On January 22, 2026, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved quickly to reshape their offense. The team is finalizing a deal to hire former Atlanta Falcons play-caller Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator on Todd Bowles’s staff, according to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Robinson steps in for Josh Grizzard, who was dismissed earlier this month.

The name may be familiar. Robinson worked for the Los Angeles Rams from 2019 to 2023 and crossed paths with Baker Mayfield during the quarterback’s brief Los Angeles stint in 2022. This is not just a new hire—it is a bet on a coach who has touched winning systems and who knows Tampa Bay’s quarterback firsthand.

The move also highlights the churn in Tampa Bay. This will be the Buccaneers’ fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons, and it makes four coordinators in four years for Mayfield. Stability matters, and the Bucs are hoping Robinson can finally bring some.

Who is Zac Robinson? Rams roots, Falcons play-caller, ex-QB

Robinson, born September 29, 1986, in Littleton, Colorado, is a former quarterback drafted by the New England Patriots in 2010. He transitioned to coaching with the Rams in 2019, working his way into key roles, including quarterbacks coach and offensive pass game coordinator.

With Los Angeles, he helped guide a high-level passing attack. In 2021, Matthew Stafford posted top-5 passing numbers, and in 2022 Robinson worked directly with Mayfield, who completed 82 of 129 passes for 850 yards and four touchdowns across five games. That short run was a reboot moment for Mayfield, and it gives Robinson a head start in Tampa.

Robinson became Atlanta’s offensive coordinator in 2024. Across two seasons, the Falcons went 8-9 both years (16-18 overall). The 2024 unit ranked 13th in scoring. In 2025, the Falcons slid to 24th in scoring at 20.8 points per game but finished 14th in total offense. After head coach Raheem Morris was fired, Robinson was not retained, opening the door for Tampa Bay.

“If the Bucs want a steady voice for Baker, Rams ties plus play-caller reps might be the right combo.”

What Atlanta tells us about Robinson’s offense

The Atlanta chapter paints a mixed picture—useful for context. In 2024, Robinson’s group scored well enough to land 13th in the league. The following season, scoring dipped to 24th at 20.8 per game, though total offense finished 14th. The split suggests stretches of efficient moving of the ball without always finishing drives.

These are the growing pains of a first-time NFL offensive coordinator. The good: he has two full seasons of play-calling experience. The challenge: he now must lift points per game and consistency in Tampa Bay.

Bucs’ 2024–2025 offensive snapshot: a need for steadiness

Tampa Bay has been searching for an identity. In 2024, the Buccaneers averaged 28.6 points per game. In 2025, they ranked 21st in total offense and averaged 21.4 points per game. That dip, plus more staff turnover, made this hire crucial for Bowles and Mayfield.

Calling this OC seat “arguably Tampa’s most important coaching role” is no stretch. The Bucs have playmakers and a veteran quarterback; now they need alignment, rhythm, and repeatable answers on third down and in the red zone. Robinson’s task is to make the parts work together every week.

“Four OCs in four years for Baker—when does continuity finally show up in the box score?”

The Baker Mayfield connection: trust and translation

Mayfield’s brief but memorable 2022 Rams stint did more than revive his season; it built trust with the staff he worked under. Robinson was part of that group, and he saw Mayfield up close—what he likes, how he plays, and how he leads. Familiarity matters when installing terminology and building weekly plans.

This is not just about comfort. It is about speed. With a shared history, coach and quarterback can shorten the learning curve in the offseason and get to the fine details faster. In a division decided by small margins, that head start could be valuable.

Todd Bowles’s calculus: experience, fit, and urgency

Head coach Todd Bowles has made another bold choice at the most critical slot on his staff. By moving for Robinson, Bowles is betting on a coach who blends fresh ideas with real play-calling experience. The fit also hints at a desire for better week-to-week structure—something Tampa Bay has lacked during its coordinator carousel.

Robinson arrives with a Rams background, two seasons calling plays in Atlanta, and a working relationship with Mayfield. The combination checks boxes: system familiarity, quarterback comfort, and the reps needed to run Sundays from the headset.

“Atlanta’s numbers were up and down, but Tampa needs a plan more than a splashy name.”

Why this move makes sense for Tampa Bay right now

After parting with Josh Grizzard, the Bucs needed a fast, clear answer. Multiple outlets—Schefter and Rapoport among them—say the deal with Robinson is being finalized. The timing gives Tampa Bay a full offseason to align language, set camp installs, and map the first month of the season with Mayfield at the center.

Robinson’s resume is compact but relevant: Rams teacher, Falcons play-caller, and a track record with both a top-5 passing season (with Stafford in 2021) and a hands-on stretch with Mayfield in 2022. He knows how a strong passing game is built and what a quarterback needs from Monday to Sunday.

What to watch next

• How quickly Robinson and Mayfield re-establish their 2022 shorthand.
• Early red-zone results—can Tampa turn yards into touchdowns consistently?
• Third-down efficiency—an area that often reflects coordinator-quarterback chemistry.
• How Bowles and Robinson manage game flow and adjustments week to week.

The bottom line: Tampa Bay wanted a teacher, a builder, and a voice Mayfield trusts. In Zac Robinson, they are set to get all three. The Falcons years offered lessons and scars. The Rams years offered a blueprint and confidence. Now the Buccaneers need the payoff—fewer changes, clearer identity, and a climb back toward the scoring levels they touched in 2024.

It is a fresh page for the Bucs offense and a second shot for Robinson as a play-caller. If stability finally arrives, Tampa Bay’s most important hire of the offseason may also be its most effective.