Bucs Rumors: Kellen Moore, Brian Johnson to Interview for OC Job After Canales' Exit

After losing Dave Canales to the Carolina Panthers this week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly set to interview two big-name candidates for their offensive coordinator vacancy.

According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Bucs will interview Los Angeles Chargers OC Kellen Moore on Monday. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports added that the Buccaneers will also interview former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson in the near future.

Former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey is also expected to interview with the Bucs, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Canales, who served one season as the offensive coordinator in Tampa, was hired Thursday to be the Panthers' new head coach.

Following a 13-year stint on the Seattle Seahawks coaching staff, Canales got his chance to be an OC in 2023, and he parlayed it into a head coaching job.

With Canales calling the offensive plays, the Bucs went 9-8, won the NFC South and upset the Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

Canales' most notable contribution was playing a part in the career renaissance of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who threw for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season.

Mayfield is set to become a free agent, but it seems likely that Tampa will sign him to a new deal, meaning the new OC will be tasked with building on that momentum.

Moore, 35, has five years of experience as an NFL offensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys and Chargers.

He served in that role in Dallas from 2019 through 2022, and during that time, the Cowboys ranked first in total offense twice and sixth or better in scoring offense three times.

Moore took the Chargers' OC job in 2023 since he would be solely responsible for the offensive play-calling, but things didn't go according to plan, as the Bolts ranked 18th in total offense and 21st in scoring offense.

An injury to star quarterback Justin Herbert played a role in the struggles, as he missed four games.

Moore is technically still the Chargers' offensive coordinator, but with L.A. hiring Jim Harbaugh as its new head coach, a change could be coming.

Per Garafolo, Moore is set to interview with the Cleveland Browns as well, and the Eagles have already spoken with him virtually.

The 36-year-old Johnson was the Eagles' OC in 2023, taking over for Shane Steichen after he was hired to be the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

Johnson was previously an offensive coordinator collegiately at Utah, Houston and Florida, and he was the Eagles' quarterbacks coach from 2021 through 2022.

Philly reached the Super Bowl in 2022 and had one of the NFL's most explosive offenses led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, but the team took a step back this season.

The Eagles lost five of their final six regular-season games to go 11-6 and finish second to the Cowboys in the NFC East. Philadelphia was then blown out 32-9 by Tampa in the first round of the playoffs.

Philadelphia ranked third in both scoring offense and passing offense in 2022, and while the Eagles still had a strong offense as a whole statistically in 2023, they dipped to eighth in total offense and seventh in scoring.

The late-season drop-off ended up costing Johnson his job, but he could get another opportunity, as he is an OC candidate for the Bucs and the Browns.

Per Jones, the Buccaneers had interest in Johnson last offseason, but they didn't get the chance to bring him in since he was promoted to OC of the Eagles.

Assuming the Bucs can re-sign Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans, while also keeping running back Rachaad White, wideout Chris Godwin and tight end Cade Otton, the new offensive coordinator will have plenty of talent to work with in 2024.