Bruce Arians, the Buccaneers coach, has resigned and is being replaced with Todd Bowles.
Arians told NBC Sports “succession has always been huge for me, with the organization in probably the best shape it’s been in its history, [and] 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 have control of the narrative. 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 added, “It hit me after the Super Bowl,” he said. “I thought really hard about going out on top. Then it was like, nah, let’s go for two. [The 2021 season]It was hard work with all the injuries, but we still won and got to where our goal was. The next day, for two to three more weeks. [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.”
