There Is A Reason Mike McDaniel Is Taking His Time
January 13th, 2026
Reason for foot-dragging.
Yesterday, the pride of Seminole High School, ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, made a point on Twitter that Bucs fans starting to freak out that the Bucs haven’t interviewed McDaniel yet should take a deep breath.
Darlington has more than hinted there is interest from McDaniel in the Bucs opening for offensive coordinator. But, Darlington noted, McDaniel is taking his time.
Well, Albert Breer of SI.com spilled the beans why McDaniel is taking his time. It seems, per Breer, McDaniel is very tight with San Francisco defensive coordinator Mr. Clean. And it appears NFL teams with head coach openings want to bring Mr. Clean in their building to talk turkey about being a head coach. Again.
So why is McDaniel dragging his feet? It smells like, per Breer, that Mr. Clean and McDaniel may have a handshake deal: That if Mr. Clean gets another head coaching gig, McDaniel will be his offensive coordinator.
Speaking of McDaniel, his bond with Robert Saleh, and potential to be OC for Saleh, could enhance the 49ers defensive coordinator’s candidacy for some jobs, as Saleh enters the head coach interview process this week.
And there is another reason McDaniel is being methodical with his time: If he really does want to wait to see what happens with Mr. Clean, NFL teams cannot interview Mr. Clean in person until the 49ers are eliminated from the playoffs.
January 13th, 2026 at 12:05 am
Bummer. He’s the only one I’d get excited about.
January 13th, 2026 at 12:07 am
Lame duck 2026
January 13th, 2026 at 12:17 am
The Atlanta Falcons interviewed Mike McDaniel for their HC position
January 13th, 2026 at 12:19 am
Countdown to IBS final day as Bucs HC in 12 months!
January 13th, 2026 at 12:26 am
I’d take salah and McDaniel over bowels and whoever they pick honestly
January 13th, 2026 at 12:42 am
Fire Bowles and sign the package deal. Salah’s defense is way better than Todd’s anyways.
January 13th, 2026 at 1:15 am
Damn if I was Mike I’m trying to go to the Raiders him and Baldy.Max will stay.
Oh boy. Go after a disgruntle Aj Brown yikes
January 13th, 2026 at 1:47 am
I can see Saleh going to the Falcons and bringing McDaniels with him. Falcons have talent on offense and two up and coming edge rushers
January 13th, 2026 at 1:55 am
No Qb KjH🤷🏾♂️
January 13th, 2026 at 1:56 am
My bad KgH
January 13th, 2026 at 1:57 am
Let’s just bring back Leftwich then. Seem to be running out of people that it’ll probably get to where they’ll just say forget it & just bring him back.💩 Anything to save themselves $$$$.
January 13th, 2026 at 2:37 am
We suck
January 13th, 2026 at 2:38 am
The Buca will get whatevers left when the dust settles to fill out their coaching staff. None of these guys are going to jump to sign a contract in Tampa while there are still job openings elsewhere.
January 13th, 2026 at 2:39 am
I was wondering why McDaniel did not hire Saleh as his DC for the Fins so I did some checking and the Fins DC is Anthony Weaver who did a good job with the Fins in his first year of the job in 2024, but fell off this past season as the Fns started slow but was able to outcoach Grizzard (who was also handicapped by Bowles). Weaver actually interviewed for the head coaching job in Baltimore, perhaps a Rooney rule interview but he seems like he has an upside, more than Bowles as a DC.
January 13th, 2026 at 2:39 am
Isn’t McDaniel a candidate for some of the HC openings? Just saying that He would want to at least keep that iron in the fire.
Go Bucs!
January 13th, 2026 at 2:45 am
Guys, the Bucs is a desireable job if someone is confident enough to think they can do what Canales and Coen did which in Canales’ case was coach O just well enough to overcome Bowles’ defensive playcalling deficiencies and get the Carolina gig. Also, the Bucs have enough talent on O that a really confident OC would strive to get a top 5 or top 10 O next season and then use that to spring board to an HC job or if Bowles manages to drag the team down again, become HC of the Bucs when Bowels gets flushed. I know the trolls who plague this board really are thinking no one wants the Buc job but history has proven that even with Bowles running things, the talent is here to make it a positive on one’s resume.
January 13th, 2026 at 2:52 am
Some of these coaching candidates might actually think they could be the next Liam Coen and if you can succeed with Bowles as your HC, then you have proven you can do well in adverse conditions for sure. It worked for Coen and someone will likely take the plunge and give it a go.