Baker Mayfield's 'Adaptability' Key To Buccaneers Success

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 25, 2025 12:10 AM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has enjoyed a career resurgence over the past two seasons, and he's done it with two different offensive coordinators.

First, it was Dave Canales who left for the Carolina Panthers' head coaching role, followed by Liam Coen, who is now the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Now, Mayfield, in his third season with Tampa Bay, will have his third offensive coordinator in Josh Grizzard...but this is a little different. It won't be a complete change for Baker, with Grizzard serving as passing game coordinator for Coen.

So, things for the most part will stay the same, aside from the new wrinkles that Girzzard wants to incorporate into his offense.

For Fox Sports' Ben Arthur, adaptability is key for Mayfield in 2025.

"Baker Mayfield will have his third offensive coordinator in three years with the Bucs this season in Josh Grizzard, who was Tampa’s pass game coordinator in 2024," Arthur wrote. "The challenge will be to maintain the explosive offense the team featured with Liam Coen as OC last season."

If the last two seasons have shown us anything, it is that Mayfield can handle the change in coordinator. Except this time, it won't be completely new for him.

So the grace period for Mayfield won't be what it was in previous years, and that should allow the offense to hit the ground running in 2025. Mayfield has an abundance of weapons at his disposal, with the Buccaneers now seen as genuine NFC contenders.

However, that comes with a big "if," and that is Mayfield can continue his resurgance with another coordinator. Baker has shown he can adapt to the offensive changes, and while this latest one isn't as big as his previous two, things will be a little different.

But that hasn't stopped him from winning the division and a playoff game, and we don't think it will stop him from leading the Buccaneers to another postseason run.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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