Baker Mayfield: “I Know” Josh Grizzard Will Succeed
February 1st, 2025
Supports Josh Grizzard hire.
The man who stands to gain (or lose) most with the change from Liam Coen to Josh Grizzard as the man in charge of the Bucs offense is Baker Mayfield.
And Mayfield, at Pro Bowl practices in Orlando today, summed up to local sports media icon Rock Riley a message of sorts to Bucs fans all over the globe.
Of course, Mayfield deep down very likely doesn’t want yet another offensive coordinator. Grizzard will be Mayfield’s eighth when the Bucs gather in April for OTAs followed by underwear football.
But Mayfield pointed out to Rock he knows “Griz” well from working with him so much. Mayfield is fully confident that despite calling plays for the first time of his career, Grizzard will handle the responsibility.
“It’s like Dave [Canales],” Mayfield said. “He hadn’t called plays until” he came to the Bucs.
“How involved ‘Griz’ was — we were in every meeting together. So, how involved he was in the game plan, I know that he’s going to be a good playcaller.”
Very assuring and comforting words from the Bucs’ franchise quarterback.
Now here is the conundrum for Bucs fans: Do you want Grizzard to succeed? Because if he does, history will likely repeat itself and the Bucs this time in 2026 will be welcoming a new offensive coordinator again as Grizzard will be an NFL head coach elsewhere.
(If the video below doesn’t work, click here.)
https://twitter.com/realrockriley/status/1885747111536304491
February 1st, 2025 at 1:20 pm
“Now here is the conundrum for Bucs fans: Do you want Grizzard to succeed?”
Ummm I would hope so…
February 1st, 2025 at 1:30 pm
I feel good about this. The confidence Baker expressed seems genuine.
Now onto finding a D-line coach, and if we’re lucky maybe some replacements for other defensive staff.
February 1st, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Let them all be one and done, till finally they say hey Bake u want to be the O.C and call ur own damn plays!!
February 1st, 2025 at 1:41 pm
Here’s the thing. Any new OC we have this year even if they are very successful may not immediately get a head coaching job in a year. Dave Canales didn’t exactly turn the Panthers into a great offense in their first year, and if Liam Coen has a similar drop off in success it may be deemed that Tampa Bay’s talent and drafting might be one of the key things that allows us to have a a successful offense, rather than who is at the helm.
Either way eventually one of our hires will time up to a point where Todd retires and they get promoted to head coach from within. Also there may have been a “close second” candidate where TB can hire them if we get another OC opening next year.
February 1st, 2025 at 2:04 pm
The Bucs need an offensive coach to run the franchise.
February 1st, 2025 at 2:36 pm
Baker is about to go on an absolute tear for the next 6 years. Let’s keep him with us Bucs! Baker has a lot of winning in his future!
February 1st, 2025 at 2:44 pm
I think a lot will depend on how Canales and Coen do this season. If they both still up the joint there might not be much of a market fir another Bucs OC
February 1st, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Uhhhh, yeah. We want him to fail so he doesn’t get any job offers….. duh.
February 1st, 2025 at 3:33 pm
Matt K makes an excellent point about talent and drafting/free agency versus coaching.
As for a conundrum… no conundrum here.
We play to win!!
February 1st, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Baker is the real OC. Of course Glizzard will ride bakers coat tails and end up with transformational wealth in 2026. These oC,s did not remake Baker it was the other way round.
February 1st, 2025 at 3:50 pm
My concern is we are really putting all the eggs in one basket here now. Pretty sure I guess working with Baker this guy can run a simulacrum of what he participated in last year but… God forbid, but if one 300 pound man steps the wrong way and we have no Mayfield… we have nothing. Also defensive coaches have a year of tape now. Do we have any indication he can innovate or adjust?
