Bucs Make Maybe Most Intriguing Hire In Years
February 3rd, 2026
New Bucs QB coach Chandler Whitmer.
The last time Joe felt this good about a Bucs hire of an assistant coach, then-Bucs coach Dirk Koetter hired Southern Miss coach Todd Monken as his wide receivers coach/offensive coordinator.
The first order Koetter gave to Monken was, “Fix Mike Evans.”
Monken today was introduced as the new Browns head coach.
Yes, Bucs coach Todd Bowles hiring Liam Coen was right up there.
Today, the Bucs finalized the hiring of Indiana co-offensive coordinator Chandler Whitmer. The former Illinois and UConn quarterback and highly successful NFL and college assistant is now Baker Mayfield’s new quarterback coach.
Whitmer worked with new Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson in Atlanta when the two helped guide the 2024 Dixie Chicks to the sixth-best offense in the NFL.
A former University of Connecticut quarterback, 34-year-old Whitmer has an unreal resume. It reads like he worked for a Who’s-Who of quarterbacks: C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), Justin Herbert (Los Angeles), Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix (Atlanta) and Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) are the quarterbacks Whitmer has worked with since his second year in coaching back in 2019.
In his one year at Indiana, Whitmer worked directly with Mendoza and transformed the former ok Cal quarterback into a Heisman Trophy-winner and national champion, and quite likely the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft.
If some of the magic Whitmer picked up on the road as a college and NFL offensive assistant rubs off on Mayfield, this fall could be a helluva season for Mayfield and the Bucs.
February 3rd, 2026 at 8:28 pm
Good hire. Hope he stays away from Todd.
February 3rd, 2026 at 8:35 pm
.
We need a quality QB coach to work with the young QB that we draft
February 3rd, 2026 at 8:39 pm
Love this hire!
February 3rd, 2026 at 8:41 pm
I would ask, “Maybe our future Head Coach?”… but I wondered that about Canales and Liam Coen..
February 3rd, 2026 at 8:44 pm
F.T.B.
February 3rd, 2026 at 8:50 pm
If only the HC/DC wasn’t such trash!
February 3rd, 2026 at 8:52 pm
I would agree Hunter dude sounds like he could be the next one
February 3rd, 2026 at 8:54 pm
Still no defensive hire? At all??????
February 3rd, 2026 at 9:02 pm
Front office doing good stuff. Hope this continue through the draft and FA
February 3rd, 2026 at 9:19 pm
Makes zero difference. Zero.
February 3rd, 2026 at 9:21 pm
Maybe now other coaches won’t be afraid to sign on with this and our OC. We’ll see. Taking a while.
February 3rd, 2026 at 9:31 pm
Our defense sucks.
February 3rd, 2026 at 9:36 pm
Gotta say… The offensive coaching hires are starting to look good. I’ve got a little “Fire Bowles” fatigue and I’m opening up to the idea that the offense gets fixed and Todd gets crazy aggressive with his back against the wall.
February 3rd, 2026 at 9:37 pm
I like both hires Robinson and Whitmer also both are in their 30’s. BMy wish scenario is, if the Bucs are successful in 026, Robinson and Whitmer will stick around through the 027 season , Bowles would then retire or move into the office, Robinson moves to HC and Whitmer to OC. Of course first they would have to put a good offense on the field . Next both would have to choose to stay in Tampa another year and last Bowles would have to agree to retire or move to the office. I just don’t think the Bucs will fire Bowles unless he have a bad 026 season and if that happens the Glazer then have to take a deep look at the offense before giving Robinson the keys to One Bucs Place. Just wishful thinking here.
February 3rd, 2026 at 9:47 pm
I like it if Zac and Baker like it. Shlt, I’d take anybody from IU’s staff – lol.
Baker needs coaches who have enough ego strength to really coach him imo. I’m not really impressed with the guys he’s coached as a pro before but that’s not necessarily on him.
