The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the mix for one of the NFL’s most intriguing coaching free agents: Mike McDaniel. Fresh off his dismissal from the Miami Dolphins, McDaniel’s name has quickly resurfaced in conversations around both head coaching and offensive coordinator vacancies-and for good reason. His offensive acumen is well-respected around the league, and teams looking to spark their playbooks are lining up to talk.
Tampa Bay, in particular, might be a sleeper contender to land him. While the Bucs aren’t the only team courting McDaniel, they do have a unique selling point that could tip the scales in their favor: head coach Todd Bowles’ defensive background. That detail might seem small, but it could be a game-changer for someone like McDaniel.
According to NFL insider Jeff Darlington, Tampa Bay’s situation could be especially appealing because Bowles is one of the few defensive-minded head coaches among the teams currently searching for an offensive coordinator. That means McDaniel wouldn’t just be calling plays-he’d essentially be the CEO of the offense.
Full autonomy, his own staff, his own system. For a coach who’s already led a team and is known for his creative offensive schemes, that kind of control is a major draw.
Let’s look at the landscape. McDaniel’s potential OC suitors include the Buccaneers, Eagles, Lions, and Chargers.
Among those teams, only Bowles comes from a defensive background. The others-Nick Sirianni in Philly, Dan Campbell in Detroit, and Jim Harbaugh in L.A.-are all offensive guys.
That matters. In those situations, McDaniel would likely have to share the offensive reins or work within someone else’s framework.
In Tampa, he could build from the ground up.
And it’s not like the Bucs are a bare cupboard. The roster features a proven veteran quarterback and a solid arsenal of playmakers.
There’s enough talent in place to make some noise, especially with the right mind steering the offense. If McDaniel were to land in Tampa and get this group firing on all cylinders, it wouldn’t just help the Bucs-it could fast-track his return to a head coaching gig.
The recent history of Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinators backs that up. Dave Canales held the role in 2023 and landed a head coaching job after just one season.
Liam Coen followed in 2024 and also moved on quickly. That trend speaks volumes.
The Bucs have become a launchpad for offensive minds, and McDaniel could be the next in line.
Of course, if a head coaching offer comes McDaniel’s way, he’ll likely jump at it. But if he’s eyeing the right OC opportunity to reset and reload, Tampa Bay offers a compelling case.
Full control of the offense, a talented roster, and a recent track record of coordinators turning one-year stints into top jobs-it’s all there. Now it’s just a matter of whether McDaniel sees the same potential in the Bucs that they clearly see in him.