Seahawks QB Coach Dave Canales Hired by Bucs

Following a second interview with the Ravens for their vacant offensive coordinator position on Monday, Seattle Seahawks quarterback coach Dave Canales will interview for the same position with an NFC South foe.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Canales will meet with the Buccaneers this week for their play caller opening. He's been identified as a potential replacement for Byron Leftwich, who was fired in January after an early playoff exit.

The 41-year old Canales, who has been an assistant under coach Pete Carroll since he arrived in Seattle in 2010, has been a trendy name this coaching cycle as an offensive coordinator prospect. He played a crucial role in Geno Smith's breakout season succeeding Russell Wilson under center, as the veteran signal caller led the league in completion percentage and threw 30 touchdown passes while earning his first career Pro Bowl nod.

After helping guide Smith to an improbable story book season that culminated in a playoff berth for the Seahawks and playing a key part in Wilson's success for nearly a decade, Canales' excellent work has not gone unnoticed. He remains a front runner to replace Greg Roman in Baltimore after a pair of interviews and now will throw his hat into the ring in Tampa Bay, which finds itself heading into a rebuild following quarterback Tom Brady's retirement announcement.

With no play calling experience beyond the high school level, taking a chance on Canales would a roll of the dice for the Ravens, Buccaneers, or any other prospective team seeking a new coordinator. However, he has been involved with the game planning process throughout his 13 seasons with the Seahawks, including serving as a pass game coordinator under Brian Schottenheimer and Shane Waldron in 2020 and 2021.

Successfully climbing the coaching ladder from receiver coach to pass game coordinator to quarterback coach in Seattle, Canales may be ready for the challenge of calling plays for an NFL offense for the first time.

If Canales winds up accepting a coordinator job elsewhere, his exit would be a substantial loss for Carroll's staff considering his work with Smith and Wilson in recent years. Assistant quarterback coach Kerry Joseph would likely be the top candidate to replace him, while other options outside of the organization could be considered to team up with Smith, assuming he re-signs or receives the franchise tag.