Eagles Appoint Former Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard as Pass Game Coordinator
The Philadelphia Eagles have officially hired Josh Grizzard as their new passing game coordinator for the 2026 season. This addition comes less than 24 hours after the organization named Sean Mannion as their new offensive coordinator, completing a significant restructuring of the team’s offensive coaching staff. Grizzard joins Philadelphia shortly after his departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he served as the offensive coordinator during the 2025 campaign.
Grizzard’s recent career path presents a complex mix of rapid promotion and performance-based setbacks. He first joined the Buccaneers in 2024 as the passing game coordinator under then-offensive coordinator Liam Coen. During that season, the Tampa Bay offense thrived, ranking third in the NFL in passing yards and propelling quarterback Baker Mayfield to a career-best 41 touchdowns. Following Coen’s departure to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Buccaneers promoted Grizzard to offensive coordinator for the 2025 season. However, the offense struggled to maintain its previous efficiency, dropping from fourth in league scoring in 2024 to 18th in 2025. Consequently, Grizzard was relieved of his duties in January 2026 after just one season as the primary play-caller.
Skeptics of the hire point to this statistical regression as a significant concern, questioning whether Grizzard is equipped to elevate an Eagles offense that also faced challenges in the previous season. The combination of Mannion, 33, and Grizzard, 35, creates one of the youngest offensive leadership duos in the NFL, leading to valid questions regarding their collective experience in navigating high-pressure situations. Furthermore, the inability of the Buccaneers’ offense to adapt during the 2025 season raises doubts about Grizzard’s strategic flexibility when initial game plans falter.
Contextual factors, however, offer a defense for Grizzard’s performance in 2025. His tenure as offensive coordinator was marred by a series of critical injuries to key personnel, including star wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, as well as running back Bucky Irving and offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs. Proponents argue that these absences severely handicapped the offensive scheme and that Grizzard’s previous success in a non-play-calling role makes him an ideal fit for the passing game coordinator position. Before his time in Tampa, Grizzard spent seven seasons (2017–2023) with the Miami Dolphins, working his way up from quality control to wide receivers coach, where he gained extensive experience in the highly regarded offensive systems influenced by Mike McDaniel. His new role in Philadelphia will task him with schematic design and quarterback development, focusing on his proven strengths rather than the full operational management of the offense.
inquirer.com
phillyvoice.com
metrophiladelphia.com
thepewterplank.com
pro-football-history.com
crossingbroad.com
indiatimes.com
nfl.com
wikipedia.org