@Buccaneer Bonzai
You would think we would hear some kinda something about D assistant hires by now but better to get the right guys vs rushing so we’ll be happy I guess.
Who did we retain (aside from Todd) on the D side ?
February 3rd, 2026 at 10:04 pm
Now get a dc and fix that scheme or all of this wont matter much.
February 3rd, 2026 at 10:20 pm
One of the worst secondaries in the league needing defensive backs coaches plural and crickets. As usual this team will go as far as the offense takes it
February 3rd, 2026 at 10:45 pm
I really like the hire…The guy is a riser!! Give Whitmer 3-4yrs he will be an OC & on HC interview short lists. (College & NFL)
Knowing that Baker is 1yr out from FA & carrying either a 2026 cap hit = $40M (OverTheCap) or $51.975M (Spotrac)…Who knows which is correct, but either way it’s serious coinage…And 100% knowing that Bake will command north of either of those #’s once he hits FA after 2026.
I wonder if Licht has the fortitude / foresight to draft an heir apparent successor QB like ALA’s Ty Simpson should he fall to #15???
Any Bucs fan with a little sense can see a major roster reboot is just around the corner & there’s no telling if the significant list of soon-to-be very expensive Bucs UFA’s after 2026/2027 are in the Bucs long-term future.
I’m kind of the mindset that it might well in the Bucs interest to give the new QB coach a year to mold the NEXT…And start planning for the future now, should the opportunity arise on Day1.
Regardless, the Jets are likely thinking that they can grab Simpson at #16, if LV refuses to accept a king’s offer for the #1 pick…If that’s the case – Licht could extract at minimum the Jets 4th rd/#103 just to swap down to 16 & allow NYJ take the kid at 15.
Just a random thought.
February 3rd, 2026 at 11:09 pm
He doesn’t suck.
February 3rd, 2026 at 11:12 pm
Maybe a desperate Bowles-is better than a comfortable Bowles. Is there any hope? It’s a Bucs life
February 3rd, 2026 at 11:14 pm
If they succeed on offense make Zac HC and Whitmer OC to keep them from leaving
February 3rd, 2026 at 11:20 pm
why does the defensive coaching staff still look like an unorganized mess? You can easily tell that bowles has nothing to do with the offensive coaching hires
February 3rd, 2026 at 11:30 pm
BigPoppaBuc Says:
February 3rd, 2026 at 9:36 pm
Gotta say… The offensive coaching hires are starting to look good. I’ve got a little “Fire Bowles” fatigue and I’m opening up to the idea that the offense gets fixed and Todd gets crazy aggressive with his back against the wall.
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Agreed Big Poppa. I have no doubts about our offense with the offensive coaching upgrades — if we have our O-Line healthy and not high risk for injury during the first third of the season. And, Todd certainly has his back against the wall.
Just hoping — as I was last preseason — that our draft focus would be on defense. That house needs to be rebuilt!
Of course you always want to draft the best player available when your number is called. Last year we had the same priority needs, but drafted Emeka in round 1. But who could be happier in hind-sight.
We simply can’t prioritize offensive players this year.
The mantra in this year’s draft needs to be “draft the best defensive player available”.
Fill in other gaps in FA.
February 4th, 2026 at 12:04 am
Go get Justin Fields as backup 🤙🏾
February 4th, 2026 at 1:35 am
“Worked with Herbert, Lawrence, Fields, Cousins and now Mendoza”
Not a bad list of NFL QBs me thinks. Good hire!
Go Bucs!
February 4th, 2026 at 2:08 am
yep, baker will teach him a thing or two
February 4th, 2026 at 3:29 am
It’s awesome, since the defense needs no help at all. Super Bowles
February 4th, 2026 at 4:42 am
Joe, you’re right. That’s quite a resume of quarterbacks he’s worked with.
I’d love to be a fly on the wall for a conversation between him, Zac, Todd and Jason about how he and the rest of the coaching staff at IU got that team to go from total unknowns to national champions in one year.
