3 candidates to be next Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach

5 candidates to be next Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach

TAMPA, FL - DEC 09: Buccaneers Head Coach Dirk Koetter watches the action during the regular season game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 09, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Mandatory Credit: Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images /

4. Mike McCarthy

After nearly 13 seasons as Green Bay Packers’ head coach, McCarthy may choose to take a year out of coaching next year and reset a little. But the Cleveland Browns are sure to have some interest in him, and the New York Jets appear set to enter the fray too once they inevitably fire Todd Bowles.

McCarthy’s in-game management drew rightful criticism in recent years, and the way his relationship with Aaron Rodgers eroded invites some other questions about his ability to evolve what became a stale offensive scheme. But the simple eye test says the Packers fell way behind as college offensive concepts have infiltrated the NFL, and changing that will be a key for McCarthy in his next stop.

McCarthy has the resume as Packers’ head coach (.618 regular season winning percentage, nine playoff appearances in 12 full seasons, one Super Bowl win) to be a candidate for any upcoming NFL head coaching opening. The Buccaneers could easily go the opposite of Koetter, toward a defensive-minded head coach with an eye on fixing that side of the ball, but McCarthy has to be on any early list of candidates.

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