, when you watch them you see a cohesiveness among the players that looks more like a brotherhood. Yes, it is college, but the principal is the same: their coach has them believing in themselves and in his vision of who they are. They are running like a well-oiled machine. That begins with the coach.
Hands in the air if you think Todd bowles is that kind of a coach?
January 10th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Mc D:to the Raiders or Giants
Brian Flores:to Atlanta 😮 and go get little K. Murray he has gun he just seems
he doesn’t want to play football sometimes🤣🤣
send Cousins to The Browns and hired that Dc from the chargers the whole league loves so much ( Everett)
Harbor’s may be asking too much for his services.( Giants)
January 10th, 2026 at 9:47 am
The offense will need to score 30 to 40 points a game to have any chance of a win with Bowles pathetic defense
January 10th, 2026 at 9:52 am
What’s the story on Dan Lanning, Oregon HC? Looks like he has produced some pretty decent QBs and good offenses over the past few years? Talk to him about OC position.
January 10th, 2026 at 9:52 am
HMMMMMM???? CHRYSTAL BALL TIME? Let’s see: i see Mc Daniel’s not WANTING for all the
DYSFUNCTION RIGHT NOW to come to the Bucs, and having to look over his shoulder with Bowleso checking his every play call. Also he doesn’t have the horses he had in Miami on this offense, so it might make his job really hard being successful and keeping Bowleso off his back.
Frankly all I see is management going the cheap route and hiring a second level coordinator bottom line.
January 10th, 2026 at 9:54 am
Bucs arent going to get him.
Every single one of these head coach openings will also be hiring an OC and staff. The Bucs will get whats left at the bottom of the pile for assistants when the dust settles with their current coaching situation.
January 10th, 2026 at 9:57 am
Might be a good fit. With McDaniels as OC for a year or two, and the promise when TB is gone McDaniels becomes the HC. Pretty sure with a solid OC ME13 would come back for another year. 2025 was essentially an off year for ME with injuries. Don’t think he wants to end his career on that note.
January 10th, 2026 at 9:57 am
This team has a lot of offensive firepower, so any offensive coordinator should be interested in this job. Look, we have thought Todd has been on the hot seat for three years and obviously he is not. If he survived last year I’m not sure what it would take for him to get fired. This team’s defensive coordinator is the bottom five year after year and he somehow keeps his job. This team should be able to sell job security from that fact alone. Now, if this team brings in some chump, another Gizzard type hire; this team is tanking for a top five pick next year. I believe that because why would keep Bowles when his body of work shows this game has passed him by. It’s going to be a long year next year folks.
January 10th, 2026 at 10:00 am
If Jason was the guru everyone think he is then swing for the Fences. I like this just fun thoughts draft the Ole Miss qb in round 3 ( maybe to high this Gm has done dumber ish)I know he’s only 6’1 but he’s has gun and can create let him sit under Baker.
Now here’s the fun part pry and seduce Charlie W Jr. from LSU as OC now 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🤙🏾
January 10th, 2026 at 10:08 am
“But I can tell you that McDaniel and any vacancy for an offensive coordinator job, seems like something we should be paying attention to.”
Well head coaching the Browns would be a career killer.
January 10th, 2026 at 10:11 am
McDannels would be a good one. Not only could he possibly become the next coach, but if he does a good job he would be offered a HC job within a year elsewhere.
Regardless of what the trolls are claiming, the Bucs are a ticket to success within a year…if you are good at your job.
January 10th, 2026 at 10:13 am
Tim burke Says:
“DYSFUNCTION”
Mind making a list of those dysfunctions?
Because there are not a lot of them.
With the recent firings, McDannels would pretty much get to pick his own staff and be in line for a future head coaching job.
Not going to get that elsewhere.
January 10th, 2026 at 10:29 am
This makes sense for a few reasons ,,
He hates the cold ,, you can see it every time the dolphins played up north,,, so Cleveland and Detroit are out!
He won’t have a HC interfering , it will be more of a Coen /Bowles relationship
No state income tax,,,
Has some tools to work with,, can get that rushing game up to par
Proven spot to become head coach again , 2 out of last 3 OCs have become HCs right away,, heck he can even bring grizzz back to help him ( they worked together)
Did I mention he hates cold!!!
January 10th, 2026 at 10:58 am
Belows is not going to hire McDaniel. He doesn’t want to be shown up again. He’ll get a loser like Callahan so he can blame the offense for not bailing out his “crap the bed” defense. Obviously the Glazers are letting Jason let Belows keep his defensive responsibilities. Jason is digging his own grave with this.
2027 will be like 2009 all over again.
January 10th, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joe, Mike McDaniel has been sober since 2016…
January 10th, 2026 at 11:07 am
Seems like an easy and attractive sell. Tell him we want to promote from with in the organization. Bowles will be here till 2028. Stay in Florida, warm climate, no state taxes, be the oc for two years with an offense that was proven under cohen, and then the hc job is yours. If McDaniels went for it, we might be able to get Mike back for another year and even possibly keep Rashad. Just imagine the wizardry of McDaniels, baker, Mike, chris, McMillan, Mek, Irving, white, and Tucker. Defenses would be F@#ked!
