Shaun King On Offensive Coordinators
January 21st, 2026
Offensive coordinator blues.
Joe cannot believe he’s giving this guy props. But if the devil is right, the devil gets his due from Joe.
The notorious FS1 blowhard Colin Cowherd, who is so inaccurate in his pontifications that he makes a Midwestern meteorologist wince, actually hit the nail on the head when talking about former Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard earlier in the 2025 season.
It’s hard, Cowherd said, to get two back-to-back hirings right when the Bucs nailed Dave Canales and belted a home run with Liam Coen in consecutive seasons. So, Cowherd said, it’s not a shock that the third hire in as many years, Grizzard, might struggle. It’s the law of averages, he said.
A rare salient point by Cowherd. (Here’s a doozy.)
Backing up Cowherd is a familiar man to Bucs fans. That would be former Bucs quarterback Shaun King, one of only four quarterbacks in franchise history to lead the team to an NFC title game.
Speaking with Kyle Odegard of the gambling publication ESportsBets, King said it just isn’t reasonable to expect Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, or anyone, to hire three strong offensive coordinators in as many years.
“Liam Coen and Dave Canales, they made great hires with those two guys,” King said. “But to get it right every time, now we’re starting to go against the percentages.”
King seems to think the constant revolving door on the Bucs’ offensive coaching staff might be wearing on Baker Mayfield, if not the entire Bucs offense.
“It’s tough on the quarterback, it’s tough on the coordinator, it’s tough on the receivers,” King said. “Once you get comfortable in the system and you’re starting to figure it out, you have to go with a new guy.
“And even if the new guy is not completely blowing the previous system up, he still has nuance in what he wants it to look like.”
King makes a good point. It’s likely draining for players. (Insert your worry about Mike Evans returning right here.)
As for Mayfield, who has never had the same coordinator in his NFL career, he has to be used to it. He knows no other way.
But the rest of the Bucs? They may not be able to embrace the constant change as well as Mayfield.
January 21st, 2026 at 7:05 am
Exactly why Bowles should have been let go to keep cohen ! Biggest mistake they made ! Then followed it up by not firing Bowles this year and brining in a new staff ! Fire Bowles should still be on the table !
January 21st, 2026 at 7:08 am
It’s not too late.
January 21st, 2026 at 7:09 am
If the two J’s can grow a pair between them and call it like EVERYONE else does they would be doing the Buc fans and the G Clan a BIG FAVOR
There will be all new faces in OBP so they don’t need to worry about getting favors and access from OBP !
Call it like Chris Thomas and Steve Duemig would be doing!
My gawd!
This team is entering a REBUILDING phase between the old favorite names and under achieving recent draft picks.
January 21st, 2026 at 7:18 am
Can we make a trade for Liam Coen? 🤣
January 21st, 2026 at 7:23 am
I’m sensing a bit of jealousy from JB.
January 21st, 2026 at 7:23 am
Always liked Shaun and he is completely right. Good article read too.
The Bucs do need to try again for a proven OC. Yes, they got lucky with two and the third time around didn’t work. But now we are in really a interim-rebuild and can’t be a OC in-training mode.
I love Baker, however we do need a new QB as his backup. Teddy and Kyle were not it to carry us through any type of injury. Possibly a proven guy out of the draft. I do realize Mendoza will be the first one taken, but there are many others in there too.
January 21st, 2026 at 7:25 am
The Joes Todd Bowles sympathy tour troll’s on
January 21st, 2026 at 7:29 am
He also said this same thing a couple of weeks ago, but even took it a step further, by saying that was the reason for why they MISSED the Playoffs this season. He said that for the prior two seasons before, Bowles had an ‘additional’ HC in the room in Canales, and then an ELITE HC inside the locker room and on the sidelines, in Coen. He went on about it, but that was the short version of it!
January 21st, 2026 at 7:31 am
QB
Draft John Mateer !
We are REBUILDING.. so if the Bucs are lucky enough to have a desperate team wanting to trade up to the 15 slot TAKE IT!
This is ALL so easy to see and frustrating that the Glazers can’t see that they are being played by Bruce , Jason and Todd …
🤮🤮🤮
January 21st, 2026 at 7:42 am
Even Tom Brady couldn’t win with this defense so you may want to hold off on the QB in the draft. All four teams left fighting to go to the Super Bowl have top 10 defenses and 3 are top 5. Josh Allen couldn’t carry his team on his back!
