Report: Buccaneers to hire Georgia WRs coach Bryan McClendon to same position
Georgia wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon was reportedly hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“Another college defection: Buccaneers hired Georgia’s well-regarded wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator Bryan McClendon as their wide receivers coach, per source,” Schefter wrote on Twitter.
The Bucs previously added Kentucky’s Liam Coen as their new offensive coordinator earlier this offseason. So it’s not the first time dipping into the college pool.
McClendon, 40, spent his entire coaching career in college. He played wide receiver for Georgia from 2002-05 before having a one-year stint with the Chicago Bears in 2006.
He was at Georgia for the last two seasons as the passing game coordinator at WRs coach. He spent time at Georgia from 2007-15 in a variety of roles, including interim head coach in the end.
McClendon eventually ended up at South Carolina as the OC and wide receivers coach in 2016 and stayed there until he moved onto Oregon in 2020. He went to Miami as the OC in 2022 before returning to Georgia that same year.
Coen hired McClendon after reportedly bringing over Kentucky analyst Brian Picucci as the new Bucs’ assistant offensive line coach.
He and Coen go back to their time together at UMass from 2005-08. Picucci also has NFL experience with the Detroit Lions, where he served as an offensive assistant under Matt Patricia from 2016-17.
Picucci coached at UMass in two stints – from 1998-99 and again from 2004-12 – as offensive line coach and, eventually, offensive coordinator. He joined Kentucky this past season after serving as the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at the NFL Alumni Academy.
Coen returned to Kentucky in 2023 after one year as the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator. He also spent the 2021 season in Lexington, where he played a key role in the development of Will Levis. During this coaching cycle, Coen also received interest from the Chicago Bears for the offensive coordinator vacancy that ultimately went to Shane Waldron.
In 2021 under Coen, Kentucky put together a strong year, averaging 32.3 points and 424.1 total yards of offense per game. After he returned this past season, the Wildcats had an up-and-down season, averaging 339.5 yards per game — which ranked 11th in the SEC — and 29.1 points to finish eighth in the conference.