The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seemed destined for their fifth consecutive NFC South title midway through the 2025 NFL season, entering the bye with a 6-2 record. Fast forward to October 2026, this team is now 2-11 in its last 13 games under Todd Bowles.
It frankly remains dumbfounding that a Buccaneers coaching search didn’t begin last offseason. For whatever reason, Tampa Bay decided to stick with its veteran coach and that decision was immediately followed by veterans in the locker room and fan-favorites leaving the team. Now, there’s no question a coaching change is mandatory.
Let’s dive into our list of Buccaneers coaching candidates to replace Bowles.
Sean McDermott, Former Buffalo Bills Head Coach
5Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott talks to one of the assistant coaches during second half action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 28, 2025.
There are a number of directions general manager Jason Licht can go in a Buccaneers coaching search. One name that Tampa Bay should absolutely bring in is former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott. He’ll enter 2027 with the 10th-highest winning percentage (.662) among head coaches with 100-plus games, which includes a 10-win season in 2019 when Josh Allen was a below-average starter (85.3 passer rating). McDermott does have the knock of a shaky playoff track record (8-8 record), but hiring McDermott would mean immediate stability for Tampa Bay and a chance to reclaim the NFC South.
Declan Doyle, Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator
5May 10, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle answers questions after rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
It’s still early in the 2026 season so the NFL stats used to evaluate play-callers are admittedly a small sample size. With that acknowledged, what Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is showing in his first year as a play-caller will make him a popular target in the NFL coaching carousel. Still only 30 years old, Doyle has Lamar Jackson playing at an MVP-caliber level (70.8% completion rate, 10.1 yards per attempt, 144 rushing yards and 7 total touchdowns) and the Ravens’ offense is humming right now. Doyle was hand-picked by Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson to be his offensive coordinator, despite his limited experience as an assistant. Endorsements from Johnson and a two-time NFL MVP, with the Ravens’ success in 2026, all of that speaks volumes.
Anthony Campanile, Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Coordinator
5Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile looks on before an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Browns 34-10. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile still seems to be flying under the radar a bit nationally. He did phenomenal work with the Green Bay Packers’ linebackers in 2024, catching the attention of Liam Coen and landing him a gig as defensive play-caller for the first time in 2025. Jacksonville experienced one of the best year-to-year turnarounds by any unit in the NFL and it enters Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season ranked third in Defensive EPA per Play (-0.084) and seventh in Success Rate (41.6%) since he became a DC last year. If a defensive-minded coach is what Tampa Bay wants, Campanile should be made a priority.
Nate Scheelhaase, Los Angeles Rams
5Aug 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase reacts during the game against the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Of our listed Buccaneers coaching candidates, Nate Scheelhaase would be the biggest roll of the dice. He’s just four years older than Baker Mayfield and began his NFL coaching career in 2024, serving as an offensive assistant and passing game specialist with the Los Angeles Rams. With that said, Sean McVay pulled him from the Iowa State coaching staff after he had served just one season as offensive coordinator. After a year in Los Angeles, McVay promoted Scheelhaase to pass game coordinator. He made a strong impression during his interview with the Pittsburgh Steelers this past season and the Rams made him their offensive coordinator to avoid losing him to another team for the same title. If the Buccaneers are willing to roll the dice on an assistant coach with less experience, Scheelhaase could look like the best hire four years from now.
Aden Durde, Seattle Seahawks Defensive Coordinator
5Sep 25, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde is another name flying under the radar. He isn’t the play-caller for the reigning Super Bowl champions, but he was one of the first hires made by head coach Mike Macdonald upon landing in Seattle. Durde is Macdonald’s right-hand man and that kind of teaching is invaluable, especially when you look at how dominant and well-coached Seattle’s defense has been over the last two seasons.
Matt Johnson is Senior Editor of NFL and College Football for Sportsnaut. His work, including weekly NFL and college … More about Matt Johnson