Van Pelt meets with Bucs about OC job
TAMPA — If the Bucs are looking for some familiarity for quarterback Baker Mayfield, Alex Van Pelt may be a top candidate for their vacant offensive coordinator position.
Van Pelt traveled to Tampa Monday to interview with the team.
Mayfield, set to become a free agent, was coached by Van Pelt in Cleveland in 2020-21, when Van Pelt served as the Browns’ offensive coordinator.
Mayfield had a careerhigh 95.9 passer rating in 2020, passing for 3,563 yards and 26 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. He then led the Browns to a 48-37 win over the Steelers in an AFC wild-card game in which he passed for 263 yards and three touchdowns.
Van Pelt, 53, was fired as the Browns’ offensive coordinator following their 45-14 wild-card loss to the Texans earlier this month. He reportedly will be replaced by former Bills coordinator Ken Dorsey.
Van Pelt is no stranger to the Bucs. He was Tampa Bay’s quarterbacks coach in 2010-11 under Raheem Morris.
The Bucs also plan to interview Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, Lions receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, former Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and Rams passing game specialist Jake Peetz.
Brian Johnson, 36, was Florida’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach when Bucs backup quarterback Kyle Trask played for the Gators.
The strongest in-house candidate for the Bucs’ offensive coordinator position is quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis. He is expected to interview for the same job with the Bills and Raiders.
Mayfield set career highs for passing yardage (4,044), touchdowns (28) and completion percentage (64.3) this season with the Bucs under Dave Canales, who was hired last week as the Panthers’ head coach.
Canales is expected to hire Bucs receivers coach Brad Idzik as Carolina’s offensive coordinator, though Canales may retain the play-calling duties.