Tampa Bay Buccaneers Have Found Their New Special Teams Coordinator
According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to hire Thomas McGaughey as their new special teams coordinator.
Following the retirement of Keith Armstrong, who was the Buccaneers' special teams coordinator from 2019-2023, the Bucs had an important role to fill. Good thing for them, McGaughey has an extensive resume when it comes to leading special teams units at the NFL level.
McGaughey (50) has been coaching special teams since 2002, when he became the assistant special teams coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, over the past two decades since McGaughey hasn't taken a season off. He's been the coordinator (or assistant coordinator) for a wide variety of NFL franchises, including Houston, Denver, New York (Jets and Giants), San Francisco, and Carolina. He even spent a couple of seasons as the the special teams coordinator for the LSU Tigers.
Most recently, McGaughey was the special teams coordinator for the New York Giants from 2019-2023.
It's hard to get a good feel for a special teams coach, as they're usually operating in the periphery of the NFL coaching circuit. But the fact that McGaughey has spent over two decades coaching in the NFL, and never once been out of work, lends kindly to the belief that he is well respected, and an expert at his craft.
Following the departure of numerous coaches, including their offensive coordinator (Dave Canales), wide receivers coach (Brad Idzik), and special teams coordinator (Keith Armstrong), many perceived the Buccaneers to be in scramble mode to reshuffle the deck.
But a lot changes in a week. And since that time, the Buccaneers have managed to restock the coaching cupboard in relatively quick order. That said, we won't get a clear picture of what exactly these coaches bring to the table until the 2024 season kicks off next September.
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