The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2025 season started with promise but ended in frustration - and now, one of their key offensive contributors is pulling back the curtain on what went wrong.
Running back Rachaad White, who just wrapped up his fourth NFL season and is set to hit free agency, recently joined the Loose Cannons podcast and offered a candid look at the Bucs’ offensive struggles. From injuries to play-calling miscues, White didn’t hold back - and his comments paint a picture of a talented offense that simply couldn’t find its rhythm down the stretch.
Let’s rewind for a second. The Bucs opened the year 6-2, looking like a legitimate playoff threat in a wide-open NFC.
But after their Week 9 bye, the wheels came off. They dropped seven of their final nine games, finishing 8-9 and missing the postseason.
The offense, which had been humming early behind a resurgent Baker Mayfield, sputtered badly. And according to White, the problems ran deeper than just execution.
“When you look on paper, we were loaded,” White said. “But I look at it like it’s only one football.”
That’s the kind of line that sticks with you - because it speaks to the heart of what ailed Tampa Bay. There was no shortage of talent.
Between White, rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka, veteran Mike Evans (when healthy), and tight end Cade Otton, there were playmakers all over the field. But under first-year offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, who was let go after the season, the offense often looked disjointed.
The rhythm was off. The identity never quite took shape.
White pointed to the challenge of getting everyone involved in a meaningful way - and suggested that Grizzard may have overcomplicated things.
“As an OC, you’re trying to get everybody the ball in the right manner or the right way and do this or do that,” White said. “I don’t think it went as planned.”
That sentiment was echoed when he recalled the 2023 season under then-offensive coordinator Dave Canales (now the Panthers’ head coach). White noted that Canales would call screens early in games just to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers - a simple but effective approach that helped build confidence and momentum. This year, that kind of intuitive play-calling was often missing.
White still managed to post solid numbers in a tough situation. He rushed for 572 yards and four touchdowns on 132 carries and added 218 receiving yards on 40 catches.
But with Bucky Irving emerging as the lead back and Sean Tucker showing flashes in limited snaps, White’s time in Tampa Bay appears to be winding down. He’s already begun saying his goodbyes to fans, signaling that a fresh start may be on the horizon.
Injuries certainly played a role in the Bucs’ offensive decline. The offensive line took some hits, and White acknowledged that while the replacements held their own, the unit wasn’t quite the same.
“I think guys that stepped in, they held their own a good amount of the time,” White said. “We won some big games, especially without a lot of our main guys.”
But the setbacks weren’t just up front. The passing game took a major hit as well.
No Bucs receiver cracked the 1,000-yard mark - a rare occurrence in Tampa, especially for Mike Evans. The franchise’s all-time receptions leader was limited to eight games due to injury and finished with just 368 yards and three touchdowns on 30 catches.
It was the first time in his 12-year career that he didn’t hit the 1,000-yard milestone.
Rookie Emeka Egbuka stepped up in a big way, leading the team with 938 yards and six touchdowns on 63 receptions. He was targeted a team-high 127 times - a clear sign that the coaching staff trusted him to be the go-to option. Tight end Cade Otton was next in line with 81 targets, but the drop-off after that was steep.
As for Mayfield, his numbers took a noticeable dip from his breakout 2024 campaign. He finished with 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions - a solid line, but well below the 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns he posted the year before under former OC Liam Coen. Coen, of course, left to coach the Jaguars in early 2025, and the offense never quite found its groove without him.
White also took a moment to address head coach Todd Bowles, suggesting that it might be time for Bowles to hand off defensive coordinator duties to someone else - a notable comment from a player who’s clearly thinking about the bigger picture.
Now, the Bucs are in search of a new offensive coordinator once again. The hope is that whoever takes over can reignite Mayfield’s spark, tap into Egbuka’s rising star power, and build a more cohesive, efficient attack.
There’s no shortage of talent on this roster - but as White made clear, it’s not just about having the pieces. It’s about knowing how to use them.
Tampa Bay’s 2025 season will be remembered as one of missed opportunities. But with a new voice calling plays and a healthy roster, the Bucs could be right back in the mix next fall. The question is: who’s steering the ship - and can they bring this offense back to life?