Helped oversee 4,000-yard season from rookie QB Jameis Winston
The Bucs are hiring OC Dirk Koetter as their new head coach and it will be finalized soon, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Koetter’s name emerged as a potential replacement to Lovie Smith soon after the coach was fired last week. He was interviewed on Tuesday for the job.
The offensive coordinator has been widely praised for his work with No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston and running a balanced offense attack with Doug Martin, the NFL’s No. 2 rusher in 2015. (NFL.com)
Nerdy Football Analysis: Koetter has been an offensive coordinator at three different stops since his last head-coaching gig at Arizona State in 2006. He oversaw Maurice Jones-Drew’s best years in Jacksonville, guided the Atlanta Falcons’ offense to two top-10 finishes in total offense in three years before coaxing a fifth-place finish from the Bucs in his first year as a play-caller in Tampa. His presence is good news for all of the Bucs’ skill-position players, especially Winston and Mike Evans.
