Buccaneers' Offensive Coordinator Named Top NFL Head Coach Candidate
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense may not be one of the elite in the NFL in 2023-24, but they have shown signs of growth throughout the season and have come on strong toward the latter half of the season as offensive coordinator Dave Canales has figured out how to get the most out of his passing game, Baker Mayfield, and the rushing attack.
Things looked bleak to begin the season as the Buccaneers struggled with consistency and any type of run game, but a lot of that could be attributed to having a new quarterback in Baker along with a coach getting his first chance at running his own offense in Canales.
Those bumps in the road are now far behind this team and with the work that Canales has done over the course of the season, specifically with the revival of Baker Mayfield, he is starting to see his name generate some buzz amongst coaching circles including being named as one of the top options to become a head coach following this season according to Ari Meirov of the 33rdTeam.
"Dave Canales spent 13 years in Seattle before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past offseason as their offensive coordinator. The 42-year-old has a strong track record with quarterbacks, having served as Seattle’s quarterbacks coach in 2022. He played a significant role in Geno Smith’s Comeback Player of the Year season.
In his first year in Tampa, Canales has achieved similar results by helping Baker Mayfield revive his career to the point where Mayfield could be the long-term answer for the Buccaneers.
A very energetic and positive person, Canales exudes some Pete Carroll vibes, which makes sense considering he was with Carroll for more than a decade. He could be a sneaky candidate in this year’s coaching cycle."
Canales and the Buccaneers will need every bit of the offense we have seen over the past five weeks or so as they will have a second chance at clinching the NFC South with a victory over the Panthers in Charlotte on Sunday.
If the Bucs are able to make the playoffs, Canales' name should only continue to garner interest and his stock will also rise along with it.
Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 season.
