The Detroit Lions are still on the market for their next offensive coordinator, and even John Morton has gotten a new job before they could make a decision on who his replacement will be.
Mike McDaniel remains the most intriguing option for Detroit, and it seems like there's a chance he does end up as an offensive coordinator after getting fired by the Miami Dolphins. There's quite a few attractive openings at OC across the league, with the Lions close to the top of the list of those openings.
Another team that has slid in as a potential favorite over the Lions for their open OC role, though, is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer has dropped some intel regarding McDaniel that might make Lions fans sweat a bit:
"Mike McDaniel has made the rounds, and if I had to guess, he’ll probably wind up as an offensive coordinator in the next week or so. I’ve heard Tampa Bay could be a good spot for him, and that, if he does a good job, he could be set up to be Todd Bowles’s eventual successor."
McDaniel might favor Buccaneers for a reason that the Lions can't replicate
McDaniel might be more interested in taking over at OC for the Buccaneers given the chance to succeed Bowles, a possibility Breer just laid out. That, coupled with the ability to be the full-blown architect of the offense while Bowles manages the defense, could make it all the more enticing.
These are two things that the Lions cannot offer McDaniel. Sure, he'd get to run one of the most talented offensive units in the NFL - possibly the most talented - but head coach Dan Campbell has hinted that he'd consider handling play-calling headed into 2026.
That, coupled with the fact that Campbell has won some serious job security barring an epic collapse in 2026, means that McDaniel could be entering a position where he doesn't have play-calling capabilities nor the ability to work his way back up the coaching totem in Detroit.
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So, sure, Tampa Bay might be his best bet. Emeka Ebuka and Mike Evans are set to be a dangerous WR duo in the league in 2026. Baker Mayfield, when healthy, is one of the deadliest quarterbacks in the NFC. They barely missed out on the postseason behind a collapse fueled by injuries.
They are, on paper, one of the better teams headed into the 2026 regular season with a shot at contending if they hit their marks on roster construction this offseason.
But, you just can't help but feel like the Lions job is being overlooked as one that could generate a ton of cache for any coach looking to rebuild their resume in the league.
Maybe throwing a bag at McDaniel that can't compare to one offered by Buccaneers can sway him, but that risks generating some major vitriol if things don't work out for him in Detroit. The fit has to be just right, and maybe the best fit does lie with the Buccaneers for his career goals.