Sun, 03 Dec 2023

Updates: Bucs' OC Interview List Up to Seven Candidates

Buccaneers
07 Feb 2023, 18:26 GMT+10

Tampa Bay BuccaneersKeep informed with our daily updates: News, notes and more throughout the month of February 2023

After a quiet weekend, the Buccaneers are expected to continue their search for a new offensive coordinator this week. The team moved on from nine assistant coaches on January 19, including Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich, and are now in the process of filling those open spots.

Between Wednesday, January 25 and Wednesday, February 1 the Bucs conducted interviews with seven candidates for their OC position, beginning with Denver Broncos Passing Game Coordinator Klint Kubiak. Next came Minnesota Vikings Wide Receivers Coach Keenan McCardell, Jacksonville Jaguars Passing Game Coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and Cincinnati Bengals Quarterbacks Coach Dan Pitcher. Last week, the process continued with interviews of University of Georgia Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken, New York Giants Quarterbacks Coach Shea Tierney and New Orleans Saints Passing Game Coordinator Ronald Curry. Two of the seven have previous ties with the Buccaneers, as McCardell was a wide receiver on the 2002 Tampa Bay squad that won Super Bowl XXXVII and Monken was the team's offensive coordinator under Head Coach Dirk Koetter from 2016-18.

At least 11 NFL teams will have new offensive coordinators in 2023, and some of those positions are starting to get filled. The New England Patriots brought back Bill O'Brien for that role, while the New York Jets hired former Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett to be their play-caller. Hackett replaces Mike LaFleur, who didn't take long to find a new home as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator. After mutually parting ways with Kellen Moore so that Head Coach Mike McCarthy could move into the play-calling role, the Cowboys named Brian Schottenheimer their new OC. Moore landed a new gig the day after leaving Dallas, signing on as the Los Angeles Chargers' OC.

The Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans all have head coaches in place but are still seeking their new offensive coordinators. The Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts are still in the process of hiring new head coaches, who would then presumably bring aboard new coordinators.

Tom Brady

#12 QB

Height: 6-4Weight: 225 lbsCollege: Michigan

February 1 Updates

Tom Brady's Wednesday morning retirement announcement means the Buccaneers will definitely be searching for a new starting quarterback in 2023. That retirement also could give the Bucs some more room to maneuver in that effort and any other attempts to sign or re-sign free agents.

Due to the automatically voiding seasons on the end of Brady's contract, the Buccaneers were due to absorb a roughly $35 million "dead cap" hit on their salary cap in 2023 had he continued playing this season, whether in Tampa or elsewhere. The Bucs still must account for that hit, but if he is designated as a post-June 1 retirement it can be spread out over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Brady's dead cap hit in that scenario would be roughly $11 million this year and roughly $24 million in 2024.

According to Spotrac, the Buccaneers are currently projected at nearly $56 million over the cap in 2023. They must become compliant with the recently-finalized cap figure of $224.8 million by March 15.

CLICK HERE for more on Tom Brady's retirement announcement.

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