Tag: Bruce Arians

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians steps down to be replaced by DC Todd Bowles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians has stepped away from his former role, to be replaced by defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

Add this story to one of the wildest NFL off-seasons ever. On Wednesday evening, NBC Sports’ Peter King broke the news that Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians would be stepping away from his position, to be replaced by defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

Arians told King that his new position in the Bucs’ front office would be “senior consultant for football,”, which will start with Tampa Bay’s 2022 draft preparations.

According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, this decision had been coming for a while, and Tom Brady was informed of it when he ended his short-term retirement to come back to the team. The team insisted that Arians’ decision was not at all related to Brady’s return.

“Succession has always been huge for me,” Arians said in a telephone interview with NBC Sports and the Los Angeles Times. “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 said that he started thinking of the eventual decision after the Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9, at the end of the 2020 season.

“I thought really hard about going out on top. Then it was like, nah, let’s go for two. [The 2021 season] was a grind with all the injuries but still winning and getting to where we got. Immediately after, two to three weeks afterwards [I thought]… if I quit, my coaches get fired. I couldn’t do it then.

“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.”

Arians later issued a statement further explaining his decision.

“I have spent most of the last 50 years of my life on the sidelines as a football coach in one form or another. Today, I have made the decision to move from the sidelines into another role with the Buccaneers front office, assisting [general manager] Jason Licht and his staff. I love football. I love the relationships, the strategy, the competition — everything. It has been one hell of a ride, but I know this is the right time for me to make this transition …

“I really began thinking about my personal transition plan earlier this offseason. I wanted to ensure when I walked away that Todd Bowles would have the best opportunity to succeed. So many head coaches come into situations where they are set up for failure, and I didn’t want that for Todd …

“Before you start thinking this is about my health, don’t. This is the best I have felt in many years and I’m looking forward to helping this team continue winning through my new role.”

It was very important to Arians that Bowles landed his former job. Bowles becomes the sixth head coach of color in the NFL, joining Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh), Ron Rivera (Washington), Robert Saleh (Jets), Mike McDaniel (Miami) and Lovie Smith (Houston), and the fourth Black head coach in franchise history (Tony Dungy, Raheem Morris, Lovie Smith). No other NFL team has had more than three minority head coaches who weren’t interim hired.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Buccaneers have shelved Bowles’ former defensive coordinator contract, and given him a new five-year deal as head coach.

Bowles, who had a 2-1 record as the Miami Dolphins’ interim head coach following Tony Sparano in 2011, and a 24-40 record as the New York Jets’ head coach from 2015 through 2018, does indeed come into the best situation he’s ever had as a head coach. He’s already universally respected as one of the NFL’s best defensive minds, and having Arians’ full support with Arians still part of the organization surely doesn’t hurt.

As for the Buccaneers’ offense, which Arians ran with offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and Brady’s obvious input, it’s likely that Leftwich will retain that position, and perhaps Brady will have a more prominent role in gameplanning on and off the field.

Arians had a 9-3 record as the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach in 2012 after head coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with cancer. That led the Arizona Cardinals to hire him as their head coach in 2013, and he amassed a 49-30-1 regular-season record over five years, with a 1-2 postseason mark. In Tampa, Arians won 31 regular-season games to 18 losses, and had a 5-1 postseason record.

Tom Brady thanks Bruce Arians in touching Instagram post as the coach retires

Brady didn’t hold any admiration back for his beloved coach.

Coach in one sport for over four decades, and you’re probably going to leave a gigantic imprint. You’ll touch lives in ways you couldn’t even imagine. You’ll help young men mature, grow up, and become the people they were supposed to be. If you’re lucky, you might even win a few games here and there. That’s definitely the case with long-time NFLer Bruce Arians, who’s stepped down as the Buccaneers’ head coach.

Arians’ place in the history of pro football is set in stone. He took two previously irrelevant organizations (the Cardinals and Buccaneers) to prominence. As an assistant and head coach, he won multiple championships and became renown for his straight-shooter, no guff, speaking style. He’s a pioneer.

