New Faces, Familiar Fire: Can Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ Revamped Offensive Staff Spark a 2026 Revival?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hitting the reset button on offense - again. But this time, they’re doing it with a brain trust that brings both pedigree and promise. After a rollercoaster 2024 campaign that saw Baker Mayfield put up career numbers before the wheels came off late, the Bucs are betting on a fresh pairing to help their quarterback rediscover his groove.
Enter Zac Robinson and Chandler Whitmer - two coaches who’ve worked together before, found success, and now reunite in Tampa with a clear mission: get Mayfield back to playing like the MVP candidate he was just a season ago.
A New Voice in the QB Room
Let’s start with Whitmer, the newly hired quarterbacks coach. He arrives in Tampa fresh off a breakout season at Indiana, where he helped mold Fernando Mendoza into a Heisman Trophy winner and the likely No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Mendoza’s 2025 campaign was one for the books - 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six picks - as he led the Hoosiers to an unprecedented 16-0 national championship run. That’s not just impressive; that’s history-making.
Indiana had never even produced a Heisman winner before, let alone gone undefeated.
Now, Whitmer brings that momentum to a Bucs team looking to reestablish its offensive identity. And while Mayfield isn’t a raw prospect like Mendoza, the two do share a significant bond: Heisman roots.
Mayfield, of course, took home the award in 2017 after a stellar season at Oklahoma. The talent has always been there - the challenge has been consistency and stability, two things Tampa Bay is hoping this new coaching setup can finally provide.
Robinson’s Return to the McVay Tree
The offensive coordinator gig goes to Zac Robinson, a name that should ring a bell for fans who follow the Sean McVay coaching tree. Robinson spent five years with McVay in Los Angeles, coaching both quarterbacks and receivers, and eventually rising to pass game coordinator before taking the OC job in Atlanta last season.
That Atlanta offense? Quietly one of the league’s best in 2024.
Despite a revolving door at quarterback - Kirk Cousins struggled late, and rookie Michael Penix Jr. was thrown into the fire - the Falcons still managed to finish sixth in total offense, averaging nearly 370 yards per game. They were top-10 on the ground and top-five through the air.
A big part of that success was Bijan Robinson, who exploded for over 2,200 scrimmage yards and 12 total touchdowns en route to his first All-Pro selection.
Robinson and Whitmer were both on that Falcons staff, with Whitmer serving as the pass game specialist. Their collaboration helped Atlanta stay afloat offensively despite the QB turbulence. That kind of adaptability is exactly what Tampa Bay needs.
Mayfield’s Carousel of Coordinators
For Mayfield, this is yet another chapter in a career defined by change. Robinson will be his 10th offensive coordinator in as many NFL seasons - a staggering stat that speaks to the instability the former No. 1 pick has endured. But there’s reason to believe this pairing could stick.
Mayfield has thrived in systems rooted in McVay’s offensive philosophy. In 2022, he flashed with the Rams after being claimed off waivers, throwing for 850 yards and four touchdowns in five games.
Then came 2024, when he reunited with Liam Coen - another McVay disciple - and posted a career-high 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. For the first half of that season, Mayfield looked like a legitimate MVP candidate.
But as injuries piled up - especially to his young receiving corps - the offense sputtered. The Bucs dropped seven of their final nine games and missed the playoffs at 8-9. It was a frustrating end to what had started as a breakout year.
The Pieces Are There
Looking ahead to 2026, there’s real reason for optimism. Mayfield’s top weapons - Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson - are expected to be healthy.
That trio brings speed, route-running polish, and big-play potential. Add in tight end Cade Otton, or perhaps a new face at the position via the draft, and Tampa Bay’s offensive arsenal starts to look pretty dangerous.
The key will be keeping everyone on the field - and getting them aligned in Robinson’s system. If Mayfield can find comfort and rhythm early, this unit has the potential to be one of the NFC’s most explosive.
High Stakes for Bowles and the Bucs
Make no mistake - the pressure is on. Head coach Todd Bowles is entering a critical year, and the Bucs know they can’t afford another midseason collapse. But with a retooled offensive staff, a quarterback who’s shown he can thrive in the right scheme, and a group of hungry young playmakers, Tampa Bay has the ingredients to bounce back.
Robinson and Whitmer have done this before - with different teams, different quarterbacks, and different challenges. Now, they’re tasked with doing it again. If they can unlock Mayfield’s full potential and keep the offense humming, the Bucs might just be back in the postseason mix come January.
And if not? Well, it won’t be for lack of firepower or coaching talent. This is a make-or-break year in Tampa - and the fuse has officially been lit.