Bucs stay in-house, promote Josh Grizzard to offensive coordinator

Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times on Jan 31, 2025

Published in Football

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TAMPA, Fla. — The Bucs' search for a new offensive coordinator ended just a few doors down from Todd Bowles’ office.

Josh Grizzard, who spent his only season in Tampa Bay as the team’s pass game coordinator, has been promoted to replace Liam Coen.

Grizzard, 34, will become the Bucs’ fourth offensive coordinator in as many seasons under Bowles but will provide the continuity the team was looking for.

The Bucs needed less than a week after Coen reversed his decision to remain in Tampa Bay and took the Jaguars head coaching job to find his replacement.

“Josh is bright and innovative and was instrumental in our game-planning and play design over the last year,” Bowles said. “After interviewing several outstanding candidates throughout this process, it ultimately became clear that our best option was here in our building.

“We had a lot of success offensively last season, and during our conversations ‘Grizz’ provided some great ideas on how we can build on that. His familiarity with our offense, our players and the staff will ensure the continuity that is crucial for sustained success.”

Grizzard was chosen from a list of candidates that included three Rams assistants: offensive assistant/pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase, tight ends coach/pass game coordinator Nick Caley and quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone, all of whom interviewed virtually.

The Bucs also conducted virtual interviews with Chargers pass game coordinator Marcus Brady and Vikings assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski.

Grizzard joined the Bucs last season after spending the previous seven years with the Dolphins. A former football player and graduate assistant at Yale, he began as an offensive quality control coach with Miami in 2017 and rose through the ranks to receivers coach.

While Coen received much of the credit for improving a Bucs offense that averaged 29.5 points per game last season, Grizzard was a major part of the unit’s success in the passing game and on third down.

The Bucs led the NFL by converting an astounding 51.11% of their third-down situations.

Prior to the Bucs entering the playoffs, Coen praised the work Grizzard had done with the passing game, particularly on third down.

“I think, first of all, shoutout to Josh and really the staff in general have done a phenomenal job throughout the whole year,” Coen said. “The guys in charge of those areas — (quarterbacks coach) Thad Lewis is in charge of the red zone, (receivers coach) ‘B-Mac’ (Bryan McClendon) is in charge of two-minute, and ‘Grizz’ happens to be in charge of third downs.

“Their ideas, plays, and thoughts and schemes are what come to life as what you see on Sunday.”

The Bucs passing game thrived under Grizzard, who helped quarterback Baker Mayfield set career highs with 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns while completing more than 71% of his passes.

The promotion of Grizzard should be well-received by Mayfield, who is competing this week in his second Pro Bowl Games in Orlando. Grizzard will become the eighth different offensive coordinator Mayfield will play under in an eight-year span, a list that includes Todd Haley (2018), Freddie Kitchens (2018), Todd Monken (2019), Alex Van Pelt (2020-21), Ben McAdoo (2022), Coen (2022), Dave Canales (2023) and Coen again in 2024.

Grizzard will be the Bucs' fourth offensive coordinator in as many years, following Byron Leftwich (2022), Panthers head coach Dave Canales (2023) and Coen (2024).