Sports

Todd Bowles takes over as head coach of Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Bruce Arians stepping into frontline role


Tampa, Fla. – Bruce Arians will step down after three seasons as Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘head coach and transition to a head office role with the organization, the team announced Wednesday night.

Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will replace Arians as head coach. A source from the league told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Bucs completed a new, five-year head coach contract with Bowles early Wednesday.

Arians told ESPN that he doesn’t consider the change a retirement.

“No, move to the office first,” he said in a text message. “I’m still working.”

Arians played a key role in assessing draft prospects, and a move to the main office ensures that will continue. His new title will be senior football adviser.

Despite repeated health threats throughout his career, Arians, 69, said the move did nothing to boost his health. The Arians and Buccaneers have been planning their succession for the past few weeks, and Arians has informed the players and members of his coaching staff of the news before the team announced it.

The Arians hit 31-18 (0.633) in three campaigns with Tampa Bay, the highest win rate of any coach in Buccaneers history and led the team to victory in Super Bowl LV after the 2020 season. he won five playoffs with the Bucs; Tampa Bay’s previous coaches have won six aggregates.

“I’ve spent most of the last 50 years of my life as a football coach in one form or another. Today, I’ve decided to move from the sidelines to a different role with a writer. Buccaneers side room, support. [general manager] Jason Licht and his staff,” Arians said in a statement. I love football. I love relationships, strategy, competition – everything. It’s been a long road, but I know it’s the right time for me to make this transition. “

A source told ESPN that Bowles was informed Monday of Arians’ decision to step aside and promote him. Arians had long thought of Bowles as his successor if Bowles hadn’t taken the head coach job elsewhere. Bowles interviewed for the top head coach vacancies Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears this season.

Bowles, 58, formerly the head coach of New York Jets from 2015 to 2018, when he went 24-40. He also served as the temporary coach of Miami Dolphins in three games that ended the 2011 season, with a score of 2-1.

Bowles’ presence ensures continuity in the Bucs staffing that has remained largely unchanged since the Super Bowl victory, except for the departures of assistants Mike Caldwell, Cody Grimm and Antwaan Randle El.

“I appreciate my family and Jason Licht for placing their faith in me to take on this role, and coach Arians for his support and guidance over the past four decades,” Bowles said in a statement. declare. “Tampa has become my family’s home and we are delighted to continue to be a part of this community for many years to come. As an organization, we have all the elements to continue the standard. Victory has been established here in recent years. I am eager to get started with the players, coaching staff and our office in preparation for the 2022 season.”

Bowles becomes sixth minority head coach currently in the NFL, joining Pittsburgh Steelers‘Mike Tomlin, Washington CommandersRobert Saleh ‘Ron Rivera, the Jets’, Houston Texas‘Lovie Smith and Mike McDaniel of Miami. Bowles is also the fourth black coach in Bucs history, along with Tony Dungy, Raheem Morris and Smith.

The Bucs are not subject to the requirements of the Rooney Rule, as their coaching position occurs after March 1, when the majority of the talented team the club will be looking for potential candidates. Large is not available. In addition, the anti-tamper policy states that after March 1, clubs are not obligated to license a coach under an interview contract.

Arians’ departure is the second major announcement for the Bucs this season, after the midfielder brave catannounced in February that he was ending his career. Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, returned 40 days later, saying he would be playing the 23rd season and noting that he has “unfinished business.”

A source told ESPN that the Arians informed Brady of the decision to step aside shortly after Brady announced his return.

Brady, in an Instagram post Wednesday night, Arians said was a big part of his decision to play for Tampa Bay and that he will be “forever grateful.”

“You are an incredible man and coach, and it is a privilege to play for you,” Brady wrote. “You are a true NFL legend and a pioneer for all the work you’ve done to make the league more diverse and inclusive. Smart, tough, and loyal are a few words to describe. describe your style. I will always remember the conversations we had when you hired me two years ago and all the things we discussed came true.”

There have been rumors of a rift between Arians and Brady, but Arians denied it this week in an interview with the NFL Network at NFL owner meetings, and he denied speculation that Brady wants to play elsewhere in 2022. Arians left owners meetings one day early and canceled his previously scheduled media offering for personal reasons.

“I don’t know where it came from,” Arians said. “Someone has to write a story every day about something. Tom and I have a great relationship. Even in retirement: ‘Where are you?’ ‘I’m in Italy.’ ‘How’s it going?’ “There are kids here.” You know, just check on him. I can’t bring him back to the golf course because he travels too much, so I can’t win enough money from him. me.”

When asked about possible frictions between the two, Licht said last week, “You’d be surprised we don’t talk much about it. You can’t believe everything you hear or see. and read. There’s always been some friction between the staff, the players and the coach. That’s just normal. And like you said, it can be healthy. We really do. didn’t think much of it.”

While Arians had previously retired as the head coach of The Arizona Cardinals After the 2017 season before returning to coach the Bucs in 2019, multiple aides on his staff told ESPN they were shocked and surprised by the news he was moving into a new role.

In his statement, Arians said he’s “really starting to think about my personal transition plans ahead of this season.”

“I wanted to make sure when I walked away that Todd Bowles had the best chance at success,” he said. “A lot of head coaches fall into defeat situations, and I don’t want that for Todd.

“Tom’s decision to return, coupled with Jason and his staff doing another fantastic job of keeping the core of this team intact during their free time, confirmed to me that time to pass the torch to Todd.”

With the Arians stepping down, 10 NFL teams – nearly a third of the league – will have a new head coach this upcoming season. That represents the most coaching change from season to season since 2008 and 2009, when there were 11 changes in position.

ESPN and Associated Press Figures & Information contributed to this report.





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