Biggest Obstacle To Luring Mike McDaniel To Tampa Just Popped Up
January 20th, 2026
Ripple effect in Tampa?
In the past week or so as it seemed the Bucs and former Dolphins shot-caller Mike McDaniel had mutual interest in the Bucs’ opening at offensive coordinator, per rumors floated through social media from legitimate NFL sources.
McDaniel might wait for a while to make a decision on what job he would take of the many for which he interviewed, per the rumors. One suggestion was McDaniel was waiting to see what would happen with Mr. Clean in San Francisco, the former Jets coach and successor of Todd Bowles’ in New Jersey.
Apparently, McDaniel and Mr. Clean are tight and it almost sounded like a Dirk Koetter-Mike Smith handshake deal.
Well, late last night, as if to give Curt Cignetti and Indiana the finger, word broke that Mr. Clean is expected to be the next coach of the Titans.
This is bad news for Bucs fans. Who knows what job security McDaniel will have with the Bucs, if any. And who knows if Baker Mayfield will be around in 2027. Or Chris Godwin. Or Mike Evans.
In Nashville, McDaniel would work with rookie star quarterback Cam Ward. In the NFL, it’s always about the quarterback.
And you have to figure McDaniel would have at least two years minimum in Nashville. If things go sideways with the Bucs this fall, is Bowles still the Bucs’ coach in a year from now?
So cross your fingers Bucs fans that McDaniel grew to love Florida from working in Miami. So much so he doesn’t want to leave the Sunshine State.
January 20th, 2026 at 5:28 am
Does it matter who takes the OC job while Licht, and Bowles are in charge? Whoever they hire won’t be able to save Bowles from himself. That person won’t be able to help Licht find an edge rusher. Remember JTS, Reddick, Braswell is going to shock the world? McDaniel would need a promise to take over if his offense does good, knowing how bad Todd’s defense is. He just beat it with a 7th round rookie QB getting his 2nd start. Does he want to hitch himself with a HC who has one foot out the door, and one on a banana peel? He still has an interview with the Chargers. Don’t get your hopes up Buc fans.
January 20th, 2026 at 5:54 am
Tennessee also has no state income tax so we lose that advantage.
January 20th, 2026 at 5:57 am
Looking like they’ll probably offer the job Zac Robinson. Dan Pitcher is probably their fall back if Robinson falls through. This is kinda disappointing cause I really like Mike McDaniels. His 2022-23 offensives with the dolphins were top notch.
January 20th, 2026 at 6:28 am
This team is nothing but hot garbage. Nobody wants to coach here with Bowles running the show. He’s a miserable failure and everybody knows it. The Glazers are complete fools.
January 20th, 2026 at 6:33 am
@Hidad
It’s amazing how the fans can notice all of this but nobody at One Buc Place can. They probably do but don’t care.
January 20th, 2026 at 6:38 am
All this talk is academic. None of the top coaches will take the job here when you have a dead man walking HC. It appears the owners have a tanking scenario in mind for 2026 for whatever reasons. And besides no OC can cover for the flawed defensive philosophy entrenched here as pointed out so clearly by Ronde Barber.
January 20th, 2026 at 6:41 am
Un
January 20th, 2026 at 6:45 am
2026 is RINSE AND REPEAT
January 20th, 2026 at 6:49 am
@bucu 👏👏👏👏
January 20th, 2026 at 6:51 am
So Joe what do you see in your crystal ball? If panthers and falcons are in the playoffs next year and we endup with a 9-8 record and out of the playoffs.
January 20th, 2026 at 6:52 am
We will be stuck with Zac Robinson sadly.. and he couldn’t do anything with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts.
January 20th, 2026 at 6:53 am
Robert Saleh going to the Tennessee Titans wasn’t exactly something that’s gnna make the world stop with local programming being interrupted by national news and def wasn’t exactly gnna take away from Indiana going 16-0 and handling cheap shot Miami. Which as an aside, was predictable. Miami pregame in the tunnel was acting exactly the way you would expect Miami to act (such vibrant culture!) and then in-game cheap shotting Mendoza – but in the end they’re the ones that got popped in the mouth the hardest
January 20th, 2026 at 6:57 am
“He couldn’t do anything with Bijan Robinson.” Meanwhile Bijan Robinson was agreeably the best player in football, Kyle Pitts had a career year and Drake London has been outstanding with mediocre qb talent.” Great argument though, please keep going
January 20th, 2026 at 7:01 am
Why would mcdaniel go to the Titans though. That team is devoid of weapons and likely wouldnt lead to mcdaniel getting a HC position sooner than later.
