Buccaneers Hire Zac Robinson To Ignite Offense

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made a splashy move in the NFL coaching carousel, finalizing a deal to bring Zac Robinson on board as their new offensive coordinator. Robinson, who spent the past two seasons as the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator, steps into a high-pressure role in Tampa Bay, replacing Josh Grizzard after a year of offensive struggles. The hiring, reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter on January 22, 2026, marks the fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons for the Buccaneers and the fourth for quarterback Baker Mayfield during his stint with the franchise.

Robinson’s arrival is sending ripples through the NFC South, not least because of his recent history with the Falcons—a team the Buccaneers face twice a year. The rivalry just got a little more personal. While the Falcons are still searching for a new general manager and have just appointed Kevin Stefanski as head coach, Tampa Bay wasted no time securing Robinson after a second in-person interview. The Bucs opted not to pursue former Titans head coach Brian Callahan further, and their top target, Mike McDaniel, chose the Chargers, making Robinson the clear choice for Todd Bowles and his staff.

Robinson’s coaching résumé is rooted in the Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan coaching trees. Before joining the Falcons, he served as the Los Angeles Rams’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022 and 2023. Notably, he worked closely with Baker Mayfield during the quarterback’s brief but memorable stint with the Rams in 2022. That reunion is now set for Tampa, and the chemistry between the two could prove pivotal for the Buccaneers’ fortunes in 2026.

Robinson’s tenure in Atlanta was a mixed bag. In his first season as the Falcons’ play-caller in 2024, the team finished sixth in the NFL in net yards per game (369.8), fifth in passing yards per game (239.3), and tenth in rushing yards (130.5). The Falcons were 13th in scoring that year, showing flashes of explosiveness led by young stars like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. However, the momentum didn’t last. In 2025, after losing starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to an ACL injury, the offense sputtered. Kirk Cousins stepped in, but the Falcons dropped to 14th in total offense (333.0 yards per game) and 24th in scoring (20.8 points per game), finishing the season 8-9 for the second straight year.

Fans and analysts were quick to point fingers at Robinson for Atlanta’s offensive woes, particularly their abysmal third-down conversion rate—just 33.8%, ranking 30th out of 32 teams. Despite an above-average offensive line and top-tier weapons, the Falcons struggled in high-leverage situations. As one fan noted on social media, “I legitimately don't know how anyone could watch the #Falcons 2024-2025 offense and say 'sign me up.' Even if Raheem Morris had been retained, Atlanta was going to move on from Zac Robinson.”

Yet, Robinson’s offenses also showed the ability to produce fireworks—especially against the Buccaneers. In 2024, the Falcons’ best offensive output came in a dramatic 29-28 win over Tampa Bay, with Kirk Cousins throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns, all to tight end Kyle Pitts. Another memorable performance came in a Thursday Night Football showdown that saw the Falcons rack up 550 yards in a 36-30 overtime thriller, with Cousins tossing for 509 yards and four touchdowns. These games clearly left an impression on Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, who, as one commentator put it, “remembers the 67 points and 900-something yards Robinson and Kirk Cousins put on them in the 2024 season.”

The Buccaneers, meanwhile, are hoping Robinson can reverse their own offensive decline. After ranking third in total offense in 2024 (28.6 points per game), Tampa Bay fell to 21st in 2025, scoring just 21.4 points per game. The team parted ways with Grizzard as part of a broader coaching overhaul under Bowles, who is widely considered to be in a "lame duck" year with his job status uncertain. The lack of coaching stability has been a recurring theme for the Bucs, with Robinson now the fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons and the fourth in four years for Mayfield. As ESPN noted, “Byron Leftwich was fired after the 2022 season. Dave Canales helped Mayfield revive his career in 2023 and became Carolina Panthers coach. Mayfield had his best season in 2024 under Liam Coen, who left to become the Jacksonville Jaguars' coach.”

Mayfield’s relationship with new Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski adds another layer of intrigue. The two worked together in Cleveland, but things ended poorly. Earlier this week, Mayfield publicly criticized Stefanski on social media for “sending him away like a piece of garbage” and failing to reach out after trading him to the Carolina Panthers. Now, with Robinson joining the Bucs, Mayfield will have another chance to prove himself against his old coach and former team. As one user quipped, “Baker ready for some pistol and to ‘show’ Kevin Stefanski I guess.”

Robinson is expected to assemble a staff that includes senior offensive assistant Ken Zampese and passing game coordinator TJ Yates, with run game coordinator/OL coach Kevin Carberry likely staying on. The Buccaneers are betting that Robinson’s familiarity with McVay-style offenses and his previous work with Mayfield will help spark a turnaround. Some fans are skeptical, pointing to Robinson’s inconsistent results in Atlanta. “Zac Robinson’s upside is huge. The downside is also like 3-11 and a regime change,” one Tampa Bay supporter observed. Others believe that “mediocre QB play has hindered his creativity” and that he deserves another shot with a more stable situation.

It’s clear the Buccaneers are taking a calculated risk. Bowles and his staff are hoping Robinson’s schematic expertise and his rapport with Mayfield can reignite an offense that lost its way in 2025. With the Falcons still searching for their new play-caller and the NFC South rivalry heating up, the stage is set for some dramatic matchups next season. One thing’s for sure: Falcons fans will be watching closely—and maybe even a little nervously—as Robinson and Mayfield look to make their mark in Tampa Bay.

For now, all eyes are on Robinson as he gets to work building his staff and installing his system. Whether this gamble pays off for the Buccaneers remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the NFC South just got a whole lot more interesting.