While the players are in offseason mode, the front office and coaching staff at One Buc Place are in full swing. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have begun reshaping their coaching staff for the 2026 campaign, making one key hire and launching an extensive search to fill their most critical vacancy.
A Veteran Voice for Special Teams
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the Buccaneers officially announced the hiring of Danny Smith as their new special teams coordinator. Smith, 72, brings a wealth of experience, most recently from a long and successful stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His reputation is built on disciplined, fundamentally sound units that excel in the often-overlooked third phase of the game. For a Buccaneers team that has seen inconsistency in its return and coverage units, Smith’s hiring signals a commitment to shoring up a weakness. His ability to develop young talent will be immediately tested with the roster turnover expected this spring.
The Offensive Coordinator Conundrum
The most significant and watched search is for the team’s next offensive coordinator. This hire will be pivotal in determining the trajectory of quarterback Baker Mayfield and the offense as a whole. As of January 20, the interview process is underway. External candidates like Zac Robinson, the former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator, have been mentioned, alongside potential internal promotions.
The team’s official media channel has even released a video breakdown titled “Breaking Down the Bucs OC Candidates,” engaging fans in the process. The ideal candidate will need to craft an offense that maximizes Mayfield’s strengths—his mobility and competitive fire—while establishing a more consistent rushing attack. This decision will be the first major indicator of the offensive philosophy Head Coach Todd Bowles wants to implement in 2026.
Bowles’ Bench: Stability at the Top
Despite the 8-9 finish and playoff miss, the Glazer family and General Manager Jason Licht have confirmed that Todd Bowles will return for the 2026 season. This provides a layer of stability and allows Bowles, a defensive-minded coach, to focus on fixing the offense through this coordinator hire and subsequent roster moves. While external media speculation has floated big names like Mike McDaniel, the organization’s public actions affirm their commitment to Bowles’ leadership for at least one more year.
The coming weeks will be defining. Securing Danny Smith is a solid first step, but naming the offensive coordinator is the move that will set the tone for the entire offseason program and draft strategy. The Bucs are betting that the right coach on the headset can unlock the potential that flickered, but never fully caught fire, in 2025.