Update On Mike McDaniel And The Bucs
January 16th, 2026
Autonomy attractive.
So it seems Bucs fans are pretty much crossing their fingers in unison that the Bucs are able to lure former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel to the Bay area to be the team’s offensive coordinator.
McDaniel just a couple of years ago had the NFL’s No. 1 offense in Miami. So he’s proven. For every other coach the Bucs have interviewed for the opening at offensive coordinator, there’s a level of doubt involved.
Yesterday the pride of Seminole High School, Jeff Darlington, appeared on BSPN and offered an update on what McDaniel is going through and perhaps how the Bucs stack up.
McDaniel is currently interviewing for both open head coach gigs and offensive coordinator jobs. He’s scheduled to meet with the Bucs at One Buc Palace today at some point.
“Where will he end up?” Darlington asked rhetorically. “I think it’s important right now, first of all, McDaniel doesn’t know. He’s going through this entire process, but it’s interesting.
“When you look at each team [McDaniel is linked to as an offensive coordinator candidate], a lot of those teams have head coaches who are offensive-minded. The one that doesn’t is the Tampa Bay Bucs and Todd Bowles.”
Darlington suggested Bowles being a defensive guy is appealing to McDaniel. The places looking for an offensive coordinator already have a head coach with an offensive background. Darlington noted meddling with the offense or being heavy-handed with the offense is much less likely to happen with the Bucs than other teams.
Darlington said with the Bucs, McDaniel would have “full autonomy of the offense [and the] ability to maybe bring some staff in.”
What would be funny, but unlikely, if McDaniel agreed to come to the Bucs, if he brought in former Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, who the Bucs just dismissed. Back in Miami, Grizzard was on McDaniel’s staff and was a quality control coach and a wide receivers coach there.
Given how Emeka Egbuka went into the witness protection program after the bye, Joe isn’t sure that would be such a swell idea to have Grizzard return to coach the receivers.
Darlington obviously has a pipeline to McDaniel’s camp. The moment McDaniel was turned loose by Stephen Ross and the Dolphins, Darlington immediately let it be known that a marriage between McDaniel and the Bucs wouldn’t be far-fetched.
The latest on a few offensive coordinator openings around the NFL. Watch for interest in Daboll and McDaniel in Philadelphia. But don’t count out McDaniel elsewhere. If HC jobs don’t line up… He very much likes the idea of a few other OC jobs, too. pic.twitter.com/QkPfoKlxXO
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 15, 2026
January 16th, 2026 at 4:03 am
I would love to have McDaniel in Tampa as OC or HC, but think he will end up as a HC somewhere like Philly for a lot more money. The sad part of this is that no matter how good the offense gets with a new OC, the Bucs will not have much success unless something is done about the putrid defense and our stubborn DC.
January 16th, 2026 at 4:21 am
Bowles won’t sign off on mcdaaniels because he knows he will most likely take his job next year he will bring someone in that has no threat to his job.
January 16th, 2026 at 4:22 am
Dude spooks me, and it ain’t because of his “stylish” wardrobe.
January 16th, 2026 at 4:31 am
Joe says:
Darlington noted meddling with the offense or being heavy-handed with the offense is much less likely to happen with the Bucs than other teams.
Are you sure about that? The offense had Bowles fingerprints on it down the stretch with the heavy run philosophy. Honestly, the Bucs could hire Bill Walsh and still find a way to f*ck it up.
If the players dont execute it won’t matter who the OC is. Who they hire will show what type of talent actually believe in what the Bucs have built.
January 16th, 2026 at 4:52 am
It’s a possibility, he hates the cold.
January 16th, 2026 at 4:53 am
Hoping that McDaniels is our OC. Let him go back to his OC roots for the year with the Bucs, gives him time out of being HC. If it works out, it could mean a transition into the HC position the next year. Always have liked him. He has that creative nerdy vibe. A lot of energy. And he is strong too. He benched Tua for performance reasons and put in Quinn instead. Says a lot to do that.
January 16th, 2026 at 4:58 am
Joe says:
Darlington noted meddling with the offense or being heavy-handed with the offense is much less likely to happen with the Bucs than other teams.
