Update on Bucs OC Search as Brian Callahan Among Targets After Josh Grizzard Firing

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Friday that they interviewed former Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan for their vacant offensive coordinator position.

Callahan spent parts of two seasons as the Titans' head coach, but he was fired after a 1-5 start in 2025.

Tampa's OC position became available Thursday when the Bucs fired Josh Grizzard after just one year on the job.

When the Buccaneers make an OC hire, it will mark their fifth different offensive coordinator in the past five seasons.

Since Byron Leftwich's stint as OC from 2019 to 2022, the Bucs have had Dave Canales, Liam Coen and Grizzard in the position for one year each.

Canales and Coen both excelled, helping quarterback Baker Mayfield have two of the best seasons of his career, while also reaching the playoffs in both 2023 and 2024.

As a result, Canales landed the Carolina Panthers' head coaching job, and the Jacksonville Jaguars hired Coen as their head coach. Both the Panthers and Jags reached the playoffs this season.

Grizzard, who was the Bucs' passing game coordinator in 2024, did not fare as well upon getting elevated to offensive coordinator.

Tampa was 21st in total offense and tied for 18th in scoring offense, which contributed to the team finishing 8-9 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

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The Titans largely struggled offensively during Callahan's time as head coach, as they ranked 26th in total offense and 27th in scoring offense in 2024, and 31st in total offense and 30th in scoring offense this season until his dismissal.

However, Callahan previously showed during his five-year run as offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals that he is capable of guiding one of the league's best offenses.

When the Bengals went to the Super Bowl in 2021, Callahan coached an offense that was 13th in total yardage and seventh in scoring. Then, the following year, they were eighth in yards and seventh in scoring.

Callahan had the benefit of coaching quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in Cincy, and he would have plenty of offensive talent to work with in Tampa as well.

Mayfield, running back Bucky Irving and wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson are all under contract for 2026.

Assuming those players stay healthy, the incoming OC will have plenty of talent to work with in Tampa Bay next season.