Page 16 - aruba-today-20220401

A16 sports
Friday 1 april 2022
Arians retires as Bucs' coach, Bowles promoted to top spot

By FRED GOODALL Arians did not do a group
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Bruce interview there, with the
Arians unexpectedly retired team saying he was leav-
as coach of the Tampa Bay ing for personal reasons.
Buccaneers, a stunning He was also one of the four
move Wednesday night coaches who opted to
that the 69-year-old who not be part of the annual
guided the team to its sec- group photo of all NFL head
ond Super Bowl title says is coaches at the meetings.
not related to health. Bowles was an interim
It's the second major re- head coach in Miami for
tirement announcement three games in 2011, and
for the Bucs this offseason, went 24-40 in four seasons
following Tom Brady's an- with the New York Jets from
nouncement in February 2015 through 2018.
that he was ending his "I am appreciative of the
career. Brady, a seven- Glazer family and Jason
time Super Bowl champion Licht for having faith in me
quarterback, returned 40 to take on this role, and to
days later, saying he would Coach Arians for his sup-
return for a 23rd season port and guidance over
and noting he had "unfin- the past four decades,"
ished business." Bowles said. "Tampa has
But instead of Arians, Brady become home for my fam-
will be playing for Todd ily, and we are excited to
Bowles after the defensive remain part of this com-
coordinator was promoted munity for years to come.
as the coach's successor. ... I am eager to get started
Arians, a two-time cancer with our players, coach-
survivor, stepped down as ing staff, and front office
coach of the Arizona Car- in preparation for the 2022
dinals due to medical con- season."
cerns in 2017, only to be Bowles was Arizona's de-
lured back to the sideline fensive coordinator for a
by the then-struggling Bucs Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians walks along the sideline before the team's NFL foot- portion of Arians' tenure
two years later. This time, ball game against the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 5, 2021, in Atlanta. with the Cardinals. He re-
he said, he exits feeling the Associated Press united with his old boss in
best he has in "many years" Tampa Bay after the Jets
and is looking forward to the best opportunity to suc- football. I love the rela- ever grateful." fired Bowles following the
transitioning into a front- ceed." tionships, the strategy, the "You are an incredible man 2018 season.
office position working with Arians, who will turn 70 this competition — everything. and coach, and it was a Arians said timing of his
general manager Jason Li- coming season, coached It has been one hell of a privilege to play for you," decision to step away —
cht. the Bucs to the Super Bowl ride, but I know this is the Brady wrote. "You are a along with's Brady return —
"This team is in a much bet- title in the 2020 season — right time for me to make true NFL legend and pio- should serve Bowles well.
ter place than it was three Brady's first with Tampa this transition." neer for all the work you "So many head coaches
years ago due to Jason's Bay. The Bucs were 31-18 in Bowles becomes the sixth have done to make the come into situations where
great work and the Glazer Arians' three seasons there minority head coach cur- league more diverse and they are set up for failure,
family's commitment to and he was 80-48-1 in eight rently in the NFL, joining inclusive. Smart, tough, and and I didn't want that for
winning," Arians said in a years as a head coach Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin, loyal are a few of the words Todd," Arians said. "Tom's
lengthy statement issued overall when adding in five Washington's Ron Rivera, to describe your style. I will decision to come back,
by the team. seasons with the Cardinals the New York Jets' Rob- always remember the con- along with Jason and his
"I want to focus on what I from 2013 to 2017. ert Saleh, Houston's Lovie versations we had when staff doing another great
can give back to this in- NBC Sports and the Los An- Smith and Miami's Mike you recruited me two years job of keeping the core of
credible game that has geles Times first reported McDaniel. He also is the ago and all of the things this team intact during free
provided so much for me Arians' decision and that fourth Black coach in Bucs' we discussed came true." agency, confirmed for me
and my family," Arians add- Bowles would be replace history, joining Tony Dungy, There was no public indi- that it was the right time to
ed. "I really began thinking him. Raheem Morris and Smith. cation at the NFL's annual pass the torch."
about my personal transi- "I have spent most of the Brady, in an Instagram post meetings on the Atlantic Licht said he's excited to
tion plan earlier this off- last 50 years of my life on Wednesday night, said Ari- side of the state in Palm continue working with the
season. I wanted to ensure the sidelines as a football ans was a major part of his Beach, Florida, that such former coach.
when I walked away that coach in one form or an- decision to play for Tampa a move was coming. Ari- "Bruce established a cul-
Todd Bowles would have other," Arians said. "I love Bay and that he'll be "for- ans was there, briefly, and ture here that set the foun-
did an interview with NFL dation for a Super Bowl
LIKE US ON Network about what the championship," Licht said.
team would have done to "In my opinion, he is a Hall
replace Brady if the quar- of Fame coach, so it is dif-
terback hadn't changed ficult for our football team
his mind. Licht addressed to lose that type of leader.
reporters for a short time However, I am excited to
during the meetings, as did have him continuing his
Facebook.com/arubatoday/ team co-owner Joel Glaz- contributions to our fran-
er.
chise in his new capacity."q