Remember that sinking feeling when your favorite RPG party loses its healer right before the boss battle? That’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, watching another offensive coordinator vanish into a head coaching role. First, Dave Canales jetted to the Carolina Panthers after 2023. This offseason, Liam Coen got lured away by the Jacksonville Jaguars’ siren song. Now, another setback might come for Baker Mayfield and the team.

The league views Bucs OCs like rare loot drops – and 35-year-old Josh Grizzard might be the next epic item on their radar. “The foundation is there,” Baker Mayfield told reporters about Grizzard’s early work. “We are working on explosive plays and fundamentals in the run game.” He’s the fresh-faced wizard stepping onto the main stage after orchestrating the NFL’s best third-down offense (50.9% conversion rate!) as passing game coordinator last year.

If Mayfield replicates – or tops – his monster 2024 (4,500 YDs, 41 TDs, 106.8 rating), Grizzard’s playbook might just become the hottest HC blueprint in 2026. Baker’s brilliance hinges on this continuity; another system reset could stall his hard-won Bucs mojo faster than a ‘dropped Halo connection‘.

Jason Licht’s extension? A standing ovation. The GM built a Super Bowl winner and masterfully retooled the roster. Todd Bowles’ extension? More like cautious optimism mixed with a hefty dose of ‘prove it.’ Sure, he inherited Bruce Arians’ staff midstream in 2022 and navigated the ‘Brady Retirement Drama.‘ His defenses often kept flawed teams afloat. But the tide’s turning. The defensive swagger that defined the Super Bowl run? It’s been leaking oil. Last two seasons: 29th in pass defense. Yikes.

Remember Kirk Cousins casually dropping 785 yards and 8 TDs in just two games against them? Or the playoff loss in D.C., where the pass rush vanished (one sack!) and schematic rigidity got exposed? Bowles himself admitted a “Eureka” moment this offseason: playing corners tighter to disrupt routes.

Baker Mayfield’s HC might not get more safe harbors after his extension

It’s a start. He’s also got reinforcements: Haason Reddick bringing heat, Lavonte David’s timeless presence, and rookie DBs Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish adding young legs. The front seven looks stout. The secondary must improve. There are no more ‘we were young’ or ‘coaching turnover‘ alibis. The arsenal is stocked. As Bowles himself might channel from a gritty war flick: “It’s time to lock and load.”

Bowles’ challenges extend beyond Xs and Os, though. Late-game management has been his Kryptonite. The Week 7 heartbreaker in Kansas City last year stung: down 24–24 with 1:19 left, Bowles played for OT instead of letting Baker try a potential game-winning drive. Patrick Mahomes promptly marched downfield and won it. A questionable timeout against the Dallas Cowboys also backfired.

These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re patterns testing fan patience. Recognizing this, Bowles hired Zach Beistline as director of football research – a full-time game-management guru. “I think it helps a great deal,” Bowles stated. “Having a full-time game day manager… allows me to be a better head coach.” Beistline’s a tool, not a savior. After 40+ years in football, Bowles must blend this new resource with his own hard-earned wisdom.

The pressure isn’t just schematic; it’s cerebral. Can he make the right call when the clock’s bleeding and the season hangs in the balance? With a roster built to win now, and his own legacy on the line – a .529 Bucs record and 12-13 playoff mark demand better – the margin for error is gone. This isn’t just a season; it’s Bowles’ defining campaign. The extension wasn’t a lifetime pass; it was a challenge. Time to see if the defensive maestro can conduct a complete masterpiece.