The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have officially begun their search for a new offensive coordinator on Friday.
As NBC Sports noted, the team announced it completed a virtual interview with former Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan.
This marked the first known interview since Tampa Bay moved on from Josh Grizzard earlier this week.
The interview represents an early step for head coach Todd Bowles as he looks to reshape the offensive staff ahead of the 2026 season.
Callahan’s interview signals that the Bucs may be prioritizing experience as they evaluate candidates to oversee an offense led by veteran QB Baker Mayfield.
Brian Callahan’s NFL Background
Callahan is 41 and brings lengthy NFL experience despite his brief and difficult head-coaching stint in Tennessee.
He most recently served as the Titans’ head coach from 2024 to 2025 but was dismissed six games into the 2025 season after a 4-19 record.
That pairing just never seemed to work out as the Titans are still in full rebuild mode.
However, Callahan’s reputation was largely built during his five seasons as offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2019 to 2023.
Working under head coach Zac Taylor, Callahan played a key role in the development of quarterback Joe Burrow.
From 2021 to 2023, the Bengals consistently ranked among the NFL’s most efficient offenses, finishing top 10 in scoring, passing yards, red-zone efficiency, third-down conversion rate, and time of possession.
During that span, Burrow posted top-five marks in passing yards per game while leading Cincinnati to two AFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl berth.
Before his time in Cincinnati, Callahan also held assistant coaching roles with the Broncos, Lions, and Raiders.
In those years, he worked closely with quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford.
What the Interview Signals About Tampa Bay’s OC Search
For Tampa Bay, the Callahan interview appears to be a tone-setter.
This could signal that the Bucs are looking for “a more experienced hand,” as said by one NFL insider.
They are expected to conduct multiple interviews as they assess both established and rising offensive minds.
League circles have already linked several names to the process.
These include Grant Udinski, Thomas Brown, Todd Monken, and Mike McDaniel, among others.
With Mayfield entering a pivotal stage of his contract, the next offensive coordinator will play a massive role in the direction of the franchise.
The Callahan meeting is just the beginning of many interviews.
But it offers an early glimpse into how the Bucs are approaching one of their most important offseason decisions.
Buccaneers’ First Offensive Coordinator Interview Involves Former Titans Head Coach