Big questions behind Bruce Arians’ retiring as Tampa Bay coach in favor of Todd Bowles

Bruce Arians, two-time NFL coach of the yr who led Tampa Bay to a Tremendous Bowl victory within the 2020 season, is stepping down instantly as head coach of the Buccaneers. That prompts questions that Los Angeles Occasions NFL author Sam Farmer can deal with:

Why is Arians stepping apart?

He turns 70 in October and contemplated retirement after successful the Tremendous Bowl. He desires at hand the group over to his longtime defensive coordinator and buddy Todd Bowles, and the Buccaneers have by no means been in higher form for a brand new coach.

Tom Brady simply unretired, so how does he think about?

Arians says he was extra snug retiring after Brady’s determination to come back again as a result of the group is in such good fingers. The Buccaneers are Tremendous Bowl contenders.

Did Brady push out Arians?

Arians says no, and that Brady has been supportive of him. The coach does acknowledge that there was some friction: “I had conflicts with each participant I coached as a result of I stubborn all of them out, together with him.”

Don’t the Buccaneers have to stick to the Rooney Rule and interview a number of minority teaching candidates?

Not on this case as a result of the interview window for head coaches closes after the beginning of the brand new league yr. The Buccaneers sought clarification of their succession plan from the league. What’s extra, Bowles, who’s Black, will grow to be the NFL’s sixth lively minority head coach. The Buccaneers have had a file 4 head coaches who’re Black. No different franchise has had greater than two.

Is workers range a precedence for Arians?

At all times has been. He’s the primary coach to have two feminine assistants on workers, and the Buccaneers are the one group with three coordinators who’re Black. An NFL-high 11 members of Arians’ workers final season have been Black.

Will Arians journey off into the sundown?

Not precisely. He’ll assume the position of senior guide for soccer and plans to stay round for the draft and a minimum of the upcoming season.