The Buccaneers are expected to bring in Marcus West as their new defensive line coach, a move that signals a fresh direction for Todd Bowles’ defensive staff heading into 2026. West, who spent the last two seasons as the Bills’ defensive line coach-and two years before that as their assistant D-line coach-steps into a role that’s seen some turnover in recent years.
This hire comes after Bowles parted ways with Charlie Strong following just one season in Tampa. Strong, a veteran college head coach with stops at Louisville, Texas, and USF, had replaced Kacy Rodgers, Bowles’ longtime right-hand man, who left in 2024 to take the same position with the Detroit Lions.
Now, West arrives with a reputation for developing young talent and getting production out of both high draft picks and under-the-radar players. During his time in Buffalo, West worked with a group of pass rushers that quietly became one of the more efficient units in the league-even if they weren’t always leading the league in sack totals.
Take Greg Rousseau, for example. Under West’s guidance, Rousseau tied his career-high with eight sacks in 2024 and posted personal bests in QB hits (24) and tackles for loss (16).
Those 24 QB hits tied for seventh in the NFL, and his TFL total was sixth in the AFC. That’s not just solid-it’s disruptive, and it speaks to a player who’s trending upward under the right coaching.
In 2023, the Bills’ pass rush hit another gear, finishing with 54 sacks-fourth most in the league. Leonard Floyd led the way with 10.5, becoming the first Bills defender to crack double digits since Lorenzo Alexander in 2016. That kind of production across the line is a testament to a coach who knows how to scheme pressure and develop technique.
Interior pressure wasn’t lacking either. Ed Oliver had a breakout 2023 season, racking up 9.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss to go along with 51 total tackles and an interception.
That sack total tied the most by a Bills defensive tackle since 2019. Oliver’s ability to collapse the pocket from the inside added another layer to Buffalo’s defensive front-and West was right in the middle of his development.
A.J. Epenesa also had a strong 2023, matching his career high with 6.5 sacks and adding two interceptions-rare numbers for a defensive lineman.
One of those picks went back for a touchdown, making him the first Bills D-lineman to score on an interception return since Aaron Schobel. That’s the kind of versatility and opportunistic play that West helped unlock.
Even with injuries in 2025-most notably Ed Oliver missing the final 14 games-the Bills still found ways to generate pressure. Rousseau led the team again with seven sacks, and Buffalo posted a sack rate of 6.8%, which ranked 13th in the NFL.
While the total sack number dipped to 36 (20th overall), the Bills still managed to be effective in specific situations. They were tied for 14th in sacks when rushing four or fewer and ranked fifth in pressure rate in those same scenarios.
That speaks to a unit that was still scheming effectively, even without its top interior disruptor.
Before his time in Buffalo, West made his mark at the college level. As the co-defensive coordinator and D-line coach at Charlotte from 2019 to 2021, he helped develop Alex Highsmith-now a key piece of the Steelers’ defense-and Markees Watts, who joined the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
Highsmith set school records for sacks in a season (14) and career (20) before Watts broke the latter with 21.5 in 2021. That kind of player development doesn’t happen by accident.
West also brings the perspective of someone who’s been in the trenches himself. A former standout at Memphis, he spent time trying to crack an NFL roster, including a stint on the Colts’ practice squad back in 2006. That background often resonates with players-especially in a position group where technique, toughness, and trust in your coach go a long way.
For the Buccaneers, this move is about more than just filling a vacancy. It’s about re-establishing a defensive line identity that can anchor Bowles' scheme. With West’s track record of maximizing talent and generating production across multiple fronts, Tampa Bay may have found the right coach to bring that edge back to their D-line.