The Buccaneers have found a new special teams coordinator.
Per NFL Media, veteran coach Danny Smith is joining Tampa Bay in the role.
Smith, 72, had been with the Steelers as the club’s special teams coordinator since 2013. But with Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach, Pittsburgh gave its assistants permission to find roles elsewhere.
Smith has been serving as a special teams coordinator since 1995 when the Eagles hired him in the role. While he was Detroit’s tight ends coach from 1999-2000, he has since served as special teams coordinator for Buffalo (2001-2003), Washington (2004-2012), and Pittsburgh.
Smith replaces Thomas McGaughe, who was fired after spending 2024-2025 with the club.
The Buccaneers have lined up another candidate for their offensive coordinator opening.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that they will interview Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher for the role on Todd Bowles’ staff this week.
While it would be a lateral move, the Bengals are open to allowing Pitcher to move on because he does not call the plays in Cincinnati. Head coach Zac Taylor handles those duties for the Bengals.
Pitcher has been the coordinator for the last two seasons and has been on the Bengals’ staff since 2016.
The Bucs have already interviewed Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, former Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka, former Titans head coach Brian Callahan, Lions passing game coordinator David Shaw, Cardinals qauarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork, Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, and former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.
The Eagles are in the market for a new offensive coordinator, but they will not need to find a new special teams coordinator as well.
NFL Media reports that the Eagles and Michael Clay have agreed to a new deal that will keep him in Philadelphia.
Clay joined the Eagles in 2021 as a member of Nick Sirianni’s first coaching staff. He began his NFL coaching career with the Eagles in 2014 and returned to the team after coaching with the 49ers from 2016-2020.
Clay interviewed for the same job with the Buccaneers this week, but Tampa will now have to look elsewhere to fill the vacancy they created by firing Thomas McGaughey at the end of the season.
The Buccaneers completed an interview with former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, the team announced Friday.
The meeting took place in person at the team’s training facility.
The Bucs fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard after one season.
McDaniel was the Dolphins’ head coach from 2022-25 after previously serving as an offensive coordinator on Kyle Shanahan’s staff with the 49ers. He was Miami’s offensive play-caller during his tenure as head coach.
During those four combined seasons, the Dolphins ranked eighth in the NFL in both net yards per game (348.0) and passing yards per game (232.8), while also recording the sixth-best yards per carry average (4.54) and the 12th-most points scored per game (23.3).
McDaniel has had interviews for head coaching vacancies with the Falcons, Browns, Titans and Ravens. The Lions have interviewed him for their offensive coordinator position.
The Buccaneers have interviewed six other candidates for their offensive coordinator position. The team previously met with Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka, former Titans head coach Brian Callahan, Lions passing game coordinator David Shaw, Cardinals quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork and Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
One of Mike Tomlin’s longtime assistants is up for a job in Tampa.
The Buccaneers announced that they have completed an interview with Danny Smith for their special teams coordinator position. Smith held the same role for the Steelers since the 2013 season.
Smith’s time with the Steelers was marked by strong special teams play and frequent camera cuts to his animated responses to good plays on the sideline. Smith worked for Washington, Buffalo, Detroit and Philadelphia before landing on Tomlin’s staff.
The Bucs have now interviewed five candidates since dismissing Thomas McGaughey after the end of their season. Michael Clay, Anthony Levine, Craig Aukerman, and Jett Modkins are the other coaches in the mix.
