Robinson: The Early Years
To say that Robinson was a talented football player at Chatfield Senior High School in Littleton, Colorado, would be selling him far short of reality. A true multi-position threat, he posted remarkable numbers as a senior: 1,475 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also added 39 receptions for 850 yards and 11 touchdowns, along with 1,078 rushing yards and eight more scores.
Robinson was truly a triple threat.
In total, he accumulated 3,403 offensive yards and 34 touchdowns in a single season—an astonishing accomplishment by any standard.
College Career and Pro Days
Robinson signed with Oklahoma State out of high school and redshirted his freshman year. After earning the starting job, he produced 847 rushing yards and 2,824 passing yards. His 3,671 combined yards set a school record.
Only one other player that season recorded more than 800 rushing yards and 2,800 passing yards: Florida’s Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow. That comparison speaks volumes.
Robinson was selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. His stay was brief, and he was released after only a few months. He later joined the Seahawks’ practice squad and had short stints with Detroit and Cincinnati before retiring in 2013.
McVay Brings Robinson to Los Angeles
In 2019, Sean McVay hired Robinson as assistant quarterbacks coach with the Rams. In his second season, he transitioned to assistant wide receivers coach. The following year, after Liam Coen departed for Kentucky, Robinson returned to the quarterback’s role.
That season, Robinson and the Rams won the Super Bowl. Over the next two years, he held dual roles as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Robinson was still coaching in Los Angeles in 2022 when Baker Mayfield arrived during Matt Stafford’s injury. The two are far from strangers.
Falcons Credentials
In his first season in Atlanta (2024), the Falcons ranked sixth in total offense, averaging 377.2 yards per game. They placed fifth in passing offense and tenth in rushing.
In 2025, however, the offense slipped to 14th overall and declined further in several categories. Expectations were not fully met.
As a result, it can be argued that Robinson has yet to make a definitive statement as an offensive coordinator. The jury is still out—and Tampa Bay may be where he ultimately proves himself.
Raheem Morris on His Former Offensive Coordinator
(special thanks to Scott Reynolds for allowing use of the quotes below)
Former Buccaneers and Falcons head coach Raheem Morris offered high praise for Robinson:
“I love him to death, and obviously he’s a guy with great energy,” Morris told Pewter Report. “You’re going to see the play style and how it reflects on the field. That’s what he wants to bring. You’re getting all of the lineage from Sean McVay’s offense.
“Zac brings his own style, his own spice to it. He did some really good things in Atlanta and explored different concepts. He’ll add that in Tampa.
“At the end of the day, it starts with that Sean McVay playbook and the success you had with Liam Coen. Baker Mayfield played well, too. I’m expecting you guys to be explosive and do a lot of good things on offense.”
The Right Hire for the Job
Personally, it is difficult to imagine this hire going wrong.
Robinson fits the mold of recent Buccaneers offensive coordinators, such as Liam Coen and Dave Canales. While Atlanta has talent, the Falcons lack the depth of quality receivers found in Tampa. Bucky Irving may not be Bijan Robinson, but he is highly talented in his own right.
All of this suggests that Robinson knows how to maximize his playmakers.
After joining the team, Robinson recently referred to Baker Mayfield as “probably the most competitive player in the NFL” on Bucs Insider. Few would argue with that assessment.
Looking Ahead
My belief is that the 2026 season will return the Buccaneers’ offense to among the league’s best.
If that happens, Robinson will likely be a top head coaching candidate in 2027. Once again, Tampa Bay could find itself searching for a new offensive coordinator. Perhaps this time, the successor will be ready to become a head coach if things go south for Todd Bowles.
Two strong coordinators have already moved on, and the most recent departure has found success in Jacksonville. One thing that can be said about Bowles: he has been remarkably effective at hiring offensive talent.
Final Thought
While it is no secret that the Buccaneers need defensive help, upgrading the offensive line—particularly at guard or right tackle—would greatly benefit Mayfield and Robinson.
Jason Licht should be searching for the next Tristan Wirfs-type talent. If available, a player of that caliber could transform the offensive front. Prospects such as Francis Mauigoa (Miami) and Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) will likely be gone early, but the idea of adding a premier left tackle and shifting Wirfs back to his natural right side is intriguing.
Go Bucs! 🏴☠️