AMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are chasing a fifth straight NFC South title with familiar stars, a rising rookie and a new offensive coordinator tasked with keeping one of the NFL’s most balanced attacks at full speed.
Josh Grizzard takes over as offensive coordinator after Liam Coen left in January to become head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Grizzard spent last season as Tampa Bay’s pass game coordinator, overseeing an attack that finished top five in both passing and rushing and led the NFL in third-down efficiency. The Bucs converted 50.9% of their third downs, the best rate in the league.
Grizzard inherits a quarterback who thrived in 2024. Baker Mayfield posted career highs with 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and a 71.4% completion rate. For the 30-year-old Mayfield, it’s another change at coordinator — his ninth in as many years — but this time the system stays intact. Team officials say Grizzard’s focus will be on precision and adding new wrinkles, not rewriting the playbook.
New Weapons
Tampa Bay used its first-round pick on wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who went 19th overall out of Ohio State. Egbuka finished his college career with 205 receptions, 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns. His polished route running and run-after-catch ability give Mayfield a new target to complement veterans Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Coaches expect Egbuka to play significant snaps immediately, even once Godwin returns to full strength.
In the backfield, Bucky Irving remains the lead runner after a breakout rookie year. A fourth-round pick in 2024, Irving ran for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns while also contributing as a receiver. His 1,514 total yards from scrimmage led all NFL rookies. He anchors a ground game that jumped from near the bottom of the league in 2023 to among the top four in both yards per game and yards per carry in 2024.
The offensive line, led by All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs and second-year center Graham Barton, returns mostly intact, giving Tampa Bay stability up front.
Defense Stays Aggressive
Head coach Todd Bowles’ defense remains built on pressure and disguises. Nose tackle Vita Vea and third-year lineman Calijah Kancey control the middle. Second-year edge rusher Yaya Diaby now pairs with veteran Haason Reddick, who signed in free agency after a down year with the Jets but previously delivered four straight double-digit sack seasons from 2020 to 2023 with Arizona, Carolina and Philadelphia.
Linebacker Lavonte David returns for his 13th season, while All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. remains the unit’s most versatile piece. At cornerback, Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum are joined by rookie Benjamin Morrison, a second-round pick from Notre Dame expected to see early action.
Schedule Overview
The Buccaneers open on the road Sept. 7 against the Atlanta Falcons, followed by a Monday night game at Houston on Sept. 15. Tampa Bay’s home opener comes Sept. 21 against the New York Jets, with the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles visiting Raymond James Stadium a week later on Sept. 28.
October brings two heavyweight matchups: a home date with the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 12 and a Monday night trip to Detroit on Oct. 20. The month closes with a divisional game at New Orleans on Oct. 26 before the Bucs enter their Week 9 bye.
The November slate starts with a home game against the New England Patriots on Nov. 9, then continues with road tests at Buffalo on Nov. 16 and at the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, Nov. 23.
December will likely decide the division. The Bucs host the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 7, then turn around four days later for a Thursday night clash with the Falcons on Dec. 11. They travel to Carolina on Dec. 21 before visiting Miami on Dec. 28.
Tampa Bay closes the regular season Jan. 4 with a rematch against the Panthers at home.
The Path Forward
The Buccaneers’ formula for another division crown is clear: keep Mayfield healthy and efficient, maintain balance with Irving and the run game, and let Grizzard’s offense evolve without losing its identity. On defense, Bowles will lean on a mix of veterans and newcomers to pressure quarterbacks and generate turnovers.
The NFC South remains competitive, but Atlanta and Carolina are still developing young quarterbacks, and New Orleans continues to retool its roster. Tampa Bay, with continuity on both sides of the ball and new playmakers in key spots, enters the fall as the favorite.
A year after setting records on offense and leading the NFL in third-down conversions, the Buccaneers believe they are built to extend their run. If the pieces fit again, Tampa Bay has the talent and stability to make it five straight in the South.