You’ve got to believe there’d be some good takeaways for us to use as we head into the ’26 season.
I’m also curious as to what he saw in our team that made him say “yes” to the offer. Baker obviously had something to do with that, but what were the other things?
This looks like a real good hire.
February 4th, 2026 at 6:29 am
BigPoppaBuc Says:
February 3rd, 2026 at 9:36 pm
Gotta say… The offensive coaching hires are starting to look good. I’ve got a little “Fire Bowles” fatigue and I’m opening up to the idea that the offense gets fixed and Todd gets crazy aggressive with his back against the wall.
***********
I too am intrigued by the new hire now that I have read this article and fan comments. I am also fatigued with the calls for Todd’ head. This hiring has raised my spirits some.
Go Bucs!
February 4th, 2026 at 7:04 am
Nice, now let’s go get Jack Strand. Wouldn’t even let him hit the UDFA market, draft him in the 7th.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:11 am
“” I am also fatigued with the calls for Todd’ head.””
Are ya now? Well ya better get used to it. It’s not going away. In fact it’s going to get worse as the offseason continues. Being that about 90% of the fans despise Bowles and his spectacular incompetency your fatigue is going to get a workout over the next several months.
February 4th, 2026 at 7:53 am
Well since our defense is in a RINSE AND REPEAT mode with Todd this hire is intriguing to say the least. I could see Todd fired in January. This time next year Zac HC and Whitmer as OC.
Let’s go!!!!!!
February 4th, 2026 at 8:02 am
Very nice! When I heard we had interest in him, I was hoping for this signing. Now get a backup QB we can depend on.
February 4th, 2026 at 8:16 am
They’re fixing the defense by making the offense significantly better, on paper at least.
Front office knows that Todd sucks so we’re going to have to score more points than this defense will allow.
February 4th, 2026 at 8:57 am
Can he rush the Passer too? lol
February 4th, 2026 at 9:40 am
So, upon thinking about it…this hire, while a good one, also gives me reason to be concerned.
In a make or break year like this one, we could see a bold move in the draft…like trading up in the first to take Fernando Mendoza.
If that is the plan I am 100% against it. The cost in picks would set the defensive rebuild back 3-4 years. We need the a minimum of 3 defensive picks in the first 4 rounds.
On top of that, Fernando Mendoza has some serious red flags for me…though I’m willing to admit I could be wrong about him.
February 4th, 2026 at 9:53 am
“In a make or break year like this one, we could see a bold move in the draft…like trading up in the first to take Fernando Mendoza.”
No way we’re jumping 14 spots for that kid, but I would say to you Whitmers’ experience working with pro bound and young pro QBs is really telling that we’ll likely be bringing in a young guy.
My hope is it’s a big, tall qb, with a strong enough arm and even better touch/accuracy just in need of some time acclimating to playing the pro game against pro talent.
That’s why I like this Jack Strand kid, been on his case since the end of November and while yes he played D2 ball, but you give that kid a pro OL, WRs, and backfield he’ll fit right in.
February 4th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Cool. Looks like Evan Longoria’s cousin
Go Bucs!
February 4th, 2026 at 10:06 am
WBL, I like the Strand kid too. If we could get him in the 6th round he might be a steal. But I’d rather have Flacco. Someone oughta be giving him a call. Maybe we could get both of them.
February 4th, 2026 at 10:25 am
Now he needs a QB with longer arms to throw over the D line.
February 4th, 2026 at 10:33 am
“WBL, I like the Strand kid too. If we could get him in the 6th round he might be a steal.”
He’s not even being projected beyond the 7th. With that in mind pre-combine, IF we can somehow maneuver into an additional pick in the 6th round, I’d be all for taking a chance on him in the 6th.
6’3, about 230-240lbs, mobile enough to slide and sink in the pocket and I’ve seen enough on/off platform throws with him maintaining his accuracy to know the talent is there.
