TAMPA, Fla. – “Players over plays.” That is the philosophy of new Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson. While Robinson spent the past two seasons calling plays for the Atlanta Falcons, he made it clear that he isn’t simply copying and pasting that system into Tampa Bay.
“You’re adapting to your players, you’re adapting to your quarterback, your offensive line, the skill group—all of those things,” Robinson said. “There will be some carryover, and there will be some new things that we did in Atlanta. There will be some things that I’ve never done that might fit us.”
Robinson is already a massive believer in Baker Mayfield. The two crossed paths with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, when Mayfield was signed and started a game with just a couple of days of preparation. Robinson remembers the moment well.
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“He came in right away and was meeting guys for the first time, and you could just see everybody gravitate towards Baker,” Robinson said. “That’s what you’re looking for from that position.”
A former quarterback himself—having spent time as a backup with the Patriots, Seahawks, Lions, and Bengals—Robinson learned play-calling at the NFL level under Rams head coach Sean McVay. The Bucs prioritized Robinson for his recent play-calling experience in Atlanta and Mayfield’s strong endorsement.
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“Baker was the No. 1 pick in the draft for a reason,” Robinson added. “In terms of an arm, there’s not a part of the field that he can’t attack. He’s great in the keeper game, great in the bootleg game. [I am] looking to evolve that part and make sure we’re playing to Baker’s strengths and the rest of the guys’ strengths.”
The Bucs are looking for a spark after falling from 4th in total offense in 2024 to 25th last season. Following the dismissal of first-year play-caller Josh Grizzard, the team interviewed numerous candidates—including a pursuit of former Dolphins head coach (and current Chargers OC) Mike McDaniel—before landing on Robinson.
Head coach Todd Bowles was absent from Tuesday’s introductory press conference. Robinson noted that Bowles was occupied elsewhere in the facility, interviewing candidates to fill the remaining coaching vacancies.
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