January 21st, 2026 at 7:45 am
I guess the “law of averages” was taking a nap when the Bills lost 4 straight Super Bowls or when Brady won 7 SB rings, etc.
Law & Average
January 21st, 2026 at 7:45 am
Why not bring Brian Daboll in ?
January 21st, 2026 at 7:46 am
….King does make a great point though. Gotta agree there for sureski
January 21st, 2026 at 7:47 am
Here we go again, it’s all Bowles fault the issues the Bucs are having on offense. Coen and Canales each owe Bowles a THANK YOU Coen had bounced around both pro and college and not many had ever heard of him or Canales All this offense HC stuff will keep continuity as assistants leave may be a strong point but, I haven’t seen many team go to and win a Super Bowl without a solid defense just see Andy Reid he had a hell of a offense but didn’t win til he went out and got a good DC. John Harbaugh was the top coach available this cycle he’s defensive mined I am just saying
January 21st, 2026 at 7:49 am
SB~LV , we are not rebuilding.
January 21st, 2026 at 7:49 am
The viewpoint of the sluggish, lazy, land whale is insignificant.
January 21st, 2026 at 7:52 am
For decades I have felt there needs to be a rule stating Coordinators can’t be hired as HCs when they go to a new team for at least two years. It damages the product the way it is.
January 21st, 2026 at 7:54 am
Brian Danilo and Joe Brady should both be interviewed. Both are significantly better than Zac Robinson.
January 21st, 2026 at 7:59 am
Kc Says:
January 21st, 2026 at 7:05 am
“Exactly why Bowles should have been let go to keep cohen ! Biggest mistake they made !”
No team is going to replace a successful head coach with an unproven one. This argument is completely unrealistic. You have the benefit of seeing Cohen have a successful year as HC. The Bucs did not have that.
What they did have were multiple division championships and a strong gelief 2025 was the year we’d make a run. They could not see the future.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:01 am
Let’s play devil’s advocate:
What if the Bucs stay healthy in 2026, draft well on defense, and decide to bring in some good defensive players in free agency and trades? What if the result is a trip to the Superbowl?
Would Bowles still deserve to be fired?
January 21st, 2026 at 8:05 am
Buc Bonzai
So what you’re saying is you want the NFL to stop people from getting promoted. Thats dumb and counterproductive. Plus if the coordinator stays for an extra year and the team does poorly that coach could lose his job. So now he missed a promotion and is possibly unemployed. Not a good idea at all.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:05 am
Todd Monken may finally get a head coaching gig…the Browns.
Falcons want to interview our WR coach to fill their OC spot.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:08 am
That the Eagles interviewed Josh Grizzard may mean there’s a lot more to the story than meets the eye.
If behind the scenes Grizzard’s agent is telling them that Bowles handcuffed him, paranoid of turnovers, and that Mayfield was beyond injured… most people kind of feel like Grizzard is a fall guy.
And there is no such thing as law of averages, so that idea that it must be less likely to pick a third good one is ludicrous. If anything you are more likely.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:10 am
Bee Says:
January 21st, 2026 at 8:05 am
Buc Bonzai
“So what you’re saying is you want the NFL to stop people from getting promoted. Thats dumb and counterproductive.”
No, they can still be promoted…just a year later. And even if they are fired a year later, they would still be judged for their body of work, not one year of production.
Teams are required to pay their full salary if the fire them. It’s only fair that the teams get a guarantee as well.
Your has long been an argument, but doing it the way its been done has damaged the product.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:13 am
Buccaneer Bonzai – Good question. Do they lose or win that SB? I believe if they win, Todd would retire on that high note. But if they lose but made it farther than this season with all those components, Todd would be kept on for another season.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:13 am
Bonzai,
We already know Bowels is incapable of coaching a team to a Super Bowl appearance, or for that matter, a conference championship appearance. That is why you go ahead and fire him now.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:15 am
Buccaneer Bonzai nailed it.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:19 am
“No team is going to replace a successful head coach with an unproven one. This argument is completely unrealistic. You have the benefit of seeing Cohen have a successful year as HC. The Bucs did not have that.”
