T.J.

Yates

The Buccaneers also hired T.J. Yates as pass game coordinator, Andrew Mitchell as assistant offensive line coach and Todd Bowles Jr. as a defensive assistant. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport previously reported both Zampese and Yates’s expected hirings. Bowles joins his father’s coaching staff after playing most recently at Long Island University in 2024.

It’s not a done deal yet, but both coaches should make it to Tampa Bay sooner rather than later. The Bucs are finalizing a deal to bring on Falcons OC Zac Robinson in the same role. As most coaches do, he will bring along some of his lieutenants. Zampese has been coaching in the NFL for over 20 years. Yates joined the coaching ranks almost immediately after his playing career ended in 2017.

Yates was named as the Falcons’ QB coach last offseason after previously serving as their wide receivers coach (2022-2023) and pass game specialist (2021). The soon-to-be 38-year-old coach has risen rapidly through the ranks in recent years and could be on pace to earn an offensive coordinator gig in 2026 if he’s able to excel in his new role.

Yates was hired by the Falcons as the passing game specialist in 2021 and moved to WR coach in 2022. The former North Carolina quarterback turned fifth-round draft pick spent seven seasons in the NFL as a quarterback and joined the coaching ranks in 2019. Given his experience as a quarterback, it would stand to reason that Yates would be better suited for his new role under new head coach Raheem Morris.

Yates spent that last two years with the Texans as an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach. With new HC David Culley bringing in his own staff, he’ll resurface with the Falcons, who Yates played for in 2014. Falcons coach Arthur Smith will call his own plays, but Yates will work closely with Smith and OC Dave Ragone.

Yates finished up his third stint with the Texans in 2017. He spent 2018 out of the league. Three months shy of his 32nd birthday, Yates could be a fast mover up the Texans’ coaching ranks. He is clearly a favorite of coach Bill O’Brien’s.

Yates won the respect of his teammates and coaching staff with his solid play down the stretch last season. Leinart isn’t clearly a better option than Yates, so there’s little reason to keep his salary on a cap-strapped roster.

The Texans are reportedly content with their three quarterbacks, but that will be tested with Rosenfels now available for the price of a waiver claim. Rosenfels has three years of experience in coach Gary Kubiak’s offense and would be an immediate upgrade on rookie T.J. Yates if he’s over the mysterious blood infection that sent him to the NFI list in late October.

Yates’ 8.3 YPA and 101.0 passer rating couldn’t be more misleading. The Texans have a serious playoff problem on their hands, showing no faith in Yates for the first time in four starts. Even against a Colts defense often putting nine in the box, the Texans’ play-calling was extremely conservative and predictable on the way to a 16:31 pass-to-run ratio. Even with Andre Johnson due back, Yates isn’t close to a fantasy option versus the Titans in Week 17.

Asked if Yates is absolutely the starter going forward, Kubiak replied, “Oh, yeah. Yeah. He’s doing a lot of good things.” Kubiak learned a lesson about playing too passively against the Colts Thursday night, but he doesn’t have a better option on the bench. Yates’ pocket presence has taken a step back the past two weeks, leaving the Texans with the look of a one-and-out playoff team.