Are you sure about that? The offense had Bowles fingerprints on it down the stretch with the heavy run philosophy. Honestly, the Bucs could hire Bill Walsh and still find a way to f*ck it up.
If the players dont execute it won’t matter who the OC is. Who they hire will show what type of talent actually believe in what the Bucs have built.
January 16th, 2026 at 5:20 am
ive got a new way to get my news on Joebucsfan.com…and YES I do realize the IRONY of this statement… I don’t read a single comment.
Breath of fresh air.
January 16th, 2026 at 5:27 am
He would do well. I hope he signs. Remember, Bowles HAS to win in 2026. McDaniel can help make that happen. I think McD needs a break from the pressure cooker of a HC.
January 16th, 2026 at 5:47 am
would be a massive upgrade over bowles as head coach. beat bowles fairly easily while dolphins were trying to tank and bowles fighting for playoff lives .
January 16th, 2026 at 6:01 am
I don’t see it happening unless several teams looking for a head coach go with another guy. He would certainly take the Raiders job over the Bucs and probably Atlanta, too. Even Tennessee might win out, considering their young, improving QB and high draft picks.
He’d likely take the O.C. job with the Bucs, Lions or Philly over the other head coaching gigs.
Stop fantasizing about the Bucs dropping Bowles and giving McDaniels or anyone the head coaching job, folks. That ship has sailed.
January 16th, 2026 at 6:04 am
The question is ,,, would we take one Coen type year with McDaniel , a great , fun , entertaining year knowing he probably leaves as a HC the following year ,,, my answer would be Yes! Don’t let him out of the building today,,,, price is no object even if it 3x more than Bowles
January 16th, 2026 at 6:06 am
Maybe Todd Bowles will be swept away mysteriously by a Sharknado!!!
Never to be seen again and then the Bucs would be free to hire a new coaching staff as they please!
We can only hope and may the Force be with Us!!!
The fired coaches of the 2025 Bucs would be pleased, I would be pleased
Or it would be easier if Bowles resigned and got a buyout of some sort
He is NOT the droid I am looking for! SMH
January 16th, 2026 at 6:07 am
“You can run the offense how you see fit Mike, just no WR runs, we ain’t got time for that bs”
January 16th, 2026 at 6:17 am
Please please please please
January 16th, 2026 at 6:19 am
Darlington is a dope. He will look at Bowzo and run away along with the cheapskate Glazsrs.
January 16th, 2026 at 6:21 am
Fingers crossed. Pay him like Top OC/Assitant HC. He can step in and the O doesn’t need much. I’m sure he’ll get the best out of Baker. If offense is top 10 you force Todd’s retirement and make MM HC. If the Glazers had courage they would hire MM as HC and Gannon DC
January 16th, 2026 at 6:25 am
Mike McD would be my first choice for OC, but I’m leery about him as a head coach. He didn’t handle drama well in Miami. The Fish, like the BUCS, should have been much better than their records. McD could most likely utilize our core offensive players much more effectively than Grizz did, not that that would be saying much. We should have a pretty good Online next year if we get Mauch and Bredson back. Maybe McD can coach up Barton a little better.
January 16th, 2026 at 6:26 am
I believe Coach McDaniel would be an excellent choice for the OC position. I also would not be against Grizzard returning as the ‘Third Down Specialist’ again. He excelled at that job, and would get another year of watching a great OC.
January 16th, 2026 at 6:26 am
It’s a pain in the neck to post on a Maoist site.
January 16th, 2026 at 6:27 am
But at least the joes are too stupid to know what that word means.
January 16th, 2026 at 6:34 am
I hope Bowles learns how bad his defense is with these interviews. It was Zach Robinson who called the two plays, 3rd, 28, 4th, 14 that beat us. McDanials just made our D look silly with a rookie QB getting his second start. It’s funny that the HC who got beat by these guys has a job, and they don’t. Jokes on us.
January 16th, 2026 at 6:36 am
Worst case scenario is you don’t close the deal and he becomes Atlanta HC. I doubt he’ll go there due to qb situation but Mr. Blank will open his very large check book, so..It will be like reliving the Liam saga. Falcons put 45 a game on Todd’s D. Don’t let that happen?
