Bucs Interview Brian Callahan for Vacant OC Position

Callahan most recently served as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2024 to 2025. He arrived in Tennessee with 18 total years of coaching experience and 14 years of NFL coaching experience, including the previous five seasons (2019-23) as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.

During his time in Cincinnati, Callahan served under head coach Zac Taylor and was part of two AFC North titles, two AFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl berth. He also helped guide quarterback Joe Burrow from the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2020 to multiple single-season franchise records by his second year and Pro Bowl honors within three years.

In the three seasons (2021-23) prior to Callahan joining the Titans, the Bengals offense ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in several categories: sixth in scoring (24.9), seventh in passing (250.8 yards per game), seventh in redzone efficiency (61.5 percent), 10th in third-down percentage (41.0) and sixth in time of possession (31:00).

Tampa Bay appears to be casting a wide net in its coordinator search, looking for experienced offensive leadership to help guide the offense and work with quarterback Baker Mayfield heading into the 2026 campaign. While Callahan is a notable candidate due to his NFL coordinating background, the Buccaneers are also expected to interview other coaches as they refine their shortlist.

The interview marks Callahan’s first known engagement since his departure from Tennessee, where his head coaching tenure ended early in the 2025 season. As the Buccaneers conduct additional candidate meetings, the organization aims to bring stability and creativity to a unit that has seen frequent changes in offensive leadership in recent years.

From the time Burrow entered the NFL in 2020 through the 2023 campaign, he recorded the league’s seventh-best passer rating (98.6) and tied for the third-best completion percentage (68.0). His 270.8 passing yards per game in that period ranked fifth.