Arians’ impact on the NFL isn’t lost on one important person — the legendary Tom Brady, who expressed admiration for the coach in a thank you post on his Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbv6zGorIZv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

It should be mentioned that Brady only played for Arians for two seasons. That he had a novel of text ready to thank Arians as he hung his whistle up should speak volumes of Arians, the coach, and Arians, the person.

It’s a touching message and a worthwhile public send-off for one of football’s truly unique characters.

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Bruce Arians hoped to leave Cardinals the way he is leaving Buccaneers’ HC job

Arians regrets that his staff did not get to continue in Arizona after he retired following the 2017 season.

In what has been a stunning NFL offseason, there is yet another surprising story. Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians, who coached the Arizona Cardinals from 2013-2017, is stepping away from his job as head coach and moving into the front office as a football coordinator.

The way things work out, the coaching staff will remain intact and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who also was on Arians’ staff in Arizona from 2013-2014, will succeed Arians as head coach.

It mattered to him that he leave his coaches in a good situation.

It is what he had hoped to do when he retired from coaching after the 2017 season with the Cardinals.

According to the Los Angeles Times’ Sam Farmer, Arians regrets how things played out after his retirement. He wanted James Bettcher, then the defensive coordinator, to be promoted so that the staff could continue and so there would be continuity.

Instead, the Cardinals hired Steve Wilks as head coach, most of the assistants were let go and then they went 3-13 and the staff was fired again.

In Tampa, he gets to see his legacy continue through Bowles.

“[I don’t need to] win another 15 games for me to be happy,” Arians said, according to Farmer. “I’d rather see Todd in position to be successful and not have to take some [bad] job. I’m probably retiring next year anyway, in February. So I control the narrative right now. I don’t control it in February because [if] Brady gets hurt and we go 10-7, it’s an open interview for the job.”

He decided to return after the Bucs were eliminated from the postseason and decided quickly so he did not leave his assistants hanging. But with Tom Brady returning after his own brief retirement, Bowles now inherits a team that is automatically a contender.

It is the perfect time to step away.

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Bruce Arians to retire, Todd Bowles named Buccaneers’ head coach

Arians is walking away from the NFL. Sort of.

Tom Brady, at 45, comes out of retirement to chase another Super Bowl while his coach walks off into the sunset. Kind of.

We truly live in the Football Twilight Zone.

After more than four decades of coaching between college and the NFL, Bruce Arians is hanging up his whistle. The news comes via a joint report from NBC’s Peter King and the LA Times’ Sam Farmer. A two-time Coach of the Year (2012, 2014) and three-time Super Bowl champion (two as an assistant with the Steelers, one as Tampa Bay’s head coach), Arians leaves behind quite the impressive ledger of accomplishments as a coach.

With Arians’ departure from the sideline, long-time defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles, has been named the Buccaneers’ new head coach. Arians, in due time, will transition to a Tampa Bay front-office position.

More from NBC Sports on the Arians-Bowles switcheroo, which, apparently, shocked no one in western Florida:

“The move comes as a surprise but perhaps not a shock. Arians, the most colorful coach in a buttoned-up pro game, said he started thinking about stepping aside at the NFL Scouting Combine a month ago.”

That timeline would add up. After all, Tampa Bay was coming off a tough Divisional Round playoff loss to the Rams. More importantly, the organization was without an answer at quarterback with Brady (temporarily) on the golf course. Arians is a 69-year-old prostate cancer survivor. It’d be understandable if he wanted to begin the next phase of his life rather than spend countless time and energy developing another quarterback.

But Arians’ health and age aren’t why he’s stepping down. Plus, Brady’s back! Why wouldn’t he want to chase another diamond-encrusted ring while he still could? The Buccaneers are going to be good!

As it turns out, Brady’s return made the coach’s decision — and subsequent succession plan for people he cares about profoundly — even more straightforward.

Here’s Arians’ rationale, courtesy of Arians, via NBC Sports:

“Succession has always been huge for me. With the organization in probably the best shape it’s been in its history, with Tom Brady coming back … I’d rather see Todd [Bowles] 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.”

Kudos to Arians for reading a situation’s social cues. Not all people would have the audacity to walk away from the game when you’re still alive and kicking near your peak. But, sometimes, what you leave behind is more important than what you personally accomplish. Props to Arians for deciding to drop the ladder down on his way up and kick back (a bit).