January 20th, 2026 at 7:13 am
Unfortunately, the Bucs could end up with someone a lot like Grizz. Then, we should have just kept him. I read on another Joe’s post, that Bowles still has the “leeway.” So, there is that. I don’t think he and McDaniel would butt heads, but McDaniel was great as an OC and has a lot of creativity/progression and differences that can work. Especially with our roster.
If we can’t get McDaniel as OC, then we are just going backwards again. I am hoping too, that Mike and his family don’t want to keep moving around and staying in FL is their best advantage.
January 20th, 2026 at 7:14 am
I just dont get it. How did we get here? Have the Glazers really pulled one over on us fans and now have everyone focused and really caring about who we hire as OC? As if hiring someone like McDaniel will be some big win? Im not taking the bait.
Bowles, as of today is still the HC, and until I hear differently I certainly won’t be celebrating any OC hire or ST coach, FA signing or draft pick. You all can buy into the mirage when they hire “insert irrelevant OC here”, sign some FAs or draft the guy you want…Nope not doing it this year..Fire Bowles, then let’s talk.
January 20th, 2026 at 7:20 am
McDaniels as OC has been a pipe dream. The Organization will hire some two-bit nobody. That’s Bucs life.
January 20th, 2026 at 7:21 am
Ben Says:
January 20th, 2026 at 7:01 am
Why would mcdaniel go to the Titans though. That team is devoid of weapons and likely wouldnt lead to mcdaniel getting a HC position sooner than later.
Where do you wanna start?
A chance to work with his buddy and have job security and total control of the offense. To work with a young, talented franchise QB. To be on a team with almost 100 mil in cap space, the most in the NFL. To work with a HC you know will take care of the defensive side of the ball, meaning your offense won’t have to put up 35 a game to win.
Why would he want to work for a lame duck coach in Bowles??
January 20th, 2026 at 7:22 am
The Bucs have 2 BIG obstacles in the form of HC and QB. No matter how you slice it, as long as they’re here, pickens will be slim.
January 20th, 2026 at 7:23 am
I’m not crossing my fingers for sh*t. There’s more than one way to build an offense and more than one credible OC available.
January 20th, 2026 at 7:26 am
That doesn’t always mater. OC’s get a 2 to 3 year contract.
January 20th, 2026 at 7:27 am
No one is going to want to coach here. It’s basically a 1 year rental because we all know Bowles will get fired eventually most likely at the end of the upcoming season. So no coach is wasting a year here to just be fired. This is why Bowles should have been fired to begin with.
January 20th, 2026 at 7:35 am
Yep…back to being the yucs
January 20th, 2026 at 7:44 am
Depends what he is looking for ,,, a nice little OC job w Salah where he can take a few years to grow his craft or a one year OC job as a stepping stone to being a HC again
January 20th, 2026 at 7:45 am
You fans are pathetic. As a 40+ year season ticket holder I’ve seen so much worse and we’ll be back. Go Bucs
January 20th, 2026 at 7:49 am
All this smoke, yet no fire. Don’t fall for it until you see the fire..which seems very unlikely at this point. Wake me up next January when they are forced to start the fire.
January 20th, 2026 at 7:56 am
None of it matters with Bowles being the head coach. This team is going nowhere until ownership figures it out that even though they may think Bowles is a great guy that does not mean he’s a good NFL head coach.
January 20th, 2026 at 7:57 am
I’m not sure exactly what the point is when people reference “job security”. Do people think MM would have a hard time finding a job next year if TB career as the Bucs coach comes to an end?
Not saying he wouldn’t choose to be in a place that he has a higher percentage of not seeing the HC get fired next year. Just that he wouldn’t have a hard time finding a job. And I would think if he takes an OC job his plan is to only be there one year anyway. If you are going to try and pad your resume with a one year OC job do you want to do that with a qb in year 2 or Baker?
All that said, it wouldn’t shock me to see him go to Tennessee. People like to work with friends, it may just only be that deep.
January 20th, 2026 at 7:59 am
The Bucs are going to have to “settle” for an OC. This is not a top destination and I say that because the Bucs dont lack talent on offense. Even if Big Mike retires or goes elsewhere and Chris Godwin is never Chris Godwin again this team is still, from a talent perspective, one of the better offenses in football… when healthy with Baker, Bucky, Tucker, EE, McMillan and a really good OL. Again, when healthy. It’s the two guys driving the bus and an atrocious defense that will lead to their ultimate demise, which should have been two weeks ago. Instead we will have to wait until the next Black Monday. So who in their right mind would take that chance unless they have no where else to be an OC?
January 20th, 2026 at 8:02 am
The poor decisions the Glazers are making right now by not selecting a quality head coach are going to haunt this team for years to come. Nobody wants to coach with this asshole.
