Lead
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finalizing a deal to hire Zac Robinson as their offensive coordinator, according to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN. The move would place Robinson on Todd Bowles’s staff ahead of the next NFL season. Robinson spent the past two seasons as Atlanta’s offensive coordinator and previously served as the Rams’ quarterbacks coach, a connection to Buccaneers starter Baker Mayfield. The hire, if completed, will shape Tampa Bay’s offensive plans and staff structure heading into training camp.
Key Takeaways
- Zac Robinson is nearing a deal to become the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator, reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
- Robinson served as the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator for the 2024 and 2025 seasons; Atlanta ranked 13th in scoring in 2024 and dropped to 24th in 2025.
- The Falcons finished 8-9 in both 2024 and 2025, a stretch that coincided with head coach Raheem Morris’s dismissal after the 2025 season.
- Before joining Atlanta, Robinson was the Los Angeles Rams’ quarterbacks coach, where he worked in the same franchise and season (2022) that Baker Mayfield spent time with the Rams.
- Robinson’s prior experience in the NFC South and with Rams personnel gives him familiarity with both division opponents and Tampa Bay’s quarterback room.
- Terms of the Buccaneers’ deal and the scope of Robinson’s play-calling responsibilities have not been publicly disclosed.
Background
Tampa Bay enters the coaching change with Todd Bowles retained as head coach while the front office retools the offensive staff around Baker Mayfield. The Buccaneers have prioritized adding a coordinator with NFL experience and familiarity with contemporary passing-game concepts. Zac Robinson’s recent resume — Rams quarterbacks coach, then Falcons offensive coordinator — fits that profile and reconnects staff experience across franchises.
The Atlanta tenure is central to Robinson’s track record. Atlanta’s offense produced a mid-pack scoring finish in 2024 (13th) before regressing to 24th in 2025; the team went 8-9 in both seasons. Those results prompted organizational change in Atlanta, including the firing of head coach Raheem Morris, and set Robinson on the market for his next opportunity.
Main Event
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported that the Buccaneers are finalizing a deal to hire Robinson as offensive coordinator. The agreement is described as near completion; the teams involved have not released formal statements confirming contract terms or an effective date. If finalized, Robinson would join Todd Bowles’s staff in Tampa Bay and assume primary responsibility for coordinating the offense.
Robinson’s responsibilities in Atlanta included game-planning and collaborating with position coaches across the offense. How those duties will map onto the Buccaneers’ hierarchy—whether Robinson will be the primary play-caller or share duties with Bowles and the quarterback coach—remains unspecified. The staffing decision will determine how quickly any schematic shifts are implemented before the season.
Robinson’s history with the Rams is relevant to Tampa Bay because Baker Mayfield spent time in Los Angeles during the 2022 season. That overlap gives Robinson direct familiarity with the quarterback’s tendencies, communication style, and preparation routines, which could ease the integration process if the hire is formalized.
Analysis & Implications
From a schematic view, Robinson brings a blend of quarterback coaching and play-design experience. His Rams background suggests a comfort working with veteran quarterbacks and tailoring schemes to personnel; his Falcons tenure tested his ability to manage a full offensive unit. The Falcons’ offensive regression in 2025 will raise questions about adjustments Robinson will make in Tampa—particularly in balancing run-pass splits and third-down efficiency.
The potential reunion with Baker Mayfield is a core storyline. Familiarity can speed synchronization between quarterback and coordinator, but it is not a guarantee of success. Mayfield’s own performance trends, offensive line play, and personnel additions this offseason will influence whether Robinson’s system can produce better scoring and consistency than Atlanta’s late-2025 output.
For the Buccaneers’ short-term prospects, the hire could be judged by measurable offensive improvements: scoring rank, third-down conversion rate, red-zone efficiency, and turnover differential. Longer term, Robinson’s work will factor into roster decisions and the franchise’s quarterback trajectory. League-wide, the move continues a pattern of clubs recycling assistants with prior coordinator experience as they search for quick offensive fixes.
Comparison & Data
| Year | Team | Scoring Rank | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Atlanta Falcons | 13th | 8-9 |
| 2025 | Atlanta Falcons | 24th | 8-9 |
The table highlights the Falcons’ scoring-rank slide from 13th to 24th while Robinson was offensive coordinator, with identical 8-9 records both seasons. Those figures offer a quantitative baseline for evaluating Robinson’s Tampa Bay tenure: reversing a drop in scoring efficiency would be an early indicator of success.
Reactions & Quotes
Reporting on the hire has been limited to media accounts and league sources; neither club issued a detailed public statement at the time of reporting. The media coverage frames the move as a near-term hire pending final paperwork and standard background processes.
“Sources tell ESPN that the Buccaneers are finalizing a deal to hire Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator.”
Adam Schefter / ESPN (reporting)
“NBC Sports reported the hiring as a developing story and noted Robinson’s recent roles with the Rams and Falcons.”
NBC Sports (reporting)
Unconfirmed
- Specific contract terms, salary, and length of Zac Robinson’s deal with the Buccaneers have not been disclosed.
- It is not publicly confirmed whether Robinson will be the primary play-caller or share play-calling duties with Todd Bowles or another coach.
- Any staff changes among Tampa Bay position coaches tied to Robinson’s arrival have not been announced.
- The immediate on-field impact on Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ 2026 win total remains speculative.
Bottom Line
The Buccaneers’ reported move to hire Zac Robinson signals a targeted effort to reshape their offensive coaching structure with someone who brings both quarterback coaching experience and recent coordinator-level responsibility. Robinson’s familiarity with Baker Mayfield from the Rams era could ease communication and installation if the hire is completed.
However, Robinson’s mixed results in Atlanta—specifically the drop from 13th to 24th in scoring between 2024 and 2025—mean expectations should be measured. Outcome assessment will hinge on clear metrics (scoring rank, conversions, turnovers) and whether the staff clarifies play-calling and schematics ahead of the season.
Sources
- NBC Sports — media report on the developing hiring (reporting)
- ESPN / Adam Schefter — source credited with the initial report (reporting)