This is complete BS. Number one, it’s YOUR JOB to recognize-it AND know-it! I could see-it and only more so EVERY interview I see of him. They were ultra CLOSE to him, and got to ‘see-it’ EVERYDAY. And, they obviously already KNEW-IT… Hence the all out PANIC and FREAK-OUT desperately trying to reach him during the final minutes. So, your argument is totally BOGUS. It just takes being BOLD and STRONG. Versus worrying about your buddy’s feelings. He would’ve already BEEN FIRED had he been competing in ANY OTHER Division. It’s called having the INSTINCTS. Hell, it’s YOUR JOB as GM and Owner. 💯
January 21st, 2026 at 8:22 am
It was OBVIOUS to literally EVERYONE, with eyes! Belichick wasn’t “proven” either, until he was. So, GTFOH with that BS.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:24 am
“No, they can still be promoted…just a year later. And even if they are fired a year later, they would still be judged for their body of work, not one year of production.”
I swear… Dude makes THE DUMBEST, most irrational and unrealistic comments I have ever heard.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:25 am
3rd and 28! If it’s a what have you done for me lately league in terms of pay for organizations why not players. He can get money anywhere and he’s made his mark on the Bucs he just wants championships now. He’d be fine he could ask Tom Brady. Bowles offers him nothing no defense and no promise of a competitive team that could reach the playoffs in the weakest division in football
January 21st, 2026 at 8:28 am
Bowles has to go with lesser known names for OC because none of the bigger names want to work with him. And this coaching cycle is proving that again.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:29 am
“It damages the product the way it is.”
Except for there being this thing called “RATINGS.” It would suggest otherwise. Actually, the exact ‘opposite’ of what YOU say!
January 21st, 2026 at 8:32 am
Buccaneer Bonzai, thank you on the issue of the Bucs keeping Coen and firing Bowles. Very unrealistic. If the NFL followed only what the fans want, the league would be a real mess
January 21st, 2026 at 8:37 am
TODD ISN’T @#$#@@#$ING GOING ANYWHERE! It’s beyond pointless to keep pining away for that, work in reality here guys
January 21st, 2026 at 8:42 am
Joe talking about other media having bad takes …..thats rich, very rich
Come on Joe, do better
January 21st, 2026 at 8:44 am
Joe, what is his take on defensive coordinators, thats what we really want to know
But we know your feeling for Bowles
January 21st, 2026 at 8:44 am
I don’t dislike Todd as much as most. Probably have some bias because I think he is indeed a good man. With that being said, I think it’s necessary that we get an offensive mind as head coach soon. I am not mad at him getting 1 more year to prove it. In fact, I think he’s earned the right. But it’s inevitable to have your offensive guys plucked when we have success. I don’t think people realize how crazy it is that Baker has had a different OC EVERY year of his career. I wonder what the record is for something like that. What’s this year 8 for him? He has to be approaching some sort of all time record. On another note, I due believe he injured himself in that 49ers (?) game when he scrambled for the TD and dove into the end zone and dove on that shoulder. Does anyone else remember that or do I have the wrong game.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:45 am
The Bowles bafoons are out in force this morning…all 5 of them.
January 21st, 2026 at 8:46 am
Brian daboll may kind of FIX???? THE OFFENSE?? BUT NOT IF BEANE REFUSES TO GET JOSH SOME DEEP THREAT”” RECEIVERS AND A COUPLE GOOD LINEMEN FROM THE DRAFT, NOT TO MENTION ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE SOME QUALITY COVER DB’S!!!!!
DAMN, I just realized we need almost the same things(including 2!!!! Edge rushers) to still be competitive and get better!°
January 21st, 2026 at 8:48 am
Bee Says:
January 21st, 2026 at 8:05 am
Buc Bonzai
So what you’re saying is you want the NFL to stop people from getting promoted. Thats dumb and counterproductive.
………………………………..
We agree; no more Rooney rule diversity hires, it stops qualified people from getting promoted
January 21st, 2026 at 8:48 am
I’ve said that a couple times before the season evem. Third time is not always a charm. However, fourth time may be. 😉
January 21st, 2026 at 8:53 am
Todd lost the right to coach this team in 2026 when he lost 7 out of his last 9 games. When he choked away the division. When he lost to 3 backups and 2 rookie quarterbacks down the stretch. When he lost to the Saints, Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins. When he had no clue how to fix the free fall.
January 21st, 2026 at 9:00 am
You want to know how Joe can destroy his access to One Buc Palace? Lie to his readers about people who work there.
Joe’s information was that Bowles was likely safe. And the family that owns the team since has told Bowles he’s back for 2026.
Guessing you would have preferred Joe to lie to you?
Joe never has and never will lie to his readers.
