The Buccaneers have landed on their new offensive coordinator. Zac Robinson is headed to Tampa Bay, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
This news will reunite Robinson with quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield made a “big push” for Tampa Bay to acquire Robinson, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds. Shortly after a follow-up interview with the Buccaneers, a deal has been struck.
Robinson was among not only the candidates who spoke once with the team for the OC gig but the finalists as well. He conducted a second interview yesterday, and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports an agreement was reached late last night. After two years leading the Falcons‘ offense, Robinson will now take on the same responsibility in Tampa Bay.
Per Rapoport, senior offensive assistant Ken Zampese along with pass-game coordinator T.J. Yates are among the names to watch regarding Falcons staffers who could join Robinson with the Bucs. Nothing is official on that front at this time, but it is of course common for new hires to bring familiar faces with them when changing teams.
Leading up today’s news, Robinson’s future was unclear even though his Atlanta departure was expected. The Falcons cleaned house immediately after the end of the regular season, dismissing head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. On Wednesday, it was learned new HC Kevin Stefanski is expected to bring Tommy Rees with him from Cleveland to Atlanta to handle offensive coordinator duties. That confirmed Robinson would be heading elsewhere during this year’s hiring cycle.
In addition to his Bucs interviews, Robinson met with the Lions and Eagles regarding their OC openings. Detroit’s vacancy has been filled, but Philadelphia’s list of candidates has now been thinned. Robinson will become the latest in an increasingly long line of coordinators tasked with leading Mayfield and Co. in Tampa Bay. Josh Grizzard became a one-and-done staffer in that role when he was fired following the end of the 2025 season.
Prior to Grizzard’s brief tenure, Liam Coen and Dave Canales were each in place for only one year. Both of them parlayed strong campaigns as a coordinator into head coaching opportunities. Stability would be welcomed at the OC spot for the Buccaneers, a team looking to bounce back from their highly underwhelming end to this season. Grizzard’s unit ranked 21st in total offense and 18th in scoring during his lone campaign leading it.
Robinson, 39, led Atlanta to a sixth-place finish in total offense during his first season in place. The Falcons regressed in a number of ways on offense in 2025, though, prompting the sweeping changes made throughout the organization. Prior to his Atlanta stint, Robinson spent five seasons with the Rams. That included his time as Los Angeles’ quarterbacks coach in 2022, the year in which Mayfield briefly played for Los Angeles. All parties involved will hope a reunion between the two will help bring Tampa Bay back into the postseason in 2026.
Won’t help Baker beat the Falcons 😅
I think most football fans will enjoy that matchup a lot now though. Get me some popcorn! 🍿
That is some delusion from overly optimistic Falcons fan.
Hiring a former McVay guy worked out well the last time they did it. Curious to see what Robinson can do when he doesn’t have to toggle between game planning for a depleted old quarterback and a rocky young one.
Don’t really like it, but he had an ability to kill Bowles defense scheme as the McVay offense tends to do.
Good riddance
Idk if he should be blamed. For God’s sake he had to run the pistol to catter to Penix’s strengths. Although, he should of had a better hand in helping Penix grow from under center. Baker is established so maybe he might do a good job. Atl fans lace me up with better insight into Zac please?
The Pistol did not cater to Penix strengths, outside of lining up in the Gun. In college he ran plays under center only 25% of the time so one would think it would be an easy transition, but NFL defenses are faster/ better. IMO the Pistol pigeonholes the offense against the pass rush often. To run that offense, you really need a mobile QB who likes to roll out and throw on the run. Penix never had that as a drafted pocket passer, though he ran read option plays out of the shotgun. Looking back, he hardly tucked the ball on those plays in Wash. Also, this offense starts the RB 10yrds behind the line of scrimmage, so it too will put the running game behind the 8ball before the play begins. Add in those undocumented yards to Bijan’s season total and it proves how special that guy is on his ability to cut… TB better hopes Bucky can replicate Bijan’s play or that offense is not going anywhere (all my opinion)
Does anyone think this smells like a bad reaction to the Falcon’s Stefanski hire, per Baker’s reaction to an ATL beat writer days ago?… could be just me.
Didn’t love his time in Atlanta. I thought that was Morris’ main misstep was the OC hire aside from his atrocious clock management.
Lots of trash talking in the off-season!
Let’s play the games already! Next season
will be twice as nice! I don’t believe either fan base is jumping up and down about their new OCs! But these games are the professional
version of ‘Clean Old Fashion Hate’!