Bucs Start OC Interview Process With Multiple Candidates

The Bucs are beginning the groundwork to finding their next offensive coordinator by interviewing multiple candidates this week. They have interviews with a number of coaches from different teams coming up soon. Pewter Report is reporting that the Bucs are interviewing Vikings’ wide receiver coach McCardell.

Pewter Report can also confirm the reports from Jeremy Fowler and Rick Stroud that the Bucs requested permission to interview Jaguars passing game coordinator Jim Bob Cooter as well as Broncos passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak for the position.

Vikings WRs coach Keenan McCardell – Photo by: USA Today

The clock is ticking for Tampa Bay as there are several teams looking to fill the same position.

McCardell’s Playing And Coaching History

McCardell had a 16-year career as a wide receiver in the NFL. He played in 209 games, making 883 catches for 11,373 yards and 63 touchdowns. McCardell played for the Browns, Jaguars, Bucs, Chargers and Washington along the way.

His time with the Bucs were quite memorable as he was with Tampa Bay when they won Super Bowl XXXVVII. The Bucs defeated Raiders 48-21, and McCardell had two touchdowns in the game. McCardell made two Pro Bowls in his career, one with the Jaguars in 1996 and the other with the Bucs in 2003.

To begin his coaching career, McCardell coached the wide receivers at the East-West Shrine game in 2010 and was soon after hired by Washington. Next he went to the University of Maryland for two seasons where he coached star wide receiver Steffon Diggs. McCardell had a stop with the Jaguars before signing as the wide receivers coach for the Vikings in 2021.

Jaguars pass game coordinator Jim Bob Cooter – Photo by: USA Today

Even after Mike Zimmer was fired, McCardell stayed on with the team with new head coach Kevin O’Connell. McCardell has gotten to coach one of the best wider receivers in the game, Justin Jefferson, among others.

Cooter’s Coaching History

As one of the coaches responsible for grooming quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the Jaguars, they saw an upgrade in efficiency by going 10th in the league passing with 232.9 yards per game. They were 10th as well in points per game with 23.8.

Cooter has experience as an offensive coordinator before. He took over for the Lions halfway through the 2015 season and held that role until after the 2019 season.

Kubiak’s Coaching History

Broncos pass game coordinator Klint Kubiak – Photo by: USA Today

Kubiak is the oldest son of former coach Gary Kubiak. After a couple of different roles, Kubiak became the quarterbacks coach of the Broncos for the last six games of the 2017 season.

He then was at the same role for the Vikings the following year and eventually replaced his dad as offensive coordinator in 2021 when he retired.

Following the Vikings hiring Kevin O’Connell as their head coach, Kubiak moved to Denver again as was the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator under head coach Nathaniel Hackett.

Bucs Need Multiple Coaches

While the Bucs are looking for their next offensive coordinator, they need other offensive coaches as well. They will have to fill the coaching staff at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and other roles.