January 16th, 2026 at 6:38 am
Darlington has a point about the OC position. I think our chances of luring McDaniel to Tampa as a OC is around 60 40. As for the HC jobs, 40 60. There are a couple of good HC jobs out there in Atlanta and Baltimore and maybe one more. Here I think as McDaniel has said is it the right fit for both, he and that team. And of course the HC is gonna pay more. Advantages in Tampa is, he stays in Fl and wouldn’t have to move his family and I am pretty sure, if he’s successful as the OC in Tampa he’s either gonna get the Bucs HC job next year or the following year or he’s gonna become a stronger candidate to land a very good HC elsewhere
January 16th, 2026 at 6:55 am
You could have left the Grizzard piece out of this article. It’s irrelevant.
Doubt it happens, but could you imagine we show and offer McDaniel enough that he signs with us early… yet there are 7 HC vacancies (8 when you include Miami) and any one of those teams, if they don’t get the hot shot coordinator as they fall out of the playoffs, McDaniels might be a fallback… he could bolt on us if that happens.
We may be weeks out from these teams settling in on their next coaching vacancies, and the question is, how long do you wait? If McDaniel is truly a smart guy, he and his agent see what we see. Tampa is a HUGE opportunity for him. He’s got a great set of tools to play with on offense, gets to stay in a warm weather division, and if does his job like we hope he would, he’s the next HC of a successful franchise.
The problem we have, that we have always had is that we are a small market team. Rarely do we land a big fish. Zac Robinson looks even more tempting as if we want him now, he’s most likely ours. If you gamble on the waiting game, you could lose out on a Zac Robinson vs another QB coach or pass game coordinator who’s never called plays before.
Don’t fail us Licht.
January 16th, 2026 at 7:03 am
The only way is
Big PAYDAY for 2026
And GUARANTEED Head Coach job in 2027
January 16th, 2026 at 7:05 am
Todd Bowles is holding this franchise back in so many ways.
January 16th, 2026 at 7:21 am
Just get it done. Give the fans one crumb of hope since we got screwed with TB again. And I’m not talking TB12.
January 16th, 2026 at 7:33 am
I think he’d find OC here a much better situation than Philly — Hurts isn’t dissimilar to Tua, then there’s the AJ Brown thing
January 16th, 2026 at 7:33 am
Funny how some stories won’t accept my comment. Hit “submit” and it vanishes. Others … no problem.
January 16th, 2026 at 7:35 am
hell yea
January 16th, 2026 at 7:46 am
Makes sense that he’d see Tampa/Bowles as a good fit.
January 16th, 2026 at 7:57 am
Joe or any other insiders, I have questions about McDaniel’s contract. For example, if the Dolphins were paying him $4 mil. a year and he take a OC job for say $3 mil. Is the Dolphin’s on the hook for $1 mil. being that they fired him and if taking a HC job would the Dolphins contract be voided or ?
January 16th, 2026 at 8:00 am
I have heard that some pundits say that McDaniel should consider that OC positions in Detroit and Philly would involve having a head coach that would meddle in their business and in the case of the lions, Dan Campbell might take over play calling all together (kind of like what Bowles would do if he ever was forced to hire a play calling DC). They say the Bucs will give an OC autonomy but will they? I am almost certain Bowles began to interfere with Grizzard’s play calling after the bye as the offense went turtle to help keep Bowles’ D off of the field and the loss in Carolina had Bowles’ fingerprints all over that offensive game plan. I am not sure if McDaniel will put up with that and he could give the Bucs a pass.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:09 am
Bowles is the furthest thing from stupid. He was very fortunate to not get sh*t-canned, and he knows it. Nor is Licht stupid. Both will NOT let McD out of the building today, no matter what it takes.
Also, think about it — McD probably relishes the thought of not running an entire team, but focusing on a side of the ball that truly feeds his soul. He knows he has a sh*t-ton of weapons…and he’ll have a hand in recruiting more.
In addition, whether it’s one, two, or three years from now, if McD delivers the goods, which he will, he’ll be the head coach in a warm state where capri’s and cool sunglasses are embraced.
Jason, Todd, Glazers…pay the man.
And let’s be done with this year’s sh*tty chapter.
