Bruce Arians sent shockwaves across the NFL when he announced his desire to come out of retirement and return to the sidelines as a head coach.
He even shared he’d be open to returning to Tampa Bay, if the job were open. With the Buccaneers at 3-6 and Todd Bowles firmly on the hot seat, there’s a legitimate possibility that Tampa Bay will have a head coaching vacancy this offseason. Naturally, the prospect of Arians coming back to coach the Bucs has become a hot topic.
But would that actually be the best move for the franchise?
There’s no disputing Arians’ résumé as a winning coach. He won a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay and helped transform a losing organization into a championship contender. But would passing on a pool of up-and-coming young coaches in favor of a familiar face be the ideal direction?
It’s a nuanced decision, so let’s examine three reasons the Buccaneers should consider re-hiring Bruce Arians for 2027, along with two reasons they might want to look elsewhere.
The case for bringing Bruce Arians back to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bruce Arians could bring accountability back to Tampa Bay
Bruce Arians did one thing particularly well during his coaching career, and that was holding players accountable.
He established a championship standard in the locker room, and players who weren’t meeting it simply weren’t going to last on an Arians-coached football team.
Leonard Fournette recently spoke about this, explaining that players were genuinely afraid of being chewed out by Arians, and didn’t want to make the same mistake twice.
He didn’t accept anything less than the best, and perhaps that’s exactly the style of leadership this young Buccaneers team needs.
Bruce Arians’ familiarity with the organization would make for an easier transition
When bringing in a new regime, it could take time for a head coach and his staff to get settled and adapt to a new organization.
That would be a non-issue with Arians, who maintains relationships with several players and members of the front office. After stepping down from his position as head coach, Arians spent the next four years in the front office as a senior football advisor.
He remains close with general manager Jason Licht, and also previously coached players including Chris Godwin, Tristan Wirfs, Antoine Winfield Jr.
All three are team captains who have experienced Arians’ coaching style firsthand and know what it takes to win under his leadership.
There would be no adjustment period if Arians returns. His familiarity would allow the Buccaneers to get straight to business.
Bruce Arians has already proven he can build a championship team in Tampa Bay
Arians has won a Super Bowl with this franchise, and so his coaching methods are already proven in Tampa Bay.
Unlike some of the more inexperienced coaches on the market, Arians is a proven commodity. He knows what it takes to win a championship, and he’s already accomplished that in Tampa Bay with several players who are still on the roster.
Arians could help teach this team what winning football looks like. He finished 31-18 during his three years, and went 5-1 in the postseason. He’d bring that winning pedigree back to the Buccaneers and help get this talented roster back into championship contention where they belong.
Why the Buccaneers should think twice about hiring Bruce Arians
Bruce Arians isn’t a long-term answer for the Buccaneers
The oldest active coach in the NFL is Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid at 68 years old. Bruce Arians is 74 years old, and would immediately become the oldest coach in the NFL by a wide margin, and the second-oldest in NFL history.
Arians’ last stint in Tampa Bay lasted just three seasons before he stepped down due to health issues. It’s hard to imagine a second coaching stint with the Buccaneers lasting much longer than that.
The Buccaneers could be better served choosing a younger head coach who could lead this team into the future for years to come, rather than hiring a short-term solution like Arians.
Bruce Arians’ success would depend heavily on his coordinators
Bruce Arians is very particular about his coaching staff, particularly his coordinators. Part of the reason he came out of retirement the first time to coach the Buccaneers was that all of the stars aligned, and the coaching staff he wanted to assemble was available.
That included Todd Bowles, who was Arians’ defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals before reuniting with him in Tampa Bay.
But if the Buccaneers move on from Bowles as head coach, he’s unlikely to accept a demotion to defensive coordinator. He's also getting close to the end of his coaching career, making it clear that he isn’t going to coach forever.
Arians would have to find another defensive coordinator that he trusts, and that’s without even considering the offensive side of the ball.
During his last stint in Tampa Bay, Arians delegated play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, but the Buccaneers fired Leftwich following the 2022 season.
That means Arians would likely have to find new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Finding the right coaching staff could be the difference between another successful stint in Tampa Bay or a reunion that doesn’t live up to expectations.
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