Again, We could draft him and not need him one bit in ’26, but I think with Whitmers’ track record of QBs he’s worked would make for an interesting pairing in the short-intermediate term.
The only thing is, the whole league knows about this kid and all it takes is one maniac GM to spend a 4th rounder on him to rain on my parade lol
February 4th, 2026 at 10:41 am
Vanessa Anne Says:
February 4th, 2026 at 4:42 am
Joe, you’re right. That’s quite a resume of quarterbacks he’s worked with.
I’d love to be a fly on the wall for a conversation between him, Zac, Todd and Jason about how he and the rest of the coaching staff at IU got that team to go from total unknowns to national champions in one year.
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That’s the thing, they weren’t UNKNOWNS last year. They won 10+ games last year and played in the Big-10 championship game. The year before, without their current staff, I think they were a three win team… then Cignetti was hired and brought a ton (13) players with him from JMU where he won 10+ games his last season… then he got a slew of other transfers. That’s how they won. Transfer players. That’s how UVa went from last place in the ACC to playing in the ACC Championship game in one season…. transfers.
February 4th, 2026 at 10:47 am
Would be a lot more excited if they hired a DC and told Bowles to be hands off.
One can only dream.
February 4th, 2026 at 10:48 am
“then Cignetti was hired and brought a ton (13) players with him from JMU where he won 10+ games his last season…”
Yup. Surrat, Ponds, Kamara, Black, & Carpenter, just to name a few lol
The Indiana Hoosier-Dukes
February 4th, 2026 at 10:53 am
Can he coach defense? If not, then who cares.
We’ve seen peak Baker Mayfield, and he still couldn’t overcome the Bowles defensive scheme.
February 4th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Need.defensive hires.
February 4th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
This is the NFL not college. James was a Heisman and #1 pick ….
February 4th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Should have hired gurus Warren Brooks Lynch and Rod Munch
February 4th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Sounds great. JOE so glad you referenced the fix Mike Evans. He had a bad case of the dropsies. Otton gets hated by a lot including you Joe and he wasn’t as bad as Mikey was or how EE had a lot of drops. Show me one offensive player that hasn’t turned the ball over. You can’t everyone has. Otton and the rest of the team had a down year other than that Otton has developed very nicely
February 4th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
“Should have hired gurus Warren Brooks Lynch and Rod Munch”
Maybe watch more football, you can have an informed opinion too
February 4th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Guru Warren so watching football makes you more qualified then the coaches and GM. That definitely expands the applicant pool.
February 4th, 2026 at 8:26 pm
Guru? Nope. Just a fan of the game itself, first and foremost
I won’t give you want you want though, Rocket10.
So keep reading, comment more and Go Bucs! 😁
February 4th, 2026 at 11:30 pm
Bowles is an excellent coach. The injury bug got us last year. If we avoid that this year the NFC South will be ours again.
February 5th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
I like this hire on several levels
And among them is the thought that if the offense does well next year and Robinson gets hired away as an HC somewhere, Whitmer’s here with the potential to be the next OC … possibly a good one, but at least some continuity of system
February 7th, 2026 at 7:05 pm
OC, QB Coach and Passing Game coordinators play key parts in making the offenses elite. This hire plus Zac Robinson as OC fits with Baker and what makes this offense pushing towards elite. Sorry Gizzard was not the right person but he never had the pedigree. Gizzard was a Bowles’ comfort zone pick rather than feasting from the McVey tree again. Dang shame we didn’t pick Mike LaFleur to be our OC last year. He would have taken the job to call plays for Baker the Head Coach Maker.
Putting on my Swami hat, could mean the offense will rock again. We’ll make waves in the playoffs. Bowles gets to stay another two years and Robinson gets a HC job in 2027. Then it’s next man up, Whitmer will be Baker’s 5th OC in 5th year at Tampa in 2027. I know that sucks for many Bucs fans but we could be in worst situations. At least we aren’t the Browns wasting Myles Garrett and that elite defense to take last place in the division every year.