Thanks in advance.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:09 am
Being older I was a Dolphins fans before 1976 and My Bucs came to town so have always followed them .Mcdaniel went to crap as soon as Tyreek Hill started to slip just like Mahomes numbers started to steadily decline after Hill.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Lol all season, “bucs fans”.. were looking for any evidence of a lost locker room, they are grappling onto words by rashaad white and diaby, and blah blah blah… but then they come here and say mike mcdaniel can be the next bucs coach in waiting…what? There is no team in the entire NFL that has been more mentally screwed, complete lost locker room, and a complete joke than the miami dolphins over the last 2 years! No team. If you wanna say mike mcdaniel will be a good OC, I can agree. But as a head coach? All because you dont wanna look at bowles face anymore, is accepting the same mediocre mindset that you accuse the glazers of having. Might as well keep bowles forever if thats the case
January 16th, 2026 at 8:17 am
Fred M.Says:
January 16th, 2026 at 6:26 am
It’s a pain in the neck to post on a Maoist site.
“Gunga gunga galunga” !!!!!
January 16th, 2026 at 8:17 am
He’s also interviewing in Detroit
January 16th, 2026 at 8:20 am
Dream on. He is not coming here.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:21 am
He’s interviewing with Detroit after us, and that’s a better job plain and simple. If he leaves here without a deal he ain’t coming back.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:23 am
He’s not coming to Tampa. Look for the yucs to be signing Donald Duck…. that’s what Mickey Mouse operations do.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:23 am
He just interviewed with Baltimore. Better roster, better QB and more control. The Bucs are his last option, well next to last, Bucs are better than the Browns.
He ain’t coming here.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:30 am
Competition for McDaniel, so are the Glazers going to be cheap and tank with Bowles and a no-name OC? Or do they payfor an innovative, proven play caller to win with Evans, Godwin, and maybe LVD before they retire?
January 16th, 2026 at 8:39 am
941bucsfan, I did hear some noise about McDaniel being to soft with the team. I don’t know what soft mean in the situation in Miami but you may have a point about him getting a HC job at least this cycle but, we never know. We have teams like the Titans, Raiders and Brown 🙄🙄
January 16th, 2026 at 8:43 am
I say no way he signs here. It’s all a dog and pony show to try to make it look like they’re trying to do something right. Just like with Harbaugh, Allegedly spoke to him, but he wanted to bring in his own GM? That wasn’t the case with NYG.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:55 am
Bee – Ya, I am afraid he might go there. His interview may have went well with them. A young coach may be what they need now too. I guess we will see what happens today. If the Ravens want to hire him, they may go all in before his interview today. Unsure what time it is with the Bucs.
Nate is another good candidate for Steelers and Ravens as HC too. Or maybe the Bucs if Mike isn’t interested being HC at this time. I am still hoping for the off-chance he would like to stay in FL and take on the OC position here.
January 16th, 2026 at 9:09 am
Alex van pelt people after the Rams stop playing….whenever that is…
January 16th, 2026 at 9:48 am
@formwebucsfan: “we’ll probably sign Donald Duck.” Donald would be a fine choice, but Daffy is needed to pass muster with the Rooney rule.
January 16th, 2026 at 9:49 am
I would give McDaniel 3x what he is making. Give him assistant head coach title and OC with a path to become HC next year. The best situation would be just to fire Bowles and offer McDaniel the HC position, but that ain’t going to happen. We are stuck with Bowles this upcoming season.
January 16th, 2026 at 9:52 am
@bee: “the BUCS are better than the Browns”.
Yeah, but the Browns are more aptly named.
January 16th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Heyjude
I think he goes to the Ravens. Thats a dream roster that needs a few pieces to get to the SB. My thing is other than more money, what can the Bucs offer the top candidates?
Fred McNeil
Lol… for sure.
January 16th, 2026 at 10:02 am
I wish McDaniel would be our OC here. I still expect he’ll get offered a head coaching gig somewhere and will take it.
January 16th, 2026 at 10:05 am
We need a college coordinator not NFL someone who knows how to move the ball and score points. We don’t want McDaniels he’s washed up and he can’t win in cold weather
January 16th, 2026 at 10:14 am
Dude is very unlike people we’ve had here. I think this would be a great experiment.