Mike McDaniel Hasn’t Crossed Bucs Off List (Yet)
January 18th, 2026
Still in play.
Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel came and left One Buc Palace on Friday. He entered looking for a job. He left still looking for a job.
Don’t fret, Bucs fans. It appears McDaniel will take his time to decide. That comes from the pride of Seminole High School, Jeff Darlington of ESPN, who appears that Darlington has a pipeline into McDaniel’s camp.
Yesterday Darlington twittered that McDaniel has been impressed with offensive coordinator openings he’s explored. However, McDaniel is still interviewing for a head coaching gig.
And if offered, McDaniel is likely leaning toward being a head coach again. Shocking, yeah, Joe knows.
McDaniel is planning a few more head coach interviews — but he very much likes the OC jobs on the table.
Darlington also referenced his previous Twitter stating McDaniel has not written of the Bucs’ opening.
When it was first learned McDaniel would interview with the Bucs, Darlington noted the autonomy Todd Bowles would afford McDaniel appealed to the former Dolphins shot-caller.
So what happened Friday in the interview on Friday? No one is talking yet. And McDaniel is off to interview for more head coaching gigs. But if McDaniel strikes out on that front, it appears the Bucs will still be in play for him to run the Bucs offense.
January 18th, 2026 at 5:09 am
Joe … ‘Darlington noted the autonomy Todd Bowles would afford McDaniel appealed to the former Dolphins shot-caller.’
Now if Todd would just hire a DC and give him full autonomy over the Bucs’ defense we’d be cooking again.
January 18th, 2026 at 5:28 am
I sort of figured he is still scoping out HC positions too. This post does give many of us hope that he could choose the Bucs. In the end, it would also be a family decision too.
January 18th, 2026 at 5:47 am
He’s interviewing for the Chargers OC job this week. Tougher division the AFC West, but it might be a better situation. Harbaugh over Bowles, Herbert over Baker, a real defense, big market L.A.. Him, and Harbaugh are more made for TV than him, and the Wooden Indian. So given a choice between us, and L.A. I don’t think it’s us. McDanial seems more like the L.A. type to me. Bucs should’ve over paid, and never let him leave the building. I don’t feel to good about him coming here.
January 18th, 2026 at 5:57 am
Overpaid as OC or offered him HC. I would have been good with either. Just should have done it then.
January 18th, 2026 at 6:02 am
I believe it would be a “Rich Strike” (haha) type of situation, in order for this to ever happen… Largest odds to WIN The Derby in about 110-YEARS!!!! But, there’s NO WAY I could even envision THOSE TWO, ever working together. Just NO-WAY! And, of course, he’s not crossing them off his list. I mean, WHY would he!? The only ways it happens, is IF all the other teams ahead of them, all decide to go in another direction. 💯 It could take quite awhile longer, before the Bucs make a move.
January 18th, 2026 at 6:04 am
Hodad and Dbbuc711 – We don’t know if the Glazer did give him a number and he is testing the waters out there. He and his wife are both from Colorado, I think. Hodad may be right too. LA may look really good to them. My gut is thinking the same, sadly. Hoping for a surprise though and that he hasn’t ruled out OC.
January 18th, 2026 at 6:07 am
Hodad Says: “ Him, and Harbaugh are more made for tv”
Now, THAT I CAN DEFINITELY SEE. You’re right about that, Hodad. Spot on! That’s a match made in heaven, with THOSE TWO TOGETHER. I mean, could you IMAGINE. I’d like to be a fly on the wall in their ‘one-on-one’ meetings together! It’s like, two MAD SCIENTISTS.
January 18th, 2026 at 6:12 am
Hodad Says: “Bucs should’ve over paid, and never let him leave the building.”
You were doing Soooo GOOD too, Hodad. Until, you got here! But, still BEST comment you’ve ever made on here. You NAILED-IT.
January 18th, 2026 at 6:47 am
Yet, exactly. MM will be a raider.
January 18th, 2026 at 7:53 am
I do not see McDaniel taking an OC position unless the jobs he are offered (TN, Cleveland, AZ, etc) are not what he is looking for because of lack of talent or he does not mesh with the ownership which has been an issue in Cleveland, Nashville and Phoenix. Thus, I am not holding my breath on MM coming here. Spytek may offer him a ton of coin and the opportunity to work with the kid from Miami-Dade who is likely to be the #1 QB coming out in the draft this spring. Bucs could be looking at the next level of candidates such as Zack Robinson or Kafka his former boss. Someone will think that they can be the next Liam Coen (or at least a Dave Canales) and succeed in spite of Bowles and use this job to springboard to a head coaching gig, might even be the Bucs in 2027.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:01 am
YES TODD NEES T GIVE UP EFENSE TOO/ OR MAYBE JUST GET OUTTA TOWN
January 18th, 2026 at 8:04 am
Of course MM is going to explore the HC possibilities. He may find one he likes and if he does not he can go back to what Tampa, Detroit and Philly offer him as he takes an “off” year and waits a year to go back to being a head coach. My guess is that the Bucs are on his list but not near the top, how can they be with Bowles calling the D. Then again, someone is going to think they can be the next Liam Coen or “just” the next Dave Canales and succeed with a dynamic O in spite of Bowles. In a way, doing well with Bowles being a drag on the team would be a feather in one’s cap. It was for Coen!
