Former Cal football head coach Jeff Tedford will make his first foray into the NFL when he becomes the offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under new head coach Lovie Smith.
Though Tedford has not officially been hired yet, Smith had reportedly assembled an assistant coaching staff — with Tedford as his OC — before interviewing for head coaching positions. Tedford’s ascent to the OC position in Tampa Bay is expected to be a sure thing, according to multiple sources and NFL insiders.
Tedford’s rise back into the coaching ranks may save Cal’s athletic department from having to compensate him as heavily through 2015. Since it fired Tedford after the 2012 season, Cal is obligated to pay Tedford $5.5 million from 2013 to 2015, less than the $6.9 million he was owed as per his original contract.
But the buyout deal only gives Cal a break if Tedford is paid more than $1.5 million per year. If the Buccaneers pay Tedford more than $1.5 million, the amount Cal has to pay Tedford is reduced by half the amount he makes above that figure. If Tedford makes less than $1.5 million, Cal is stuck with the full $5.5 million settlement.
Tedford joined Cal in 2001 and earned Pac-10 coach of the year honors in 2002 and 2004 before leading the Bears to their first co-conference championship since 1975 in 2006. And in 2007, the team ranked as high as No. 2 in the AP poll. However, since that year, the Bears began to struggle under Tedford, culminating in a 3-9 campaign in 2012 and Tedford’s dismissal from the program. Tedford left Cal as the winningest head coach in program history with an 82-57 record and five bowl wins.
In Tampa Bay, Tedford will inherit an offense with young weapons such as rookie quarterback Mike Glennon, second-year running back Doug Martin and three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson. The Buccaneers ranked dead last in the NFL in total offense this season.
Contact Riley McAtee at rmcatee@dailycal.org. Follow him on Twitter @riley_mcatee
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