He is employed as Alabama’s offensive coordinator, but Bill O’Brien has been linked to several NFL teams.
His contract for the Crimson Tide expires after Feb. 28; however, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have become the latest team to consider the former coach for the New England Patriots and Houston Texans to return to the league. According to a report from Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Bucs could look at O’Brien to replace Byron Leftwich as its offensive play caller.
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Tampa Bay will represent the NFC South in the playoffs at 8-8, but its offense has dropped off from its explosive production from its 2020 Super Bowl season. If the Bucs part ways from Leftwich, O’Brien has experience with Tom Brady.
The 53-year-old served as an offensive assistant for the New England Patriots from 2007 to 2011. He had a lot of hard coaching moments with Brady, who enjoys being coached hard. It will be interesting to see what happens, but O’Brien mentioned his relationships in the National Football League during Allstate Sugar Bowl prep for Alabama. He assisted the Crimson Tide to 40 points per game in his two seasons. Tampa Bay appears to be interested, but we’ll see if it makes the move to hire O’Brien.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
