Bucs Interview 2 More OC Candidates

The Bucs have wasted no time following their messy breakup with former offensive coordinator Liam Coen. After reports surfaced that they were interviewing Los Angeles Rams pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase, the team has announced themselves that they completed virtual interviews with Los Angeles Chargers pass game coordinator Marcus Brady and Minnesota Vikings assistant offensive coordinator Grant Udinski. The team made these announcements on their X account.

Bucs Casting Wide Net In Offensive Coordinator Search

For the third straight year it looks like the team will be interviewing a large swath of candidates to find the right person for the job. Just one day removed from Coen announcing he was moving on for the head coach position with the Jaguars, they already have three interviews completed. And the league is taking notice of the process that has yielded two one-time coordinators promoted in as many seasons.

The Bucs, who have made 2 home run OC hires in a row, are casting a wide net and interviewing more than just guys that the HC knows. There’s a lesson in there somewhere. https://t.co/IxkRIuZj2I

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) January 25, 2025

In an offensive driven league, it will be critical for Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, along with the support of the Bucs’ front office, to continue to get this particular hire correct. And I am sure they hope this one stays for more than 12 months.

The Bucs interviewed 10 candidates in 2023 before homing in on a relatively unknown quarterbacks coach from Seattle who had never called plays above the high school level. One year later Dave Canales became the head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Last year they increased their net to include 15 different candidates before agreeing to hire Coen. After a prolific offensive season Coen also has found himself helming a franchise in need of improvement after just a year.

Marcus Brady

Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady – Photo by: USA Today

Marcus Brady has been with the Chargers for just a season, coming in as a part of new head coach Jim Harbaugh’s staff that helped turn Los Angeles immediately into a playoff team. While the Chargers ranked just 19th in passing yards per game, they were one of the most efficient passing attacks in the NFL. Under Brady and offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s direction, they ranked 11th in EPA/play at +0.04 and quarterback Justin Herbert threw the fewest interceptions among all qualified passers in the NFL (3).

Brady’s passing attack was one of the more vertical attacks in the league with Herbert tied for fifth in percentage of passes of 20+ air yards (14%) and 8th in percentage of throws of 10-19 air yards (23.7%). The intermediate attack should be particularly intriguing to Tampa Bay, as it was the area of the field Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield made the most strides in this past season en route to his best year as a pro.

Prior to getting to Los Angeles Brady was an offensive consultant followed by senior offensive assistant with the Eagles from 2022-2023. Prior to that he was with the Colts from 2018 to 2022 under former head coach Frank Reich. There he began as an assistant quarterbacks coach before getting promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2019 followed by another promotion to offensive coordinator in 2021. Brady has not called plays at the NFL level.

Grant Udinski

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and assistant Grant Udinski – Photo by: USA Today

Grant Udinksi is both extremely youthful and extremely well thought of. Just 29 years old, the Vikings assistant has coached in the NFL level for just five years. After spending one year at Baylor as a graduate assistant in 2019, Udinski spent two years as a coaching assistant with the Carolina Panthers under former head coach Matt Rhule and former offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Brady is now considered one of the hottest names in football on the offensive side of the ball.

In 2022 he moved to Minnesota where he became the assistant to the head coach/special projects. In 2023 he moved into the assistant quarterbacks coach role, helping keep the Vikings afloat in the NFC playoff race despite starting four different quarterbacks.

This past season Udinski kept the assistant quarterbacks coach title while adding the assistant offensive coordinator moniker as well. Udinski was a part of the team that turned former “bust” Sam Darnold into one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. Darnold is now in position to secure himself $100+ million contract.

I spoke with a league source who said everyone who works with Udinski “loves” him. The Vikings offense this year ranked middle of the pack in most offensive statistical categories.