Bruce Arians doesn’t hand out offensive praise lightly, so when the former Buccaneers head coach says new coordinator Zac Robinson has a “great, great future,” that carries real weight.
Arians, who spent years coaching elite quarterbacks like Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Ben Roethlisberger, Carson Palmer and Tom Brady, has seen just about every kind of offensive mind there is. He also knows what it takes to run one at a high level, owning an 80-48-1 regular-season record with the Cardinals and Buccaneers and earning two NFL Coach of the Year awards along the way. So when he talked about Tampa Bay’s decision to bring in Robinson after his two seasons as Atlanta’s offensive coordinator, he zeroed in on the value of experience.
“I don’t think there is any doubt he’s going to help a lot,” Arians said. “When you have at least three years of experience at the job, it’s so much easier.
He knows what he wants to do. He’s failed.
He knows how to correct it. He’s got the answers to the test.
That gameplan he put on Thursday night against us last year was outstanding. To me, that’s when I would have gone straight to him, too [laughs].
I didn’t get asked about it, but I thought it was a great hire for us. I think Zac’s got a great, great future.”
Arians also pointed to the ground game as a key part of what Robinson can unlock in Tampa Bay. If the Buccaneers can get the rushing attack back to the 2024 level - when it finished in the top 5 in the NFL - it would give the offense more balance and open up the play-action passing game even more.
That’s where Kenneth Gainwell comes in, in Arians’ view. The new back had more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his only season with the Steelers last year, rushing for 537 yards and five touchdowns while adding 73 catches for 486 yards and three more scores.
“I thought he was the best offensive acquisition of the offseason,” Arians said. “I’ve always had a great admiration for him.
We tried to draft him a couple of years back when he came out. The ability to pass block - he’s not the biggest guy in the world but he can pass block, so he doesn’t have to come out of the ballgame…
“Kenny, he brings explosiveness to the offense. So, if Bucky does go down … I was a big Rachaad White fan, don’t get me wrong, I drafted him.
I think we got a great replacement for him. Great in the passing game, great in the running game.
Adds that spark, so I thought it was a huge acquisition. Getting back to a duo - and then Sean [Tucker].
Sean, he’ll blossom in this offense.”
Put together, Arians sees a lot to like in Tampa Bay’s offensive setup for 2026, from Robinson’s play-calling background to the potential boost from Gainwell and the rest of the backfield.
In Other News...
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A few names already sit in the mix as Carolina weighs whether to trade, shop in free agency or simply keep looking for the right fit. Michael Mayer has been floated as a more sensible trade avenue than some other options, while Darren Waller still has enough juice to make the idea interesting after flashing in Miami, including a strong showing against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium last season. Jonnu Smith, though, has emerged as the most practical target of the group, and if Carolina is serious about stabilizing this part of the offense, the choice may come down to whether it wants upside, familiarity or the cleanest path to making the position matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Linked To A Tight End Upgrade Bryce Young Needs
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That is why the idea floating around ESPN caught some attention, even if it is still just that, an idea. Carolina has been linked to a potential move for a high-end tight end who has the kind of track record that would fit what the Panthers need, and Detroit's financial picture only adds to the speculation. Any deal would not be simple, though, because a trade would almost certainly have to come with real draft value and the kind of long-term commitment that turns a rumor into a major roster decision. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Newton Sounds Off After Troubling News About Former NFL Star
Chris Johnsons health news has landed with a jolt across the football world, and it has a lot of former players thinking beyond the diagnosis itself. The former running back carved out a remarkable NFL career from 2008 to 2017, highlighted by six straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and a reputation as one of the fastest backs of his era, so hearing his name attached to a serious long-term illness naturally carries extra weight in league circles.
On his podcast, Cam Newton focused less on nostalgia and more on what comes next for the NFL and the people who played in it. Newton said he is very intrigued to see how the league responds and what its plan is to make the game safer while better protecting former players, a question that has only grown louder as more ex-NFL players have dealt with ALS. For Carolina fans, it was a reminder that the conversation around footballs toll does not end when a players career does. [Read more 🡒]