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.
🚨 BREAKING: Bruce Arians retiring from coaching, moving to @Buccaneers' front office, reports me and @LATimesFarmer.
Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles picked to replace him. Staff being told the news at this hour.
Full story: https://t.co/g4gKTBsKtT pic.twitter.com/c9IhdXw2fA
— Peter King (@peter_king) March 31, 2022
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.
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).
