Bucs interested in Callahan

Bill Callahan, formerly head coach at Nebraska and with the Oakland Raiders, has received interest from the Bucs about joining their offensive staff.

With the contracts of nearly every offensive position coach set to expire, there's expected to be some turnover on Jon Gruden's staff.

Callahan, 51, was fired after four years at Nebraska Nov. 24 after coaching the Cornhuskers to their only losing season in 45 years.

Prior to coming to Nebraska, he was the Raiders head coach for two seasons, losing to Gruden's Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. Callahan spent four seasons as the Raiders offensive coordinator under Gruden in Oakland.

The contracts of offensive line coach Bill Muir, receivers coach Richard Mann, running backs coach Art Valero and assistant offensive line coach Aaron Kromer are set to expire Feb. 1.

It's likely Callahan would coach the offensive line and/or be named offensive coordinator, a title Muir has held for six seasons under Gruden.

Agent Gary O'Hagan had no comment on the Bucs' possible interest in Callahan.

"He hasn't formally been offered anything,'' O'Hagan said Monday. "He's friends with some of the people in the organization.

"It doesn't make sense for me to comment.''

But unless Callahan gets a better offer to be an offensive coordinator with another team, look for him to be reunited with Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen very soon.

Comments

[John P]

Say what you will about Callahan as a head coach - but the man CAN coach up a passing attack. Gruden and Callahan were superb together in Oakland, and having them reunited could only be viewed as a positive. A huge postive.

[John P]

And just to add one thing...tossing Muir out won't be a bad thing either. Glad to see it happen. Hell - thrilled to see it happen. Good for the Bucs!

[Tim]

I agree with you John... Bill Muir has been giving a free pass for too long...there has been hardly any improvement in the O-line at least any sort of consistency

[Kyle]

I'm digging it! Look at all of the coaches the Bucs have lost the past ten years who are now head coaches in the NFL. It's about time we got a former head coach to come to the Bucs as an assistant.

[Anthony Gironda]

That would be GREAT!!! Gruden & Callahan reunited? YES!!! Like I said, we need big-time help with the offense. COME TO US BILL CALLAHAN!!!

[Art]

I would like to think that would improve on play calling - especially after what we saw in the playoff game. And how about bringing in Hudson Houck for offensive line help?

[Chet]

As long as we don't start bringing in the ex-Oakland defensive staff that was with Gruden. Breznahan has to be the worst Def. Coordinator in football. I found it amusing that the Bengals are going to replace him with Tim Lewis.

I'd really like to see them bring in Alex Gibbs for the OL coach (or at least as a consultant). What he did with Denver was amazing.

[Jay]

As long as they lock up Monty and Raheem for another few years, I'll be happy. And am I correct in remembering that Muir was a Tuna related signing?

[Matt]

How about doing something that doesn't involve ex-Raiders for a change?? Who's next, dragging Sapp out of retirement?

How about seeing if those rumblings in Cincy are for real that they may trade Chad Johnston?

How about opening the Check Book and going and landing Albert Hainsworth and get some D Line help.

Great improvement this year Buc's but we have to get MUCH better to even match a 9-7 season playing a first place schedule next year.

[John P]

Alex Gibbs, the inventor of cut blocking as a scheme, and hated by every defensive lineman who knows what he teaches. He's mostly retired (66 years old) - but I'd love to see him on the Bucs staff in any capacity.

[Wilson]

I love the idea of having an offensive coordinator here in Tampa... That will really help us. I am glad to see Richard Mann go and Bill Muir...

Who cares who they bring in on offense as long as you sign Monte Kiffin back.
The defense kept the Bucs in playoff picture practically the whole year

[Tom]

Keeping Raheem Morris is a big priority also. He's on the fast track to a head coaching job like Mike Tomlin. Look for him to get a defensive coordinator job soon then head coach.

[Mark]

Are you kidding me? Gruden was supposed to be the offensive guru, yet could only win with with other peoples personnel and when the rest of the division sucked. Callahan was a pathetic 22-15 at Nebraska. Solich could go 10-3, but Callahan could not even post a winning season with the talent at Nebraska his first year! Yeah, rare find indeed. The Bucs sickness with old Raiders personnel is ridiculous. They deserve every losing season to come. Bucs need to decide if they want to win or keep up their inbred system of old Raider hacks.

[aaron]

i think that hiring callahan would definatly be a good thing. they worked well together in oakland and had success. he is a good offensive mind. and to tell you the truth gruden offense hasnt been the same since they were together. now granted they were last together with a different team but the bucs had just as much talent as the raiders. why hasnt gruden been able to get this thing rolling? i dont know but, maybe bill will help.

[aaron]

the bucs need to move fast to sign old monte. everybody knows lane wants him in oakland. hey, Stephen is there any word yet on a possible contract offer?

[John S.]

The staff does need a bit of a shake-up. Muir and Mann really haven't done much with the players they have had, so I wouldn't mind seeing them replaced. I like what Valero has done with the running backs. Callahan would be a great fit, though we do need a bit more talent at the wide receiver position (Oakland had two guys named Brown & Rice catching balls for them). Just look at what Moss and Welker have done for the New England offense. It was decent before, but those two guys took it to another level. I can also see Raheem taking over for Monte within the next couple of years, maybe sooner. Maybe sign Raheem to a 4-5 year deal and Monte for a 2-3.

[Tom]

John S, I highly doubt that we could lock up Raheem for 4-5 years, especially as a positions coach. I bet you anything teams are looking at him for defensive coordinator right now. If the Saints are smart, they would go after him.

[Stephen_Holder]

Regarding Raheem, I told you guys last year that he is under contract through the end of next season. He will not be going anywhere, so don't expect anything to change in his contract status. Plus, Raheem would never do a contract of more than a couple years. He's got too much in front of him. I'm willing to bet that if he isn't the coordinator here after his contract expires, he'll get a coordinator post somewhere else. Write it down.

