SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 05: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 05, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
For the fifth year in a row, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a new offensive coordinator.
This time, it’s a familiar face.
“Staying in the NFC South: Buccaneers are finalizing a deal to hire Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson as their offensive coordinator, per sources,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Thursday, January 22.
The Buccaneers fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard on January 8 after one season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019 and the offense fell apart down the stretch.
Robinson, 39 years old, spent the last 2 seasons as Atlanta’s offensive coordinator before head coach Raheem Morris was fired on January 6 and worked with Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2022, when Mayfield was with the Los Angeles Rams and Robinson was the pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
“A new OC for Baker: The Bucs are set to hire former Falcons OC Zac Robinson as their new coordinator, sources say,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X. “With a big push from Baker Mayfield. While the Bucs did an extensive search for OC, the work Zac Robinson did with Baker with the Rams in 2022 always stood out. Now, they’re together in Tampa.”
Drama-Filled Week Between Bucs & Falcons
Hiring Robinson added another twist to a drama-filled week between the Buccaneers and Falcons in which Atlanta hired recently fired Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski as its new head coach — the same coach who unceremoniously sent Mayfield packing in Cleveland in 2022 when he traded him to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a fifth round pick.
“Falcons’ Kevin Stefanski had a dumpster fire at quarterback in Cleveland — Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson failed, which started a chain reaction to 11 other starters,” Ledbetter wrote on Tuesday. “QB Shedeur Sanders closed out last season with seven starts.”
“Failed is quite the reach pal,” Mayfield wrote. “Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.”
Robinson Helped Resurrect Mayfield’s Career
After going 1-5 as the starter, Mayfield asked for and was granted his release from the Panthers and signed with the Rams for the final month of the 2022 season, where Robinson and head coach Sean McVay helped him resurrect his career.
It was that time with the Rams that made the Buccaneers decide to give Mayfield a 1-year, $3 million contract in 2023 and signed him to a 3-year, $100 million contract after he earned his first Pro Bowl selection and led his team to the first of 2 consecutive NFC South Division titles.
“Robinson, 39, was the Rams passing game coordinator/QBs coach when Mayfield was claimed off waivers and spent five weeks there in 2022,” Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud wrote on X. “It’s very similar circumstances that led Liam Coen to Tampa.”
While Grizzard was fired, the previous 2 offensive coordinators for Mayfield in Tampa had enough success other teams scooped them up as head coach — Coen to the Jacksonville Jaguars after the 2024 season and Dave Canales to the Panthers following the 2023 season.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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Buccaneers Make Final Decision on New Offensive Coordinator
Buccaneers Make Final Decision on New Offensive Coordinator