Mike Greenberg Makes His Decision About Jaguars G.M. Interview

Bucs fans – and the Tampa Bay organization – were on the edge or their seats on Tuesday waiting to see whether or not assistant general manager Mike Greenberg was going to accept an invitation to interview with Jacksonville for their vacant general manager role.

As it turns out, Greenberg has turned down the opportunity and will remain in Tampa Bay as Jason Licht’s right-hand man.

Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud first reported the news just before Pewter Report on X.

The Bucs have already lost one assistant general manager this offseason. They are thankful they haven’t lost a second.

John Spytek, who served as assistant G.M. alongside Greenberg with the Bucs, was hired by Las Vegas this offseason to be the Raiders general manager by owners Mark Davis and Tom Brady.

Greenberg was one of five named candidates for the Jaguars G.M. post, joining Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander, Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown, Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown and Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

Now that list is down to four with Greenberg withdrawing his name from consideration.

The Bucs already lost offensive coordinator Liam Coen to the Jaguars this offseason as he was named Jacksonville’s head coach, replacing Doug Pederson. Coen’s departure from Tampa Bay caused a lot of hard feelings between the Bucs front office and Coen over the way it was handled. Coen had initially agreed to become the league’s highest-paid offensive coordinator to stay in Tampa Bay under the conditions that he didn’t take a second interview with Jacksonville.

Former Bucs assistant GM John Spytek and Bucs assistant GM Mike Greenberg – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But Coen did take a second interview after Jaguars owner Shad Khan fired general manager Trent Baalke, who was seen as difficult to work with in league circles. While secretly interviewing in Jacksonville, Coen ghosted several members of the Tampa Bay front office, including Greenberg, when the team was trying to get a hold of him to have him sign his new contract. That, along with Coen not being truthful about his whereabouts, infuriated members of the Bucs’ brass.

Coen has tried to get both of the offensive line coaches he hired during the 2024 offseason – Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci – from Tampa Bay to come to Jacksonville to coach the O-line, but the Bucs have blocked both of those requests because they are lateral moves. Now it seems like Coen, who has some input in who the Jaguars’ next G.M. will be along with Khan, was trying to raid the Bucs again – this time for Greenberg.

Coen has struck out for a third time in trying to bring a member of the Bucs organization with him to Jacksonville.

Why Mike Greenberg Decided To Stay With The Bucs

Bucs GM Jason Licht and assistant GM Mike Greenberg – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Mike Greenberg decided to stay in Tampa Bay as assistant general manager, but was flattered by the offer to interview with Jacksonville. There may have been some resentment over the way Liam Coen left the Bucs organization to take the Jaguars head coach job and the way that was handled, but ultimately Greenberg has his sights set on winning another Super Bowl with the Bucs – possibly as early as 2025, as the team should be considered strong contenders in the NFC after 10 wins in the 2024 regular season.

One day, Greenberg will become a general manager. Perhaps in Tampa Bay as Licht’s eventual replacement.

Greenberg has been positioning himself for a general manager job when the right opportunity came, and he’s taken two interviews – one in each of the last two years. Greenberg interviewed with the Panthers during the 2023 offseason before they decided to go with Dan Morgan and pair him with Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales. He also took an interview in January for the Jets general manager position, which he wanted due to growing up in New York as a Jets fan. Instead, the team hired Darren Mougey to be the G.M.

Tampa Bay has been incredibly fortunate to have Greenberg around since 2010 when he was hired by former general manager Mark Dominik as a personnel assistant. He has been an invaluable member of Tampa Bay’s front office throughout his time with the team.

Bucs assistant GM Mike Greenberg and Tom Brady – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Much more than the salary capologist that he is often depicted being, Greenberg is the trusted strategist of the Bucs’ brass, and actually runs the entire budget for the football side of the organization – not just the salary cap. Greenberg sets the budget and oversees the purchases for the team’s travel, equipment, video, scouting, and groundskeeping. Greenberg has been a creative innovator in terms of contract structure and has been a contract trendsetter around the league. Other teams have copied his structuring style, which has evolved throughout the years.

More importantly than his financial wizardry, Greenberg is also Jason Licht’s right-hand man. Licht has a unique relationship with him after the two have worked together for a decade, and both of them collaborate on plenty of important personnel decisions.

Greenberg’s role with the front office is not limited to free agency, either. He is also the trade strategist for the Bucs on draft weekend. Greenberg has assisted Licht with compensation strategy during the times the general manager has moved up and down in certain rounds over the years. The Bucs’ front office excellence should continue in 2025 with the team of Licht and Greenberg leading the way in Tampa Bay.