The Tampa Bay Buccaneers now need an offensive coordinator after firing Josh Grizzard on Thursday, and one candidate could pique John Harbaugh’s interest in his head coaching job search.
That’s Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who once coached on staff for the Buccaneers. Harbaugh, who was fired by the Ravens on Tuesday, worked with Monken for years and kept him on staff.
With the Buccaneers being the possible team that inquired about Harbaugh’s services despite the fact that head coach Todd Bowles is under contract, the Buccaneers could leverage a potential second pitch if Monken returns to Tampa. According to NFL Insider Benjamin Allbright, Buccaneers ownership, the Glazer family, contacted Harbaugh’s representatives, but Harbaugh’s general manager wishes didn’t align for the Glazers.
While landing Harbaugh’s former offensive coordinator alone wouldn’t draw the Super Bowl-winning head coach to Tampa, it could show Harbaugh that general manager Jason Licht and company are willing to work with Harbaugh’s vision for the team. In addition, Harbaugh had prior interest in Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield during his free agency in 2023 before signing in Tampa.
Monken could boost the offense either way, but Harbaugh coming to Tampa remains much more of a wild card since the Buccaneers appear committed to Bowles at the moment.
Buccaneers Need a Proven OC Like Todd Monken
Tampa Bay’s offense sits in a similar spot to when Mayfield first arrived, but the offensive coordinator decision calls more for stability than ingenuity this time around.
The Buccaneers hired first-time play caller Dave Canales in 2023, and that worked out swimmingly for Mayfield, who had a career year. Tampa Bay’s offense had been stalled all season long the year before in Bowles’ first season in 2022, and that was despite a quarterback named Tom Brady in his final year.
After Canales left, the Buccaneers didn’t miss a beat with former offensive coordinator Liam Coen, and that only worked better statistically in 2024. It didn’t work in 2025 with Grizzard in his first time as a play caller.
Monken has been a proven play call with the Ravens since 2023, and he did the same job with the Buccaneers in 2018, the Cleveland Browns in 2019, and then over in the college ranks with Georgia between 2020 and 2022.
Todd Monken Has Thrived in Recent Years
Georgia had a strong offense under Monken, he developed former quarterback Stetson Bennett on the way to back-to-back national championships.
Monken’s success then carried over to the Ravens in 2023, which was No. 6 in total offense that year when quarterback Lamar Jackson won his second MVP. It only improved in 2024 as the No. 1 offense in the league as the Ravens added running back Derrick Henry to the mix.
Baltimore didn’t fare as well offensively in 2025 with Jackson sidelined part of the year, and the Ravens dropped to 16th in total offense. Despite the drop, the Ravens picked up steam after a 1-5 start and nearly made the playoffs.
For the Buccaneers, Monken could give the offense a chance to improve as the season goes on instead of the downturn that happened in 2025 after a 6-2 start.
1 Buccaneers OC Candidate Could Sway John Harbaugh