Buccaneers may give Dirk Koetter and company another year
By Ryan Doyle
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t fully committed to letting Dirk Koetter go at the end of the season just yet.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are considering keeping head coach Dirk Koetter for another season.
Rapoport said not to assume that Koetter would be gone once the season ends, citing the record-breaking offense and improved defense under coordinator Mark Duffner.
He also mentioned that sticking with Koetter would mean keeping the rest of the upper-tier pieces in Tampa Bay, like Jameis Winston and top assistants.
If Tampa Bay can win out, there will undoubtedly be a reason to keep Koetter around. The defense has had a massive turnaround down the stretch. Plus, Winston has taken some steps in the right direction. He could use stability heading into a pivotal 2019 season.
Throw in the Glazer family’s reputation for giving coaches a long leash, Koetter may get one more season to try and figure it out.
Just a week ago, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported that the Bucs were getting a head start on their head coaching search. With so many reports that are telling different stories, it has become a mystery.
In all likelihood, the last two games of the season will decide Koetter’s fate. Finding a way to beat Dallas and Atlanta could be the only way Koetter keeps his job in 2019.
The Buccaneers struggling to end the season could be the final straw for ownership to try and find someone else who can finally turn the struggling franchise around.
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The Buccaneers are facing back-to-back seasons under .500. Koetter’s career record currently stands at 19-27 and the team hasn’t made the postseason since he took over since 2016.