January 20th, 2026 at 8:05 am
Star QB cam ward is a bit much
January 20th, 2026 at 8:15 am
If I’m McDaniel and the Raiders don’t offer me a HC position, the Bucs job is looking mighty appealing. A healthy line, solid playmakers and a QB who’s adept at picking up new systems makes installing my offense easy. Add in the fact that Bowles isn’t long for the job, with or without success, and the Bucs represent my quickest ticket back to a HC position anywhere.
January 20th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Just another shtty season!!!!!!!!! Glazers look like a bunch of idiots and now act like a bunch.
January 20th, 2026 at 8:25 am
The GLAZERS and weak kneed Jason Lite
are the BIGGEST OBSTACLES
January 20th, 2026 at 8:26 am
The Bucs have shown they will not make changes after a bottom defense. That should be concerning to any new hire. You would think he Mike comes here that anything below top 10 defense should have Bowles out the door.
January 20th, 2026 at 8:26 am
As long as bowlzo is the kneepad wearing head coach this team lill be picking early in the draft next year too. This team flat-out quit on bowlzo and his band of merry men coaches. They won’t even sign on at all this year. Mike McD might improve the offense, but the special teams and defense will still be jokes. When we draft this year it should be with a vision toward 2027.
January 20th, 2026 at 8:32 am
Yanno…it’s really sad that we all have to go through this off-season with no hope for the BUCS future whatsoever. I’m pretty sure that I’m in the majority here. I read the other comments too. Nobody is happy.
January 20th, 2026 at 8:37 am
Fred, that is the majority of people commenting on JBF. Twitter is not real life
January 20th, 2026 at 8:41 am
What a bunch of whiners on this site. None of you have ANY idea of any of these coaches succeed at a given team. None. Not McDaniel, Salah, Harbaugh… zero idea. Did you bet the AFC Championship would be Drake Maye and Jarrett Stidham? No, you didn’t. Or that Seattle’s D would carry Sam Darnold? There is NO way to forecast this ridiculous league and it’s 32 mediocre teams that can win and lose to anyone.
Ya’ll angry sports bar drunks need to tone it down. It’s the Glazers team. We all get to watch or not.
See you in August.
January 20th, 2026 at 8:46 am
Money, money is an obstacle not friendship.
January 20th, 2026 at 8:53 am
I don’t care who the OC or DC is! Because we will still have Turd Bowles as our HC! Curt Cignetti for HC or McDaniel for HC! Sorry but either would be better than the Turd
January 20th, 2026 at 8:56 am
132, thank you for some sanity. I’ve commented here and there the past few weeks. But for the most part have letting this mob have their way. And boy, they have not disappointed. By disappointing, haha. I hold that very same thought. Absolutely no one, and I mean no one knows how everything plays out next year. Just like this year and just like every year. Let things play out and we’ll see what lands. The trope about opinions being like asshole$. Has never been more true.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:00 am
the yucs life
January 20th, 2026 at 9:03 am
Lost season
January 20th, 2026 at 9:04 am
Hodad
On point.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:05 am
Sean McDermott is now available from Bills….Oh but Glazers want BOWZO!!!! No thanks.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:09 am
Poor Baker!
January 20th, 2026 at 9:11 am
Sean McDermott wouldn’t do well here.. isn’t his defense base 4-3? We run a 3-4 would have to change like half the defense to go back, and wouldn’t be worth it.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:11 am
Bucs won’t do it, but since they punted on the 2026 season they should aggressively trade out of this draft and acquire additional picks for the stronger 2027 draft.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:17 am
BAKER NUMBER ONE BEST IN THE WORLD EVERYONE WANT TO WORK WITH HIME BE HIM BE AROUND HIM STOP HATE AND MISINFO NO ONE MORE DESIRABLE THAN BAKER HE THE REAL MVP!!!!!!!!
January 20th, 2026 at 9:22 am
@TTBucs
@View from 132
@Steven007
Well said men
January 20th, 2026 at 9:24 am
If I am McDaniel, can I improve Bakers and the Bucs receiving core by 2+ games? If so then they are a playoff team and I will be a coach in no time. Why compete in the stacked AFC against the Texans defense twice a year when you have no offense, vs beating the Saints, Panthers and Falcons with weapons? You succeed in Tampa then you are the hottest coaching candidate in 365 days. You will have your pick. So picking the Titans to get a guaranteed 2 years @ OC salary vs, one year until you become a head coach is foolish logic Joe
January 20th, 2026 at 9:26 am
Is Bowles the Bucs tar baby? Are we stuck with him with all these good coaches on the market now?
