The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' thorough search for a new offensive coordinator has brought in a familiar face. The latest candidate to interview for the position previously held by Josh Grizzard is Todd Monken, who was also Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator from 2016-18 on Head Coach Dirk Koetter's staff. Monken and the Buccaneers met in person on Wednesday.
Monken is the sixth candidate to interview for the Buccaneers' OC position in the last six days, following the team's decision to part ways with Grizzard and several other assistant coaches last Thursday. The Buccaneers have also met with New York Giants Interim Head Coach Mike Kafka, former Tennessee Head Coach Brian Callahan, Detroit Passing Game Coordinator David Shaw, Arizona Quarterbacks Coach Israel Woolfork and Atlanta Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson. Those interviews began immediately after the team parted ways with Josh Grizzard on Thursday amid a round of changes to their coaching staff.
Monken spent the last three seasons as the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator on John Harbaugh's staff. The Ravens dismissed Harbaugh on January 6. During that three-year span, the Ravens' offense ranked 2nd in net yards per game (375.8) and third in points per game (27.9). Baltimore's attack under Monken, and with two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson at the helm for 46 of the 51 games, found success in balance, ranking first in rushing yards per game (166.9) and in passer rating (106.5). Baltimore's average of 5.3 yards per carry was also first in the NFL in that span, and the team ranked fifth in third-down conversion rate (43.6%) and sixth in total first downs (1,006).
The Buccaneers' offense also thrived in multiple ways during Monken's three-year run at the helm. From 2016-18, Tampa Bay ranked fifth in net yards per game (375.1), second in net passing yards per game (279.5) and first in third-down conversion rate (44.4%). Monken was also in charge of the Buccaneers' receivers in the first two of those three seasons, with wideout Mike Evans making the Pro Bowl in 2016.
In between those two coordinator stints, Monken held the same job for one season (2019) with the Cleveland Browns and four three seasons at the University of Georgia. In Cleveland, he worked with current Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who started all 16 games in his second NFL season and threw for 3,827 yards and 22 touchdowns. Monken then helped the Bulldogs win the National Championship at the conclusion of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. His first job in the NFL came as the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers coach from 2007-10. Monken had multiple stops on the collegiate level from 1989 through 2013, the last three as the head coach at Southern Miss.