[Stephen_Holder]

Excuse me... Meant to say last WEEK, not year.

[radiohead]

Heard Joe Gibbs just quit the Redskins. Skins should go after after Jon Gruden, Bruce Allen and Monte Kiffin.

[Wilson]

Dan Synder bring your big time check book here and take Gruden off our hands... May be we can get some cash and draft picks for him...

[Tom]

Hey Stephen, can the Bucs keep Raheem here even if he gets a job promotion elsewhere? I can understand that we wouldn't him to be a defensive backs coach elsewhere, but can we prevent him from furthering his career as a defensive coordinator?

Coaches have been under contract before but have left for career promoting postitions. Is Raheem's contract different? I hope so. I'd like to keep him a Buc for a long time.

[Mike]

Raheem is not going anywhere. Allen will refuse to allow him to even talk to another team just like with Joe Barry last year. Its all in Stephen's article last week.

[Clint]

Please loose Allen and Gruden and bring in Marty Schottenhimer.

Monte Kiffin is the most important coach to be signed. I'd rather have him than Gruden. Gruden needs to go before he ruins this team. It may be too late.

[Stephen Holder]

Mike is right about Raheem Morris. And here's the rule you can apply to coaching contracts: the league doesn't require teams to permit their assistants to interview for jobs (promotion or not) unless it's a head-coach position. Some teams make exceptions. Bruce Allen NEVER makes exceptions.

[Tom]

That clears it up. Thanks Stephen. Although I feel bad for Raheem, I can't blame Allen for doing everything he can to keep him here.

[Voc]

If this was team was really serious about getting better on offense they would have gotten the best guy out there to head their offense and that is Mike Martz who now just signed with the 49ers...

This team is not committed to getting better on the Offensive side of the ball. If you think that Callahan is a better choice than Martz then you truly do not know offense....

[Voc]

If this was team was really serious about getting better on offense they would have gotten the best guy out there to head their offense and that is Mike Martz who now just signed with the 49ers...

This team is not committed to getting better on the Offensive side of the ball. If you think that Callahan is a better choice than Martz then you truly do not know offense....

[Stephen Holder]

Here's the thing Voc: so long as Gruden is around, you won't be able to attract big-name offensive coaches. Gruden IS the offensive coordinator. He's not interested in hiring one. That's not a knock. I'm just stating a fact. If you're a bright young offensive coach with a great future, I would advise you not to come here because you'll have very little say in what said offense actually does. That's Gruden's call.

[Tom]

I agree with Voc and Stephen. Mike Martz could bring a different perspective to our offense. However, this is Gruden's offense and no one is going to change it's philosophy. That is the egomaniac that is Jon Gruden.

[DR]

The so called "offensive genious" has failed to live up to his exaggerated nickname. In my opinion, he has failed miserably, especially when you look at his offensive first round picks that has amounted to nothing so far. If they are to keep Gruden around, which I think they shouldn't, the Glazers must force him to hire an offensive coordinator and tell him to stay out of it.
I have a feeling that the egomaniac is arguing NOT to keep Kiffin around. He probably hopes he leaves town. He can't have a local favorite on his team. Nobody is bigger than Gruden in his small, getting even smaller, world.
At what point do you wear out you're welcome? Billick lost his team and had better success than Gruden. It seems to me in a lot of ways that Gruden has lost his team. The only players out there against the Giants that looked like they were giving their all are the players that have something to prove, i.e. EG, Garcia, Ruud. The veteran players look like they have gotten too comfortable under Gruden's "leadership".

[John P]

DR, hard to argue that some of the players looked very lost (or aimless) on the field Sunday.

Hard to believe that in 33 years of existence this team has only finished 10th one time in total offense. That's the best they've ever done (1984) - Amazing really. Is Gruden an offensive genius? I think it's hard to say, because the current talent (some of it Gruden's decision making) will never be able to rise above mediocre. And, I think Gruden's offense requires very intelligent, very skilled people to execute properly. There's nothing simple in Jon's playbook.

This year though, what he did do that impressed me was to tone things down, and allow what talent he did have play to their strengths, instead of the system. For Gruden, that had to be a very difficult thing to do. I hope he stays that way, but time will tell.

[CallaHater and Die Hard Husker Fan, you can have him..]

Well, y'all can rest your players for next year now and get ready for BC's dumb founding looks too when he wonders why his play calling sucks. He has dismantled 2 major organizations, one in the pro's and one in college. Good riddance, y'all can have him.

Go Huskers/Go Big Red...Enjoy Mr. Rudd for years to come, thanks NU.

[Bill]

Just want to say that Gruden did not have high draft picks or the cap room to sign good free agents. this year he had some draft choices and cap room so he is building his type of team now.
He won this year with young talented players. so give the man a brake and let's see what he does when there is more cap room to sign better players.
Plus Allen is the one who got us out of cap hell. He did it with backup players!

[John]

EVERY SINGLE YOU SAYS WE SHOULD GET RID OF GRUDEN IS AN IDIOT......YOU ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO SAID WE SHOULD GET RID OF DUNGY.....ALL MORONS!

[it's the truth]

stop making up ways to keep gruden ( the franchise destroy), just get rid of him. the only reason he was successful at the raiders was because of the talent not the system. nothing will every change unless we get all pro bowlers to run his system. get rid of him.

[John]

The TRUTH is that Gruden is a damn good coach, and Tampa Bay fans that want to get rid of him are fools....Period.

[Vaughn]

Good lord. Don't sign Clownahan. He'll have the organization in the toilet in two year's time tops! To be avoided at all costs. His track record speaks for itself.