Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard has spent a few months in his new post, but has seen quarterback Baker Mayfield up close since being hired as pass game coordinator in February 2024. In the 15 months they have worked together, Grizzard has seen firsthand how Mayfield leads the team and gets the most out of himself and the teammates around him.
Tampa Bay’s new play caller is excited to run the show, but it all starts with the man under center entrusted to execute his gameplans.
Josh Grizzard: There Is No Ceiling On Baker Mayfield’s Leadership Ability
Baker Mayfield will run the Bucs’ offense for a third season in 2025, under his third different offensive coordinator.
It was first Dave Canales in 2023 before Liam Coen took over in 2024. After seeing them both depart for NFL head-coaching jobs following their success getting the most out of Mayfield and his supporting cast, it’s Josh Grizzard’s turn to do the same.
Grizzard spoke Tuesday morning about what his communication has been like with Mayfield this offseason. In his mind, he wants to see his quarterback continue to lead and play the style of football that has allowed him to become one of the better quarterbacks in the league. Still, he wants to also see him not get knocked around too much in the ring.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today
“It’s something that we’ve talked about from the start,” Grizzard said. That is — he’s always been a great leader, but it’s not like there’s a ceiling on his ability to do that. It is his offense, it’s been his offense, but then now, taking that and giving it to the rookies. Then just harping on — he plays the game like a UFC fighter, and [we’re] trying to take a couple of the hits off him and not playing like that all the time.”
Mayfield is not afraid to take hits and play gritty, but it makes sense that Grizzard wants to prioritize his health. That obviously gives this team the best chance to win, but it also allows for the veteran quarterback to lead by example on the field for the young talent around him.
He already has done so with wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, the Bucs’ first-round pick.
“It goes without saying what he’s able to do for the rookies,” Grizzard said. “Him talking to “Mek” [Emeka Egbuka] the night he got drafted and spending time with him the next day when he’s able to get to Tampa. He makes it go, it all goes through him. He’s the one that runs the show, and they all gravitate towards him, rightfully so. You can tell that he’s just even more comfortable in that and having the success he’s had. Those guys lean on him because they know they can trust him, and he’s got their best interests at heart.”
Josh Grizzard Wants To See Baker Mayfield, Bucs’ Offense Cut Down On “Unacceptable” Turnovers
Baker Mayfield had a career year across the board last season, with the numbers speaking for themselves.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today
He had 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes and a 106.8 passer rating while sprinkling in 378 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
While Mayfield put up the best statistical numbers of any season in his career and had some memorable moments along the way, there is plenty of room for him and the Bucs’ offense to grow when it comes to taking care of the football. One category he does not want to tie for the league lead again is interceptions, as his 16 interceptions tied Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins for the most thrown. Josh Grizzard wants to see that cleaned up all around.
“We addressed not only him but the whole unit on the turnovers,” Grizzard said. “[They] were unacceptable, and it’s not just him or the backs or the receivers. Being something that needs to go down from what it was last year. It’s been an open dialogue with all those guys, they’ve taken to it, we’ve harped on it, and they’ve done a good job so far in some of the drills we’ve been doing.”
Bucs OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
A surprising area of efficiency last season was seeing the rate of passes Mayfield completed. His 71.4% completion percentage was far and away the highest of his career, with his previous high being 64.3% which came during his first year in Tampa Bay. He was able to get in rhythm early and often under Liam Coen last year, as Coen dialed up a lot of quick game to move the football downfield and open things up.
Grizzard did not shut down the notion that it would continue, but he does not care about the numbers as much as the end result. He just wants to see lots of points and Ws in the win-loss column.
“I think he looks at it like the whole rest of the unit looks at it,” Grizzard said about Mayfield’s efficiency. “If the points per game are where they need to be and we’re scoring a bunch of points, whether that means he’s throwing it a bunch or we’re running it a bunch, he just wants to win. I don’t know if he necessarily looks at it or I look at it like, ‘Hey, we got to hit 72%.’ We’re just trying to win games put the ball in the end zone.”