As for the Bowles-led Buccaneers, they should remain in contending shape. Any team with Tom Brady, who is coming off consecutive 40-plus touchdown campaigns for the first time in his legendary career, will almost automatically be a factor in January. Bowles’ steady hand as head coach — as the defensive coordinator who masterminded the complete shutdown of the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 — can only help that natural set-up.

Bettors with Tipico Sportsbook agree. This coaching change means little for Tampa Bay’s championship aspirations next season. Of every NFL heavyweight, only the juggernaut Buffalo Bills (+650) have better-projected odds to win Super Bowl 57 than the Buccaneers (+700).

The Buccaneers, with Brady, were always going to be in the championship picture — whether Arians coached them or not. It’s a testament to him that he knows when to step away and hand over the baton to someone esteemed like Bowles, who’s been waiting a long time for such a golden opportunity.

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Bruce Arians said the Buccaneers wouldn’t let Tom Brady return with another team: ‘Nope. Bad Business’

Tom Brady ain’t coming back anytime soon.

Sorry, Tom Brady fans. That comeback from retirement might be on pause for the time being. At least if he wants to play for a team other than the Buccaneers.

There have been rumors floating around that Brady could potentially return from retirement and go play for another team. He’s been linked to the 49ers for a long time and the rumors aren’t going away.

Well, they weren’t, anyway. Until now. Bruce Arians just did his best to put them to bed.

When asked if the Buccaneers would allow Brady to return with another team, Arians shut it down. He called the move “bad business.”

He was also asked what it’d take for a team to trade for Tom Brady. His answer was astronomical. Five first-round picks.

For a 44-year-old quarterback? Yeah, nobody is going to be willing to pay that. It sounds more and more like the only way Brady returns is if he returns to the Bucs.

NFL fans weren’t happy with this.

Bruce Arians: Tom Brady ‘slammed (the door) shut’ on retirement

That won’t settle the conversation around Tom Brady’s retirement. But it’s certainly important context.

Retired quarterback Tom Brady remains one of the most-discussed players (not) in the NFL, in part because so many people believe he won’t stay retired. So the conversation about Brady’s retirement has continued at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

Would Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians be surprised if Brady did eventually return to the NFL?

“Yeah, because of the reasons he retired,” Arians said during a meeting with the media on Tuesday, via NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry. “He slammed it shut when I talked to him. I think like a lot of these guys now that he likes to have his name out there.”

That won’t settle the issue. But it’s certainly important context.

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Bruce Arians strongly refutes report of a sour relationship with Tom Brady

Bruce Arians was not happy with Rich Ohrnberger’s report on Friday.

Speculation has stirred around factors in Tom Brady’s retirement.

The 44-year-old could clearly play at least another season, and his family was the primary reason for putting football behind him. But, there were rumors that Brady’s relationship with Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians played a role in his decision.

Former New England Patriots lineman Rich Ohrnberger reported that the “honeymoon was over” and that the relationship was souring. Ohrnberger went on to tell a story that Arians would rehab his achilles in the mornings while Brady and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich would work on the week’s game plan. Ohrnberger said Arians would later come and change the plan up — making Brady and Leftwich feel undermined.

Arians responded in the Tampa Bay Times and said the report was “bulls–t.”

“First of all, I don’t rehab my Achilles in the morning,” Arians said. “I will go over the game plans and add things, but I don’t delete anything. I don’t have to because they do such a good job. … I’ll see some things. Add some things. It’s an awesome collaboration, one of the best I’ve ever been around.”

Arians honed in on the Ohrnberger’s “red pen” comment with a colorful response.

“I never heard of that one,” Arians said. “That was the best one ever. That’s pretty graphic to not know what the f— you’re talking about.”

Arians remained strong in his stance that Ohrnberger’s reports were misleading and untrue.

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Did friction with Bruce Arians lead to Tom Brady’s retirement?

Were there issues between Tom Brady and Bruce Arians?

The retirement of Tom Brady may not have been as clean as it seemed.

The GOAT decided to retire from the NFL and Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2021 NFL season.

