The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are placing their offensive future in the hands of a rising star. After losing coordinator Liam Coen to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bucs have promoted pass game wizard Josh Grizzard to the role of offensive coordinator. At just 34 years old, the high school valedictorian and Yale graduate is tasked with keeping the Buccaneers’ high-flying attack soaring to new heights.
A Cerebral Approach to Offensive Dominance
Grizzard may be stepping into his first play-calling gig, but the Bucs believe he has the mental acuity to excel. Quarterback Baker Mayfield called his new OC “unbelievably smart,” noting that Grizzard chose the hyper-competitive world of the NFL over a cushy job, driven by his love for the game and quest to win a Super Bowl.
The young mastermind spent the last two years as Coen’s right-hand man, breaking down defensive schemes from the coaches’ booth on game days. Grizzard used this bird’s-eye view to sharpen his play-calling instincts, mentally gaming out the ideal call for every situation.
“I would say two years ago I really started thinking like a coordinator. When you’re in the booth and you’re looking at coverages and just doing your mundane [quality control] work, you start thinking, ‘Okay, what do I call next? What do I call next? What’s this situation?’ Whatever it might be. Over the last two years [I was] trying to think in that way to prepare myself for this day.”
– Josh Grizzard, Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator
Evolving the Offense While Maintaining Continuity
The Buccaneers’ offensive core is brimming with confidence in Grizzard. All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs called him a “wizard” who “knows this system like the back of his hand.” Superstar receiver Mike Evans believes his new play-caller can elevate a unit that already ranked among the league’s best in 2024.
While the team aims to maintain continuity, Grizzard plans to expand the playbook with concepts gleaned from his days with the Dolphins and Blue Devils. The verbiage and fundamental structure will stay the same, allowing the Bucs to hit the ground running. But the first-time coordinator understands the need to evolve.
“The continuity will remain essentially the same. What you want to do, like we did last year, is morph it to the players. With that said, I do think you have to evolve every year because now there is a full season of tape on what we did here and now people are studying that. … There are definitely things I’ve done in my past that I want to add to it to continue to apply pressure, but again, the last thing you want is to get stagnant. So now we can take it to the next level.”
– Josh Grizzard, Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator
Adapting to Adversity and Expanding the Arsenal
Tampa Bay discovered the power of positional flexibility last season when injuries ravaged the receiving corps. Grizzard played a key role in overhauling game plans on the fly, moving tight ends and running backs into wide receiver roles to keep the passing game humming. Implementing this adaptable approach from the start could make the Bucs’ attack even more dangerous.
The Buccaneers also found success in 21 and 13 personnel groupings, with multi-tight end sets adding new dimensions to the run and pass games. Expect Grizzard to deploy these packages in creative ways to keep defenses guessing.
Stretching the Field and Lighting Up Scoreboards
While the overall offensive structure will feel familiar, Grizzard envisions a more aggressive downfield passing game in 2025. Creating more explosive plays will be an emphasis, putting added stress on opposing secondaries and creating quicker scoring opportunities.
“I do think moving forward that is something we’re going to put an emphasis on. Not that we didn’t do it last year, but I think we can put even more on trying to create more explosive plays … creating seven- or eight-play drives that could be 12 if you’re not having a 25-yard pass. So it’s definitely something that it limits the amount of plays in the drive, which is always a good thing.”
– Josh Grizzard, Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator
The Wunderkind Is Ready for His Close-Up
For Grizzard, the time to dream is over. The sharp young coach must now prove he can orchestrate an offense at the highest level. If his star pupils’ excitement is any indication, the Buccaneers may have uncovered their next great offensive mastermind.
The pirate ship has a new captain, and he’s ready to navigate uncharted waters. Josh Grizzard’s cerebral approach, adaptability, and aggressiveness could be exactly what the Buccaneers need to go from an elite offense to an all-time juggernaut. The NFL has been put on notice – Tampa Bay’s attack is in the hands of a rising wizard.