Then go get Raheem for the dc job and let him run the defense with Bowles offering the occasional inputs but Raheem has final say. Seems like another easy sell, twice a year you get the opportunity to ruin your former bosses world and make sure they’re never part of any conversations.
January 10th, 2026 at 11:10 am
I dont see anyone worth a crao coming to tampa. Mediocrity is the standard keeping Bowles
January 10th, 2026 at 11:19 am
Why would McDaniel come here? He saw, firsthand, how horrible the lame-duck Bowles defense is. This clown is going to have to find inexperienced guys who are looking to add to their resume.
January 10th, 2026 at 11:20 am
Bucs should heavily pursue him. With those number in Miami he could do better with the talent of our offense. If he came here for could totally see him eventually taking over as head coach.
January 10th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Bowles doesn’t hire coaches that have a remote chance of doing better than his wet paper bag coaching style.
This team is going backwards with Bowles here.
The Glazers will regret not cleaning house this year, and launching a new lost decade
January 10th, 2026 at 11:30 am
Lightningvinny1 Says:
January 10th, 2026 at 10:29 am
This makes sense for a few reasons ,,
He hates the cold ,, you can see it every time the dolphins played up north,,, so Cleveland and Detroit are out!
He won’t have a HC interfering , it will be more of a Coen /Bowles relationship
No state income tax,,,
Has some tools to work with,, can get that rushing game up to par
Proven spot to become head coach again , 2 out of last 3 OCs have become HCs right away,, heck he can even bring grizzz back to help him ( they worked together)
Did I mention he hates cold!!!
++++++++++++++++++++++
Good points! Hope he comes in to interview. And we have a De’von Achane in Sean Tucker with 4..3 speed.
January 10th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Glazers ware probably justifiably concerned that with 6-8 head coaching spots being vacant Bucs could end up with a worse or more uncertain option thanTodd B. Several problems on offense : Baker does not have reliable arm strength to throw down the field. Too bad that Bucky Irving can pull off an occasional TD but can fail when you need 1-2 yards on 4th down. On defense better deployment of cornerbacks and safeties can greatly improve pass defense as done by current teams in playoff.
January 10th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Why do the gurus on here keep saying they have a lot of OFf firepower
Their 2 best receivers are old, slow and injury prone, they can’t pass block and their quarterback is dynamic when not banged up, but rarely stays healthy
January 10th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
I’m pretty dumb, but this feels like a really easy sell. Bowles extension goes till 2028 and the upper brass has made it clear they really like him. Tell McDaniels we want to create stability and promote from with in the organization. Come be our oc for two years, stay in Florida, warm climate, no state tax, with a proven offense under Cohen. Bowles then gets the BA deal and McDaniels gets promoted to hc. With McDaniels as oc we could probably get Mike back for another year and possibly even keep Rashad. Imagine the wizardry of McDaniels, baker, Mike, Chris, McMillan, Mek, Irving, white, and Tucker? Defenses would be F@#ked!
Then go sell Raheem on the dc job. Give him full control of the defense and the play calling. Let bowles provide input but Raheem gets final say. Pay him well and twice a year he gets to ruin his former bosses world by making sure they are never even mentioned in the conversation
January 10th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
I would love this hire, but I don’t think he wants to work for Toad.
January 10th, 2026 at 12:27 pm
True that! But, it is a clear succession path to HC. I can imagine the team going 7-10 and averaging 30 ppg, then bye bye Bowles & Licht
January 10th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Wise people often sacrifice present self for future self. Playing the long game can yield greater dividends
January 10th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Geez, I just want a new DC. I know the Bucs will probably get an experienced OC that can work with Baker, but keeping Bowles as DC is really scary. I also hope that Licht is forced into getting some muscle on the D line in free agency.
January 10th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
I think it would be an attractive option because obviously he would then replace Bowles in a year or two. It’s up to the glaciers to spell this out that becomes almost a more attractive option than you right back at the head coaching.
January 10th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
He could be our next head coach after next year. He has all the weapons to consider and I think our offense ceiling is way higher than Detroit.
January 10th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
Concur with Bonzai Buc in preceding comment. What dysfunction? Bucs are a relatively stable organization. They’re not the Browns or Jets. C’mon, man.
-> We had one down season and need experienced/innovative OC talent to win another SuperBowl* – which would permanently enhance the fortunes for every coach involved. Especially the OC who will be completely left alone to run their own offense.
->Bowles is also on record saying retirement is not far off and TB will be last NFL stint. Hello, succession plan!
Side Note: is it me or did Mike McDaniel always looks like he just came straight from South Beach club to the game? Don’t know why I get a kick out of that but I do. Club Mike’s tanking Dolphins still beat us. Party on, Mike.
*Don’t laugh. Remember how you felt before the bye just a few months ago?