January 18th, 2026 at 8:17 am
🤣🤣🤣and here we are. I said this when he got fired from the dolphins, before they even announce that he had a scheduled interview with the Raiders. That he will be their HC. Let’s try this again. Step 1. Hire your homie as your DC👏🏾 Step 2 Draft Mendoza👏🏾👏🏾 Step 3 Holler @ Max C. Step 4 go get AJ Brown. That’s just the beginning. I’m telling you guys. Hey Tom Terrific go get that done. They cap space draft @ the top of every round. Yikes and he has the Las Vegas flav.👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🤙🏾
January 18th, 2026 at 8:22 am
Mike McDaniel is not coming here. We will only win 5 games next season.🤷🏻♂️
January 18th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Well he ABSOLUTELY could have made up his mind to not come to Tampa.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:28 am
Bucs need to offer him HC and kick the Bowel movement to the curb. Gotta be a reason they have not announced anything concerning Bowels.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:28 am
Oh I forgot about Bowers at TE( nice little outlet for the rookie😉) Raiders have their RB, and let me put some Hot Sauce on it Pickens is a free agent 🤣🤣👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🤙🏾 Brilliant.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:35 am
I dont think Todd will want to work with him knowing he may be our next HC. And I’m sure McDaniels would be concerned working with a suspect defense.
January 18th, 2026 at 8:51 am
The only way I think he comes here is on a nod and wink promise he’s the next HC. How do you sell a job where the guy knows he will have to score upwards of 35 points a game because the the defense is so utterly odiferous?
January 18th, 2026 at 8:58 am
Well he could use,a year off where the pressure is on Bowles to win. I am sure he,saw, the raises Coen and Canales got. But this is slumming. Better go with Alex Van Pelt after the Rams,are eliminated c which may become a while.
January 18th, 2026 at 9:17 am
Never give an offer until the candidate is ready to make the final decision. He would just use it against you to get better deals. If a HC is available I am pretty sure he would take it. If anything they interviewed him too early.
January 18th, 2026 at 10:27 am
What has Herbert ever done? 0-2 in playoffs. May want to go to Raiders or Titans.
January 18th, 2026 at 10:30 am
He prob can get the Bills job here in about 48 hours.
January 18th, 2026 at 11:04 am
McDaniel probably isn’t worried about money given that the Dolphins still owe him ( minus any offset from the next team who hires him ). I’d put the chances of him coming to Tampa at @ 25%. He may land a HC gig…and the Detroit & Las Vegas OC openings probably appeal to him more.
January 18th, 2026 at 11:11 am
It would be great to have him, but would likely be for one season if he performs well and is still looking for a HC job. What’s the point?
January 18th, 2026 at 11:25 am
What has McDaniels done? Beat up on Pats & Jets in rebuild mode and can’t knock Bills off? He has had two of the most talented WR’s in the league and can’t make the PO’s. His best years are behind him. Don’t waste your money, plus he’s a odd little fella.
January 18th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
No one wants to be associated with Todd Bowles.
It’s a career killer.
We will never win a SB with him as the HC\DC.
January 18th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
McDaniel in this offense would be Liam Coen on steroids.
You can’t let him take another OC job if you’re a serious franchise.
January 18th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
I may be in the minority here in my reasoning, but to me it seems like the Bucs are a PERFECT situation for a guy like Mike. If he absolutely kills it like Coen did AND the defense somehow turns it around and we have a deep playoff run, he’ll get a HC opportunity. If the offense kills it and the D anchors the team down yet again, Bowles will be gone and he’ll likely be promoted to HC. If everything fails he’ll have the perfect excuse as to why in the manner of Bowles. It’s really a no lose scenario for MM to come here.
January 18th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
Hire Salah from SF as head coach and bring McDaniels in as OC then the Bucs would be cooking. Bucs have to let Bowles go or this upcoming season is a total wash!
January 18th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
RondeBarberTime Says:
January 18th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
No one wants to be associated with Todd Bowles.
It’s a career killer.
We will never win a SB with him as the HC\DC.
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lmao association with bowles is such a career killer that 2 of the last 3 oc got hc positions after just one season. ok then..
January 18th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Perhaps a head coaching opening with the team he interviewed with on Friday….
January 18th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
Seems unlikely to me that this guy will be able to jump immediately into a new HC gig from a failed situation in Miami – where he had good, pro bowl level talent on both sides of the ball (top receivers, great running back, strong edge rushers, good corners, above average linebackers) – this team should have made a strong run and gone at least to the divisional round twice. People will point to Stefanski and say he made the leap to a new HC gig right away from a terrible team – but the failed situation in Cleveland rests 90% on the owner and all the other owners know it.
January 18th, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Bowels needs to get it right this season. His job is on the line. If we get MC D and we surpass what’s expected Bowels will still be around. At this point I’m not expecting much, and will be hoping that he retires next season, since he didn’t opt to hang on the golf greens with BA, and Leftwich.
January 18th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
For a top candidate, waiting to eventually become THE head coach, it
Doesn’t really matter how much autonomy he’s offered. He can go to Detroit or Los Angeles and have a legit chance to help lead a team to the championships – AND still be a candidate for a head coach after the 2026 season.
He got a first pass on the organization & leadership team, to see if there’s a fit.
My guess is we Buc fans should all get comfortable with the consolation prize: Zac Robinson.
January 19th, 2026 at 4:28 am
White Tiger – Not feeling comfortable if it’s Zac Robinson. If that’s the case, they should have kept Grizz.