Baker Mayfield has big request for new Buccaneers OC ahead of 2025 season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers promoted Josh Grizzard from pass game coordinator to offensive coordinator after Liam Coen left the Bucs to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars this past winter. 

During Tampa Bay's preseason finale versus the Buffalo Bills  over the weekend, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield made it known he does not want Grizzard calling plays from the coaches' box once the regular season gets underway.

"He needs to be down here [on the field]," Mayfield said about Grizzard during the WFLA-TV broadcast of the Buccaneers-Bills matchup, per the JoeBucsFan website. "And for me, honestly, I like it when [the playcaller] is down here. Just being able to have conversations with them, not getting on the phone. And then I think they can also just, you know, read the vibe of the whole offense when they’re down here. Be able to communicat e what they’re trying to get to, set up some plays."

Mayfield is now working with his third different coordinator in three years. The signal-caller's play under Dave Canales during the 2023 season was a big reason the Carolina Panthers hired Canales as their head coach in January 2024. Mayfield then produced the best regular-season numbers of his career in Coen's offense. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Mayfield ended Week 18 of the 2024 campaign tied for second in the NFL with 41 passing touchdowns. He was also third with 4,500 passing yards and ranked fourth among qualified quarterbacks with a 106.8 passer rating. 

Previous stories noted how Grizzard "designed" the Buccaneers' third-down offense while working with Coen last season. On Saturday evening, Mayfield mentioned how Grizzard was "in all our meetings last year" as Tampa Bay's pass game coordinator.

"He’s clear and concise in the communication of what he’s trying to get done," Mayfield added about his working relationship with Grizzard. "And I think the guys understand some of the t hird downs were dialed in because of him last year."

Mayfield is the CEO of the Tampa Bay offense, so it seems likely that Grizzard will be on the sideline for the Buccaneers' Week 1 game at the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 7. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings tied for seventh among the betting favorites at +1100 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX. 

Giving Mayfield what he wants regarding Grizzard's gameday status theoretically should only benefit Tampa Bay's chances of meeting the expectations many have for the club ahead of Labor Day.