January 20th, 2026 at 9:28 am
Tampa Bay Bucs, prove to me that you actually know what you are doing. That should be the mantra, then when I SEE it I will believe it. Tired of the same old, same old.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:28 am
Mystic…Yes the idea is to change the defense to 43 not hate to change this mess 34. The Curse of Bowzo is his defense.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Bakefield is a throwback QB. Not tall but thick and tough. Not a great arm but a good runner.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:32 am
You mentioned the uncertain job stability for a new offensive coordinator. I think the Bucs offensive position is the perfect vehicle for a former head coach/ coordinator to the head coaching position. Recent history of two of the last three offensive coordinators and their success in just a three year window is the perfect example. Also, if the offense performs, and it should with this offensive line and skill position players, and the defense and consequently team struggles and history says it will.I can’t imagine the offensive coordinator not getting the head coaching job. The Glazers had to have learned that letting both Canales and Cohen go were terrible mistakes while keeping Bowles.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:39 am
Just ask yourselves Bucs fans would u want to work for Bowles knowing he may not even be around next season making your job a one and done deal? I think not
January 20th, 2026 at 9:43 am
HC Grover Says:
January 20th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Bakefield is a throwback QB. Not tall but thick and tough. Not a great arm but a good runner.
===================================
Leave it alone. You don’t know what you are talkng about. Mayfield has one of the strongest arms in the league and real football people know this. Baker still has the record for the longest airborn pass in a NFL game history throwing it 75 yards when still with Cleveland. Heck, last year he hit Egbuka with a ball that was airborne 60 yards.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:44 am
If McDaniel appreciates living and working in Miami, Tampa will be attractive — Tennessee, not so much.
And IMO Robert Saleh seems unlikely to succeed as a head coach. Potential staff and players should run from him, as they did in New York. But hey, maybe he can get the band back together with Aaron Rodgers to mentor Ward!
January 20th, 2026 at 9:44 am
Todd Bowles, I’m really beginning to despise that name.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:49 am
I really dont care who it is. Won’t be anyone good. Regardless the defense is going to hold the team back. At this point I expect David to retire and probably Evans also.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:55 am
TTBucs Says:
January 20th, 2026 at 7:45 am
You fans are pathetic. As a 40+ year season ticket holder I’ve seen so much worse and we’ll be back. Go Bucs
——————
Sounds like someone has Stockholm syndrome….
“ Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response where hostages or abuse victims develop positive feelings, loyalty, or empathy for their captors/abusers as a survival coping mechanism, often showing distrust toward authorities and even defending their abuser after the situation ends.”
January 20th, 2026 at 9:56 am
Fanofdabucs Says:
January 20th, 2026 at 7:49 am
All this smoke, yet no fire. Don’t fall for it until you see the fire..
………..
Remember we used misdirection with Mariucci while we were making a deal for Gruden
January 20th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Glaciers and Lichtenstein are you listening? So here’s the plan. Bring McDaniel in as OC and help him fix the offense, while barring Bowles from meddling with the offensive line. Set McDaniel up to suceed Bowles in 2027. Ease Bowles out and make him a symbolic, “Kumbaya” ambassador similar to Arians. However, leadership at 1 Buc Place needs to make it clear to McDaniel that the HC job is his if he can fix Baker and the very talented offense.
My alma mater lost to Indiana last night. I watched the whole game at Hooters, which is across the street from my neighborhood. It was a good game and the Canes came very close to winning it all, but the football Gods favored Indiana in the final seconds of the game.
Go Bucs. Go Canes. I willl be watching and supporting both teams from Illinois where I am planning to move this Spring. GB. Be kind to each other. Cheers.
January 20th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Rod Munch Says:
January 20th, 2026 at 9:17 am
BAKER NUMBER ONE BEST IN THE WORLD EVERYONE WANT TO WORK WITH HIME BE HIM BE AROUND HIM STOP HATE AND MISINFO NO ONE MORE DESIRABLE THAN BAKER HE THE REAL MVP!!!!!!!!
……
….what a douche you are
January 20th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Glaciers and Lichtenstein are you listening? So here’s the plan. Bring McDaniel in as OC and help him fix the offense, while barring Bowles from meddling with the offensive line. Set McDaniel up to suceed Bowles in 2027. Ease Bowles out and make him a symbolic, “Kumbaya” ambassador similar to Arians. However, leadership at 1 Buc Place needs to make it clear to McDaniel that the HC job is his if he can fix Baker and the very talented offense.
Go Bucs. Go Canes. I willl be watching and supporting both teams from Illinois where I am planning to move this Spring. GB. Be kind to each other. Cheers.
January 20th, 2026 at 10:06 am
I see ZERO reason why MM would view Todd’s precarious job position as a hindrance. Regardless how the team does next year, if the offense kills it but Bowles gets launched, ownership is gonna promote MM.
Now guys like Zac Robinson…..