The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t waste time filling their offensive coordinator vacancy, hiring former Falcons playcaller Zac Robinson after a second in-person interview. With other top candidates quickly coming off the board, head coach Todd Bowles and the Bucs’ brass made a decisive move, bringing in a coach they’ve seen up close - and felt the sting of - over the past couple of seasons.
Robinson, who spent the last two years in Atlanta, brings a mixed bag to Tampa. On one hand, he’s part of the ever-growing Sean McVay coaching tree, having served in multiple roles with the Rams before joining the Falcons under Raheem Morris.
That Rams connection continues to run deep in Tampa - Liam Coen, a former Bucs OC, worked with Robinson in L.A., and Dave Canales, another recent Bucs playcaller, had ties to McVay disciple Shane Waldron during their time in Seattle. There’s a throughline here, and it’s clear the Bucs are still buying into that offensive philosophy.
Robinson also shares a unique link with current Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. Both he and Coen coached Mayfield during his short but impactful stint with the Rams - a brief window that helped revive Mayfield’s career. That familiarity could be a key factor in the Bucs’ thinking, especially as they aim to build on an offense that showed flashes of promise in 2025.
But here’s where things get complicated.
Robinson’s actual performance in Atlanta leaves plenty of questions. Despite having a solid offensive line, a dynamic back in Bijan Robinson, and a legit receiving threat in Drake London, the Falcons’ offense consistently underwhelmed.
They finished 23rd in points per game, 19th in passing yards, and 24th in passing touchdowns. The rushing attack looked better on paper - 8th in total yards and 11th in rushing scores - but the advanced metrics tell a less flattering story.
Atlanta ranked 24th in both total EPA and EPA per play. Their passing game was middling (18th in EPA/play), and their rushing efficiency (24th in rushing EPA/play) lagged behind the raw yardage totals.
In short, they moved the ball, but not in ways that consistently translated to scoreboard success. Much of their production came in low-leverage situations - empty yards that didn’t swing games.
There were mitigating factors, of course. First-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr. struggled early and then suffered a season-ending ACL tear.
Kirk Cousins, brought in to stabilize the position, never quite found his footing. Injuries to both London and Darnell Mooney didn’t help either.
Still, the third-down numbers were tough to ignore. The Falcons converted just 33.8% of their third downs - 30th in the league.
Whether it was short yardage or third-and-long, they couldn’t stay on the field. That inefficiency proved costly and was a major reason the offense couldn’t sustain drives.
Compare that to the Bucs under Josh Grizzard, who took heat for his own third-down playcalling, but still managed to outperform Atlanta in several key areas. Bowles clearly believes Robinson can do more with Tampa’s offensive pieces - and perhaps sees untapped potential that wasn’t realized in Atlanta.
One thing Robinson did do well? Scheme against Bowles.
Atlanta’s best offensive games over the past two years came against the Buccaneers. Week 15 of this past season saw the Falcons drop 29 points in a narrow win, with Cousins throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns - all to Kyle Pitts, who arguably earned his second-team All-Pro nod that night alone. In terms of EPA and overall offensive efficiency, it was Atlanta’s best game of the year.
And who could forget the 2024 Thursday Night Football shootout, when Cousins lit up Tampa for 509 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-30 overtime thriller? That game was a clinic - 550 total yards, relentless pressure on the Bucs defense, and a strong reminder of what a McVay-style offense can do when it’s clicking.
So, yes - Bowles has seen Robinson at his best, and it left a mark. That may have played a big role in this hire. He’s betting that with Tampa’s weapons and a healthy Mayfield, Robinson can replicate those performances on a more consistent basis.
But this move also reflects the Bucs’ current reality. With Bowles on a shaky footing and the job security of the entire staff in question, Tampa wasn’t exactly in position to lure a top-tier offensive mind.
Candidates like Mike McDaniel went elsewhere, and Todd Monken is eyeing bigger roles. That left the Bucs looking for someone with experience, familiarity, and upside - and Robinson checks those boxes, even if the results in Atlanta didn’t.
The hire isn’t without risk. Robinson’s résumé as a playcaller is short and uneven. But the Bucs are banking on his system, his ties to Mayfield, and his knowledge of modern offensive schemes to elevate an offense that needs to take the next step.
Whether that gamble pays off - and whether Bowles gets the time to see it through - remains to be seen.