Truth behind Josh Grizzard’s firing is a stark reflection of Todd Bowles’ status with the Bucs
Todd Bowles simply doesn’t have the time to wait and see if Josh Grizzard is the right guy for the job.
Todd Bowles fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard after his first year holding the title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday and it was a move many suspected he’d make.
It’s a quick decision that puts the Buccaneers on the hunt for their fifth OC in as many years and it forces Baker Mayfield into yet another offseason where he has a new face in charge of the offense.
There’s a lot to take into account when it comes Grizzard’s first season as an NFL play-caller. Overall, the Bucs offense underwhelmed in 2025, especially considering the surplus of playmakers on that side of the ball. It was a largely disappointing product that struggled outside of a few games and it played a big role in the Buccaneers’ 2-7 skid that ultimately forced them out of the playoffs.
When breaking it down, it’s easy to see why 2025’s failures are not all on Grizzard. There’s even an argument to be made to where it would’ve made sense to bring him back in 2026.
But, there’s one factor that looms large behind the denial of another chance of running the Buccaneers offense and it comes down to Bowles’ job security.
Bowles can’t afford to wait and see if Grizzard can get the job done
It’s simple: Todd Bowles doesn’t have time to see if Grizzard can take a step forward as an offensive coordinator in 2026. Another lackluster, or even middling year, would only turn the temperature up on Bowles’ status with the Buccaneers.
Injuries played such a huge role in the offense’s ineffectiveness to warrant a “what could’ve been” type scenario that also lends credence to the idea of Grizzard being able to run an effective offense once everyone gets back on the field. Both the offensive line and the receivers were hit to the point where the nucleus of each position group never got settled. Things were so out-of-whack that not even the chemistry and cohesiveness that formed over the prior years could help.
In terms of luck, Grizzard was handed a raw deal. Unfortunately for him, Bowles’ current trajectory with the Bucs was another outside factor he couldn’t control and it cost him his job.
This is why Bowles will go after an experienced and proven offensive coordinator
Sure, it takes two to tango and the Bucs can try and go after big names, but it won’t matter if said names are uninterested in the job. At the same time, however, I do think Bowles makes a serious run at some of not just the top, but most proven candidates out there.
He has to, at this point. The good news for him is the Buccaneers offense has everything it needs to get back to the top-5 status that rocked the NFL in 2024. It shouldn’t be hard to sell Mayfield and Co. on paper, but where the doubt creeps in is what happens if the Buccaneers tank in 2026 and Bowles is fired in 2027?
The key part with the full-blown disaster scenario is, again, there’s plenty for an OC to work with to where if Bowles is fired, he can do a good enough job to either stay in Tampa Bay or warrant serious looks elsewhere.
I mean, just look at what Falcons owner Arthur Blank is doing for defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, right now. Ulbrich had a helluva year as Falcons DC and Blank said he would vouch for Ulbrich once the new head coach was fired. Now, Ulbrich’s fate is ultimately up to that coach, but the point assistants aren’t always tied to the fate of a head coach stands.
Grizzard unfortunately couldn’t stop the yearly tradition that is finding a new offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers and it’s going to be very intriguing to see who becomes the next cog in the machine and if said cog can finally stop the wheel.
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