Bruce Arians, Buccaneers expected to negotiate head coaching contract
It appears that Bruce Arians’ retirement from coaching in the NFL will only last one year, as the former Arizona Cardinals head coach is closing in on an agreement with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs, who fired Dirk Koetter after the 2018 season, have reportedly zeroed in on making Arians their next head coach. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the two sides are expected to hammer out the details of a contract in the near future.
Sources: The #Bucs are focusing on hiring former #AZCardinals coach Bruce Arians as their new coach and the strong interest is mutual. Negotiations are likely to begin soon. Here we go.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 8, 2019
Buccaneers GM Jason Licht was a personnel executive with the Cardinals when Arians was their coach, so the connection there was likely significant. Arians also has experience working with some of the best quarterbacks in NFL history like Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Carson Palmer, so the Bucs likely want to see what he is able to do with former No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston.
Arians had said at one point that he would only come out of retirement for one job, but it seems like he was itching to return to coaching. He should be a great hire in Tampa.
