The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are making some notable moves as they reshape their coaching staff and look to build on the momentum from their 2025 campaign. Let’s break down the key changes and what they could mean heading into the new season.
Coaching Staff Shuffle in Tampa
The Bucs are bringing in some fresh faces on the sidelines, starting with the hire of Andrew Mitchell as assistant offensive line coach. Mitchell, who most recently coached the offensive line at Oklahoma State, will now join forces with an NFL unit that showed flashes of promise last season but could use added consistency up front. His college experience developing young linemen could translate well in Tampa, especially with a few young pieces already in place.
On the defensive side, Tampa Bay has added Marcus West, formerly with the Buffalo Bills, to their coaching ranks. West's experience coaching defensive linemen in Buffalo - a unit known for its depth and rotational strength - could help bolster a Bucs front that prides itself on physicality but needs to generate more consistent pressure.
Meanwhile, changes are also coming to the offensive brain trust. The team is expected to part ways with passing game coordinator Kefense Hynson. While not yet official, this move signals a continued overhaul under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
Zac Robinson Reunites with Baker Mayfield
Speaking of Robinson, his arrival in Tampa is more than just a fresh start - it’s a reunion. Robinson and quarterback Baker Mayfield were briefly together with the Rams in 2022, and that connection played a big role in Robinson’s decision to join the Bucs.
“Sure, it’s a big deal,” Robinson said, reflecting on their time in L.A. “We gave him a handful of plays on a short week, and Baker came in with a notebook full of highlighters, color-coded and all. That told me everything I needed to know - not just about his talent, but his preparation and mindset.”
That kind of detail and dedication made an impression, and now Robinson is eager to build on that foundation. He sees Mayfield not just as a QB, but as a tone-setter - the kind of player who can raise the level of everyone around him.
“You want that true igniter,” Robinson said. “When you have a guy like that, you’ve got a chance to win every Sunday.”
Robinson’s vision for the offense is clearly built around Mayfield’s strengths - his leadership, mobility, and ability to make plays on the move. He emphasized Mayfield’s arm talent and instincts, noting there’s no area of the field he can’t reach.
“Baker was the No. 1 pick in the draft for a reason,” Robinson added. “He’s probably the best in the league at throwing on the run.
He’s great in the keeper game, great in the boot game. We want to evolve that and make sure we’re playing to his strengths - and the rest of the offense’s strengths too.”
That’s a key point. It’s not just about Mayfield - it’s about building a system that fits the entire unit. And on critical downs like third-and-long, having a quarterback who can extend plays and move the chains with his legs is a game-changer.
Mike Evans’ Future Still Unclear
As for star wide receiver Mike Evans, there’s been some noise around the league suggesting he might not return to Tampa Bay. But according to multiple reports, that’s still very much up in the air.
Evans hasn’t made any decisions about his future, and there haven’t been any substantive conversations between him, the team, or his agent. Right now, it seems like the chatter is more speculation than substance - the kind of talk that tends to swirl during events like the Shrine Bowl, where league insiders gather and rumors can take on a life of their own.
Until Evans makes a move - or the Bucs do - it’s all just background noise.
Pitts Open to Bigger Role in Atlanta
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, tight end Kyle Pitts is keeping an open mind about his future with the Falcons under new head coach Kevin Stefanski. Known for featuring tight ends in his offensive schemes, Stefanski could be a great fit for Pitts, who’s looking to play a more prominent role.
“That’d be dope,” Pitts said. “Not saying it wasn’t before, but it being like a higher, more-enhanced role - that would be the cool part.”
Pitts mentioned speaking with Browns tight end David Njoku, who thrived under Stefanski in Cleveland, and came away encouraged by what he heard. If Stefanski’s track record holds, we could see Pitts become a focal point in an offense that’s still searching for a true identity.
Final Thoughts
The Bucs are clearly in the midst of a strategic reset - not a rebuild, but a recalibration. With Zac Robinson stepping in as offensive coordinator and reuniting with Baker Mayfield, the offense could take on a new, more dynamic shape. Add in some fresh coaching talent on both sides of the ball, and Tampa Bay is positioning itself to stay competitive in a wide-open NFC South.
As for Mike Evans, the situation remains fluid. And while his future in Tampa is uncertain, one thing is clear: the Bucs aren’t standing still. They’re making moves - and they’re doing it with purpose.