February 1st, 2025 at 3:50 pm
I concur
February 1st, 2025 at 4:17 pm
If it’s combination with Bowles defense getting it’s footing back this season, that means we’re playing damn good football and we’re in the chase for the NFC title. I don’t think we have anything to worry about.
I keep saying this, but there will be a reckoning on all these young coordinator to HC hirers. Everyone looking for this long-term McVay HC, and lets face facts, McVay was a prodigy. Guys like McDaniel will need to be better this season or he’s toast. Crazy as it sounds but Shanahan with all his success I think he’s going to need to show up as well. These young coaches’ windows are closing, and there’s been no titles.
February 1st, 2025 at 4:41 pm
Joe you mentioned Griz calling plays for the first time in his career but I read 2 days ago either TB or Coen saying that Griz called plays for goal line situations, Thad Lewis called plays for 3rd down and another coach in charge of 2 minute drills, which I didn’t know so it’s nice to learn that these guys evidently ARE used to calling plays in certain situations, which I think is an outstanding way of spreading the load and preparing your coaching staff and leaning on their strengths when they show they have the goods to get the job done. It truly is a round table with everyone involved.
February 1st, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Ok wrongs guys in wrong slots but still……
February 1st, 2025 at 5:12 pm
You know we have really short fingernails down here in Tampa this time of year long enough, we’re getting use to it. Let’s Do It Baby!!!! Baker believes I’m with him!!! JL your the man, and how do you come up with all this year after year ??
February 1st, 2025 at 5:24 pm
The Bucs O should succeed and obviously I want it to be even better this year than under Coen last year.
If it is, I give exactly 0 chance we lose our 3rd straight OC to a HC gig. I assume that has never happened. Canales and Coen would have to be doing a hell of a job and coaching the Panthers and Jags well above expectations.
Otherwise, eventually the league just has to realize we have a great offense, a great QB and OL and Kermit the Frog could be a successful OC for us. Would be absolutely disrespectful to Baker at that point, if we lost a 3rd. Didn’t see Mahomes and other top QBs in top offenses cycling through OCs. Hurts may lose Steichen and now Moore, closest comp I can think of.
February 1st, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Hopefully the offense continues to glide, he knows how to use all three RBs and CG14 when he gets back. But would be great if Bucs defense learns how to score or stop teams with three and outs, giving the offense better field position and don’t have to drive three-fourths of the field or more on most drives
February 1st, 2025 at 6:28 pm
The real question I have is who will Grizzard be replacing himself with in the Offensive coaching ranks. Who will he bring in as an replacement coach for the coaching who made 51% of his third downs last season.
February 1st, 2025 at 6:56 pm
If he’s good you might lose him. If he sucks you’ll wish he’d leave. Idk, I guess some people don’t just want to watch the Bucs win. 🤷♂️
February 1st, 2025 at 7:31 pm
Have a pass game coordinator just as Coen did but if THE GRIZ was responsible for the 3rd down performance that was 1st in the league, keep him doing that.
February 1st, 2025 at 9:47 pm
Baker has a desire to be something special and his approval is more important than anyone else and Evans pretty much said so.
February 2nd, 2025 at 12:22 am
If they put up close to 30 points a game again, I don’t think anyone’s gonna come calling on the 34 year-old to behead coach. They’ll take a look at the personnel and the quarterback and realize they’re still mostly running Liam‘s offense. So yes, I want him to succeed and there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll be here a couple years.
If he does succeed and flourish, might be a good candidate for head coach in waiting
February 2nd, 2025 at 2:11 am
I hope Mayfield has a new OC every year for the next decade or two.
February 2nd, 2025 at 4:27 am
Listening to Baker and reading between the lines, it is sounding like Grizz was very much involved in everything and very well respected. This was great to hear from Baker. He has no worries at all because he is a strong QB and we have a talented team.
February 2nd, 2025 at 7:17 am
Let’s hope the Gizzard tells Baker to stop running. Running is unsustainable and will cost the team the season when, not if, he gets a serious injury.