NFL News & Analysis

Bruce Arians retires from coaching, moves into front office role with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians looks on in the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians is retiring from coaching and moving into a front office role, the team announced Wednesday night.

Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will take over head coaching duties.

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Arians, who will turn 70 in October, said his reason for retiring is not health related. “Succession has always been huge for me,” Arians told NBC Sports' Peter King. With the organization in probably the best shape it’s been in its history, with Tom Brady coming back … I’d rather see Todd in position to be successful and not have to take some [crappy] job. I’m probably retiring next year anyway, in February. So, I control the narrative right now. I don’t control it next February because [if] Brady gets hurt, we go 10-7, and it’s an open interview for the job … I got 31 [coaches and their] families that depend on me. My wife is big on not letting all those families down.”

Arians, following a five-year career as the Arizona Cardinals‘ head coach, unretired and became the Buccaneers' head coach in 2019. He was brought in to coach Jameis Winston, but the experiment ended after one season and the team landed Tom Brady in free agency. They would go on to win the Super Bowl in Brady’s first year with the team. Brady retired this offseason but decided to come back 40 days later.

“Tom was kind of the key. When Tom decided to come back … and all of these guys back now, it’s the perfect timing for me just to go into the front office and still have the relationships that I love.”

The Bucs will have a press conference on Thursday to officially introduce Bowles as the new head coach. Arians’ new title will be Senior Football Consultant.

 

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