Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Interview Klint Kubiak for OC

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are considering snatching a coach from the league's worst offense to fill their offensive coordinator vacancy. According to the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud, the Bucs will interview Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak.

Bucs will interview Broncos passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak and Jaguars passing game coordinator Jim Bob Cooter for their offensive coordinator job. Cooter will interview Thursday. The Bucs asked to interview Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, but he declined.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) January 24, 2023

Kubiak coached quarterback Russell Wilson and the Broncos to a shocking 32nd ranking in points scored in 2022, dead last in the league. It was his first year with the team. He previously served as offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, leading the team to a respectable 14th ranking in points scored in 2021. He was the Vikings' quarterbacks coach from 2019 to 2020.

Kubiak's resume doesn't make a compelling case for someone deserving of a promotion, but NFL coaching is ultimately a business of who you know. Kubiak is the son of Gary Kubiak, an extremely respected and successful offensive mind who coached the Houston Texans to an 82-75 record and the Broncos to a Super Bowl in 2015. Gary Kubiak was also the offensive coordinator of the Broncos from 1995 to 2005, leading the team to two Super Bowl wins and 10 top-10 finishes in points scored. Klint will likely be afforded every opportunity (and excuse) in NFL coaching circles.

Hiring Kubiak could signal the Buccaneers are bracing for a long rebuild in the fast-approaching post-Tom Brady era. Kubiak would be unlikely to quickly turn around an offense that struggled under the playcalling of offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, but he could make sense as a mentor for a young quarterback.