On Friday, the word that all was not well between Brady and Bucs head coach Bruce Arians. Former player and current radio host Rich Ohrnberger with the juicy report:

Bucswire added to the report.

WATCH: Bruce Arians and Devin White discuss new Jags DC Mike Caldwell

The Jaguars’ new defensive coordinator may lack experience as a defensive play-caller, but those who work with him have had nothing but positive things to say in the past.

While we await an official announcement from the team, it’s being widely reported that the Jaguars are closing in on an agreement to make Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive line coach Mike Caldwell the new defensive coordinator under recently hired coach Doug Pederson.

Caldwell has a 14-year career as an NFL assistant coach, working with Pederson when both were assistants in Philadelphia before stops with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, and Bucs. He was a part of a Super Bowl-winning team last season with head coach Bruce Arians, who he also worked with in Arizona.

Ahead of that game, Arians — who has built a reputation for lobbying on behalf of his assistants — had positive things to say about Caldwell’s impact.

“Mike’s done a great job… he’s a hell of a coach,” Arians said. “He should be a coordinator… But Mike has done a fantastic job, he’s really good with his players. They’re super prepared.”

But if you don’t take Arians’ word for it, maybe you’ll listen to one of the players he coached directly. Linebacker Devin White, whose rookie season was also Caldwell’s first in Tampa, has since become a one-time Pro Bowler and Second-Team All-Pro. He echoed the sentiment from Arians.

“Coach Caldwell, out of all the coaches I’ve ever played for, he’s been the most meaningful and most impactful coach that I ever had,” White said. “It all starts with him being a student of the game because coach Caldwell played 11 years in the league, and he’s been in every situation… This is my first time ever having a coach to coach me that has also played the game. I’ve never had that type of coach/player interaction before, and I’m so thankful for it.

“I swear, we get better every day when we walk up on the practice field.”

White added that Caldwell is willing to work with anyone who takes the initiative to improve, as he did when White wanted to work on zone-dropping.

“He don’t mind putting in the time with you,” White said. “Because if you want to be great, he’s going to help push you there. You’ve got some people, when it’s time to get out of the building they’re ready to get out of the building. But coach Caldwell, he’s willing to go above and beyond to help me be the greatest… I really appreciate him and I’m really thankful that he’s my coach.”

It’s hard not to be excited about the prospect of Caldwell leading this defense after listening to the high praise he received from his employer and top player. He may lack the experience as a defensive coordinator, but there’s a lot to like about this move for Jacksonville.

Divisional playoff preview: How the Buccaneers can beat the Rams

If the Buccaneers want to exact revenge from the Rams after a Week 3 embarrassment, they’ll have to do these three things.

Through the first two weeks of the 2021 regular season, Buccaneers head Bruce Arians was a pretty happy guy. His team was coming off the juice of a Super Bowl win, Tom Brady was fully integrated into Arians’ offensive concepts, and a 2-0 record with wins over the Cowboys and Falcons set a pretty nice tone for the new season.

Then, the Bucs traveled to SoFi Stadium to meet the Rams, and things fell apart pretty quickly. In a 34-24 loss, the Buccaneers — who are usually on the right side of the run defense equation — gave up 76 yards on 24 carries, and Tampa Bay’s run offense was, to put it bluntly, awful. Tom Brady was Tampa Bay’s leading rusher with 14 yards on three carries, Brady had to throw the ball far too often with far too little effect, and the Rams — who had leads of 21-7 and 31-14 in this game — were clearly the dominant team. It was Matthew Stafford who riddled Tampa Bay’s defense for four touchdowns.

“Obviously not the outcome we’re looking for,” Arians said after. “I didn’t think we played, in any phase, up to our ability today. Obviously, in the road game, we didn’t handle the noise like we should have offensively a couple of times. We’ve just got to get stops on defense, which we never did in the second half. Our pass rush didn’t get home and we had to get home to help those guys out and get it done. We didn’t score down in the red zone for the first time this year and it was a little disappointing, but we’ll bounce back next week.”

The Bucs bounced back overall to compile a 13-4 record and the NFC’s second seed, which means that they get to play host to the four-seed Rams this time. If they want to be inhospitable on the way to another NFC Championship game, here are three boxes they’ll need to check.