January 21st, 2026 at 9:02 am
No one has a crystal ball to see the future as to how all things will play out. There was no guarantee that Coen would be successful this year in JAX, in fact so many were butt hurt that he left that most rooted against him, so there was no guarantee that he would have been successful if he were the Bucs head coach this year given all that happened, but then again maybe some of his decisions mean that some things turn out differently but that is the point: No one will ever know. We all have to make the best decision we can everyday and live with them, so why are the Bucs different? Should they have fired Bowles last year just to keep the OC? No, that’s not smart. Continuity of the good kind=a stable team. But it’s going to change because of guys moving up in the coaching ranks, sometimes year to year. Bowles did a good job of getting the team to overcome 2 slumps to get into the playoffs. This year is different, can’t let 3 in a row go although all he said was spot on it’s results based. Unless the Bucs let all of us know EXACTLY ALL that went down this year that led to this collapse and why it was more than Bowles fault, then it sit’s on his shoulders, and we all know the Bucs aren’t going to do that. If Bowles is going to remain the HC then I agree he has to get not only a OC but a DC and let them do their thing. I’m not sad about not getting MM as I believe there are some good young offensive minds there to be had, defensive too, they have to start somewhere, why not here? And I do like McDermott as a coach. Also have to get nastier attitudes on both sides of the ball.
January 21st, 2026 at 9:02 am
There are much better quarterbacks in the 2027 draft than him.
January 21st, 2026 at 9:03 am
So the Glazers did talk with Harbs. The thing is Harbs did not want to report to the Gm we have (his name is easy to forget 😉) according to an article he reports directly to the Mara family. He and the Gm will work together, but if he has issues he will go to owners. The Glazer aren’t built like that, they are not a true football family. They want the Gm guy to handle stuff. The Gm & the HC are submissive.
They don’t swing for the fences. I understand why BA has so much clout, look @ his personality. He brought Tom in and in turn Tom did the rest. Thank you Tommy🤙🏾👊🏾👊🏾
January 21st, 2026 at 9:13 am
Joe … ‘it’s not a shock that the third hire in as many years, Grizzard, might struggle. It’s the law of averages, Cowherd said.
When is someone … anyone … gonna admit that Bowles promoting Grizzard to OC last year was one of the dumbest management decisions the Bucs have made. Yes Grizz had been around a number of quality offensive minds in his NFL years, but he’d never called plays before nor been responsible for putting together a game plan that anyone has noted. He was a Quality Control coach for 5 years with the Miami Dolphins, as well as their Wide Receivers coach for 2 years.
Grizz spent ONE year here as our Passing Game Coordinator in 2024 working for Liam Coen before Bowles promoted him to OC in 2025. He’d never called plays at the NFL level nor the college level in his 8 years prior to becoming OC. Seriously? As soon as things (like multiple injuries) started turning south, Grizz’s lack of experience put him at a major disadvantage.
Todd Bowles stubborness got the best of him there, just like it has in his decision to remain as BOTH the Bucs’ HC AND DC.
January 21st, 2026 at 9:21 am
As much as most fans want to believe it, I highly doubt Licht put all the eggs in MM’s basket. Yes, that would have been a smooth hire for OC but Licht has a Plan B. And a plan C and D. Yeah, it stinks that MM signed with LA but I’m trusting Licht and trusting his process (as painful as it can be at times). Everyone wants to poo poo on Licht but he was the one that brought us Canales AND Coen. Yes, Grizzard was a miss but 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.
January 21st, 2026 at 9:52 am
No excuses. The team regressed because of 🤡. Offense even with a ton of injuries was humming, against SF and Seattle, 30 burgers. But then the defense gave up a few big plays against the Patriots, yet still had the game in the palm of their hand.
That’s when 🤡 showed his true superpower, and the mega suckage was turned on extra high. The 🐢 was forced on the gizzard. Regression and demolition ensued. But at least 🤡 blamed everyone else but himself.
January 21st, 2026 at 10:53 am
“Yes Grizz had been around a number of quality offensive minds in his NFL years, but he’d never called plays before nor been responsible for putting together a game plan that anyone has noted.”
Canales was in the league for about 12 years before he got a chance to call plays for us and hadn’t done so before.
Coen had only called 1 NFL game while he was on the Rams staff, and McVay was like “I got this” lol
So it’s not like we deviated far from what had worked previously with the 2 OCs who were 1 & done with us before elevating Grizzard. Didn’t work out, but my thing is what were our alternatives, considering what happened with Coen and when it happened. We weren’t preparing to go looking for an OC, but we had to do so a little later than other teams who were already interviewing.