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The Bucs’ special teams unit needs a drastic overhaul this offseason to correct its wrongs. Under special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey in 2025, the group had plenty of mistakes, most notably with blocked kicks/punts and poor kickoff coverage. Kicker Chase McLaughlin had two of his field goal attempts blocked, while punter Riley Dixon had two punts blocked.
When it came to kickoff coverage, things got so bad that head coach Todd Bowles admitted they gave up on it late in the season.
No one was surprised that McGaughey was shown the door, with Tampa Bay hiring Danny Smith as special teams coordinator. The 72-year-old has plenty of experience leading capable and competent units across his 30-plus years of coaching at the NFL level. There is a reason Smith is talked about favorably across the league, and his arrival could even lead to the team signing a highly regarded special teamer this offseason.
Danny Smith’s Arrival Could Lead Bucs To Sign A 2x Pro Bowler In Free Agency
Danny Smith ran the Steelers special teams unit for the past 13 seasons, but his time was up after this season with head coach Mike Tomlin resigning from his post. Smith became available, and after meeting with the Bucs, he signed on the dotted line to help turn things around. Pittsburgh has had a strong special teams group for years, including in 2025.
The Buccaneers communications team passed along statistics that Smith’s kickoff unit limited opposing teams to the fifth-worst starting field position following kickoffs (their own 29.0-yard line), while having the second-lowest touchback rate in the league (8.2%) last season. That would far and away be a significant upgrade, and Tampa Bay could add one of his most trusted special teamers in free agency.
Bucs ST Coordinator Danny Smith – Photo by IMAGN Images – Eric Hartline
Miles Killebrew earned two straight trips to the Pro Bowl in 2023 and 2024 with the Steelers, and the 32-year-old could be an intriguing addition. The reserve safety logged 622 special teams snaps during those years and was well on his way toward another productive season until he tore his ACL in Week 6. Despite suffering that injury, Killebrew checks a lot of boxes for the impact he could have.
He currently leads all active players with four blocked punts, and since entering the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2016, Killebrew has 86 tackles on special teams, which is the fifth-most in that span. Getting a dynamic playmaker on that unit is something that has not been seen for a long time.
Smith knows how to scheme things up in that regard, with Pittsburgh blocking 21 kicks since he took the job in 2013. In the same time span, they surrendered only 12 total blocked kicks of their own, which is tied for the fourth fewest during that span. Even without Killebrew, the Steelers developed another Pro Bowl special teamer. Reserve wide receiver Ben Skowronek finished fourth in the NFL in special teams tackles (21) in 2025.
One factor that works in Tampa Bay’s favor is that it would not cost much to bring Killebrew in.
Steelers S/ST ace Miles Killebrew – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Katie Stratman
His last contract was for two years and $6.5 million. Given the fact he is coming off a severe injury, he could settle for a one-year deal for around the $1.3 million veteran minimum. While not a splashy signing, it could prove to be highly beneficial. He would be ready to go around May or June, and it would provide Smith with someone he knows who could teach his principles from a player perspective. He did serve as a Steelers special teams captain from 2022-2024.
Bucs Specialists Are At Least Locked Down Heading Into Next Season
What Danny Smith will not have to worry about heading into next season are who his specialists will be. Chase McLaughlin and Riley Dixon will remain the Bucs kicker and punter, respectively. In McLaughlin, Tampa Bay has one of the better kickers in the sport, and someone who is plenty capable of making long field goals.
Bucs K Chase McLaughlin – Photo by: USA Today
He finished 2025 hitting 32 of 38 field goals (84.2%), which included going 11 of 12 (91.67%) from 50 yards and beyond. After working with Steelers kicker Chris Boswell for 11 seasons, Smith should have no problem keeping “Money McLaughlin” at the top of his game.
When it comes to punting, Dixon finished last season a lot better than he started it. After his two early blocked punts, the team brought in punters to work out. The veteran punter bounced back, setting a career-high by pinning 29 of his 63 punts (46%) inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. He will look to build on his late-season success, which included winning the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 13.
After years of special teams misfires, the Bucs now seemingly have the right coach and could land the right ace to turn a chronic liability into a weekly advantage. In a league where hidden yards swing close games, giving Danny Smith a trusted weapon like Miles Killebrew could finally make that transformation real.
