Quick Read
- Zac Robinson has been hired as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ new offensive coordinator.
- Robinson previously served as the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator for two seasons.
- This marks the fifth offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers in as many seasons, highlighting a search for stability.
- Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who worked with Robinson in 2022, reportedly advocated for his hiring.
- The move follows a broader coaching staff reset for the Buccaneers after missing the playoffs in 2025.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have officially appointed Zac Robinson, formerly the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, as their new offensive coordinator. This move, finalized on Thursday, January 22, 2026, signals a significant step in the Buccaneers’ broader coaching staff overhaul following a disappointing 2025 season where the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Robinson’s arrival is particularly notable as it reunites him with Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who reportedly made a significant push for Robinson’s hiring, bringing a familiar face into a crucial leadership role as the franchise seeks to re-establish offensive consistency and competitiveness.
A New Era for the Buccaneers Offense
The decision to hire Robinson comes after a challenging 2025 campaign for the Buccaneers, marked by offensive struggles that led to a 2-7 finish and the team’s absence from the postseason. Under former offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, who was dismissed earlier this month, Tampa Bay’s offense ranked 21st in total offense and saw its scoring average fall sharply from 28.6 points per game in 2024 to 21.4 last season. This performance prompted a comprehensive coaching staff reset, led by head coach Todd Bowles, who was retained despite the team’s playoff drought. Beyond Grizzard, the organization also moved on from special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis, cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross, and defensive line coach Charlie Strong. Additionally, senior offensive assistant Tom Moore and safeties coach Nick Rapone announced their retirements, underscoring the extent of the changes within the coaching ranks.
Robinson is now tasked with revitalizing an offense that boasts considerable talent, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, running back Bucky Irving, wide receiver Chris Godwin, and emerging star Emeka Egbuka. His challenge will be to mold these pieces into a cohesive and high-performing unit, a task made more complex by the team’s recent history of offensive coordinator turnover. The Buccaneers have cycled through five offensive coordinators in as many seasons, a clear indicator of the organizational quest for the right leadership to guide their attack.
Robinson’s Coaching Pedigree and Mayfield Connection
Before joining the Buccaneers, Zac Robinson spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, a tenure that concluded when he was not retained following the firing of head coach Raheem Morris. During his time in Atlanta, the Falcons posted identical 8-9 records. In 2025, the Falcons’ offense finished 14th in the NFL in total offense but struggled to convert yards into points, ranking 24th in scoring. This period also saw the team navigate a planned transition to rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., which was disrupted in November when Penix suffered a torn ACL, forcing veteran Kirk Cousins to step back into the starting role to close out the season.
Robinson’s coaching career began with the Los Angeles Rams, where he spent five seasons under head coach Sean McVay, a widely respected offensive innovator. He steadily climbed the ranks, serving as an assistant with quarterbacks and wide receivers before being promoted to the pivotal role of passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. This experience within McVay’s highly successful offensive system is a key part of Robinson’s appeal and likely a significant factor in Mayfield’s advocacy for his hiring, as reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
The connection between Robinson and Mayfield dates back to the 2022 season, a tumultuous period for the veteran quarterback. After being traded from Cleveland to Carolina and subsequently released by the Panthers after seven games, Mayfield found a temporary home with the Rams for the final five weeks of the season. In a remarkable turn of events, the Rams claimed Mayfield via waivers, giving him less than 48 hours to travel to Los Angeles and learn McVay’s playbook before starting a Thursday night contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite the brief and challenging circumstances, Mayfield’s experience with Robinson during this period evidently left a strong impression, selling the quarterback on the play-caller’s potential. This prior working relationship is expected to provide a crucial foundation for their collaboration in Tampa Bay, aiming to replicate the success another former McVay lieutenant, Liam Coen, enjoyed during his one-year stint with Mayfield in Tampa Bay in 2024.
A Pattern of Instability and the Path Forward
Robinson’s arrival marks him as the fifth offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers in the last five seasons, a statistic that highlights the franchise’s ongoing search for offensive continuity. Since Byron Leftwich’s departure at the conclusion of the 2022 season, the offensive coordinator position in Tampa Bay has been a short-term role. Dave Canales (2023) and Liam Coen (2024) each lasted only one season before securing head coaching jobs elsewhere, while Josh Grizzard’s tenure in 2025 also proved brief, ending after just one year. For Baker Mayfield, this revolving door of offensive leadership is unfortunately familiar; Robinson will be the ninth different offensive coordinator he has worked with across his NFL career, as noted by The Athletic.
The Buccaneers’ persistent challenge in retaining successful offensive coordinators, often due to their rapid ascent to head coaching roles, underscores both the quality of talent they’ve brought in and the inherent difficulty in building a sustained offensive identity. This pattern places additional pressure on Robinson to not only improve the team’s offensive output but also to potentially break the cycle of short-term tenures. His experience in the McVay system, combined with Mayfield’s trust, offers a promising starting point for stability.
Impact on the NFC South Landscape
The hiring of Zac Robinson by the Buccaneers also has implications beyond Tampa Bay. His departure from Atlanta means that two NFC South rivals have swapped offensive coordinators in a sense, adding another layer of intrigue to their divisional matchups. The Philadelphia Eagles, who had also interviewed Robinson, are now reportedly the only team with an existing head coach still searching for an offensive coordinator, according to The Inquirer. This highlights Robinson’s desirability across the league and the competitive landscape for top coaching talent.
Tampa Bay had considered multiple candidates for the position, including former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who ultimately opted for the offensive coordinator role with the Los Angeles Chargers. Robinson’s selection, particularly with Mayfield’s endorsement, suggests a focused strategy to leverage existing relationships and a proven offensive philosophy to accelerate the team’s turnaround. The Buccaneers are banking on Robinson’s expertise and his rapport with Mayfield to unlock the offense’s full potential and lead them back to playoff contention in a competitive NFC South.
The Buccaneers’ recurring pattern of short-tenured offensive coordinators, often due to success leading to head coaching opportunities, underscores the franchise’s challenge in building a sustained offensive identity; this task now squarely rests on Zac Robinson’s shoulders, with the added dynamic of a strong quarterback endorsement from Baker Mayfield potentially offering a unique pathway to stability and long-term success.