Tampa Bay Buccaneers Grant 2nd Interview to Cincinnati Bengals QBs Coach for OC

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing to rebuild their offense from the ground up following the retirement of quarterback Tom Brady, and they've apparently zeroed in on a coach they believe can help them do it. Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the team will interview Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher for a second time regarding their offensive coordinator vacancy.

From @gmfb on the #AZCardinals’ second round of head coaching interviews, the #Buccaneers’ search for a new OC (#Bengals QB coach Dan Pitcher will interview in person this week) and the countdown to the #Raiders’ deadline to make a decision on Derek Carr. pic.twitter.com/oVTZpmoj78
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 6, 2023

The Buccaneers got two absolutely dominant years from Tom Brady, but it all came crashing down in 2022. After finishing third in points scored in 2020 and second in 2021, the Bucs fell all the way down to 25th in 2023 despite Brady leading the team to the second-most passing yards in the league. Now, they'll have to start from scratch without Brady (retired) and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich (fired).

Pitcher joined the Bengals as an assistant in 2016 and eventually worked his way up to quarterbacks coach in 2020. In Pitcher's time with the team, quarterback Joe Burrow has blossomed into one of the league's premier young passers, making a Super Bowl following the 2021 season and earning his first Pro Bowl in 2022. If the Bucs intend to roll with a young quarterback, Pitcher could be a perfect choice as offensive coordinator.