The last time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded for a head coach, they wont the Super Bowl the following year. Perhaps it’s a good omen with Bruce Arians.
Perhaps now the ink is dry, Arians is the new head coach of the Bucs and with some last minute griping from his former team, the Arizona Cardinals, traded a 6th and 7th rounder for his rights.
At least the Glazers didn’t have to trade two 1s and two 2s for their target coach. The path for Arians to the Bucs is an unusual one with his retirement from coaching in 2017 from the Cardinals. Health was a reason and he joined the broadcast booth for CBS. While earlier declaring his loyalty to the Cleveland Browns as his sole condition to return to coaching, he had a change of heart this off-season with Dirk Koetter ousted.
While Arians passed the physical, he’s expected to be joined by some familiar faces. First, Bucs general manager Jason Licht worked in the Cardinals front office earlier in Arians’ run. Former New York Jets coach Todd Bowles, who was also a 2018 coaching casualty will be Arians’ defensive coordinator taking over for interim DC, Mark Duffner. Bowles got the Jets head coaching gig due to his time with Arians in 2013-2014.
Bucs defensive line coach Brentson Buckner will retain his position as his contract runs through 2019. Buckner, previously held the position under Arians at Arizona. Byron Leftwich, who had a forgettable stint as starting quarterback for the Bucs, will be tapped to be offensive coordinator. Harold Goodwin, who served under Arians since 2007, will be the run-game coordinator. He’s also served as offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. You could also pencil in Steelers’ Darryl Drake, who served under Arians in Arizona or former Browns OC Todd Haley, who’s had a history of coaching receivers before his first first gig as OC at Arizona.
Another name you could see join Bowles is Mike Caldwell, who coached linebackers for Arians and Bowles in their HC stints. Bowles promoted him to assistant head coach and inside linebackers coach with the Jets. If the Bucs adopt a 3-4 defense, you might also see Kevin Greene coach outside linebackers. Possible defensive back coaches include Cardinals’ Kevin Ross, Jets’ Daylon McCutcheon, Deleware’s Nick Rapone, or Jets’ Dennard Wilson.
Any of the mentioned coaches you hope join Arians for his new regime?
