If he continues at this rate for just a few more years, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles’ coaching tree could make up almost a quarter of the NFL’s head coaches by 2028.
The latest of Bowles’ proteges to seem like they might be up to that task is first year offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, who has shown a brilliant touch with Tampa Bay’s offense on the way to a 4-1 start — and done so while missing key pieces due to injury.
If Grizzard were to become an NFL head coach in 2026 it would be the third consecutive year Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator has done so following Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales in 2024 and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen in 2025.
Two more former Bowles assistants are also head coaches with Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell and New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll.
“It’s also worth noting that the Tampa Bay offensive pipeline is pipelining again,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on October 7. “Josh Grizzard has taken over, and the Buccaneers’ offense hasn’t missed a beat. It still ranks high in most offensive categories despite a rash of injuries, and quarterback Baker Mayfield is still dealing. Todd Bowles’ previous two coordinator picks — Dave Canales (Carolina) and Liam Coen (Jacksonville) — have moved into head coaching jobs, and Grizzard has three months to show that he belongs in that group. But the early returns are good for the former Yale football captain, a status that will intrigue some owners.”
Not Everyone Sold on Bucs Coaching Staff
There are some bad takes from the preseason that are worth repeating only for how bad they ended up being.
ESPN’s Ben Solak ranked Bowles and his coaching staff 26th out of 32 teams headed into the 2025 regular season— down 4 spots from No. 22 on his 2024 list.
“Come with me to a magical land in which Liam Coen actually stayed as the Bucs’ OC this season (too soon, Bucs fans?) They’d probably be 12th or 13th on this list — maybe even higher,” Solak wrote on August 1. “It’d be much easier to look beyond Bowles, a cautious game manager who regularly settles for field goals and extra points when he should hunt touchdowns and two-point conversions, if Coen’s rockstar offense were returning. But it isn’t, so those little margins from the head coach glare all the more.”
Figuring Out Best Landing Spot for Grizzard
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan both seem dead in the water with both of their teams off to 1-4 starts and coming off losing seasons in 2024.
There’s little chance either will be back in 2026.
While those won’t be the only coaches who get fired, if Grizzard were to get his choice, picking the Titans should be a no brainer.
Miami’s ownership is a mess and quarterback Tua Tagolaivoa has a contract that almost makes moving forward impossible — he signed a 4-year, $212.4 million contract extension in July 2024 that doesn’t have a reasonable out until after the 2028 season.
With the Titans, Grizzard would have a chance to work with quarterback and 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, who could have a bright future with the right offensive mind guiding his way.
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