Bruce Arians stepping down as Buccaneers head coach, taking front office position

Bruce Arians is stepping down as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to take a front office position with the team.

The move comes less than 14 months after Arians, 69, led the Buccaneers to a victory in Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Buccaneers on Wednesday said his new role would be "senior football consultant, advising GM Jason Licht."

"Bruce Arians is transitioning to the front office as our Senior Football Consultant," the Buccaneers wrote on its official Twitter account. "Todd Bowles has been named head coach."

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Bowles had served as the defensive coordinator for the Buccaneers since 2019. He was previously the head coach of the New York Jets from 2015-2018.

Arians went into details of the decision, in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. 

"The simple answer is that I have accomplished more than I ever dreamed I could during this incredible coaching journey. Winning Super Bowl LV at our home stadium, with my mom and family in attendance, was really the last item I wanted to check off my career bucket list. For me, this is about more than just trying to add more wins to my coaching record," he wrote. 

"This team is in a much better place than it was three years ago due to Jason’s great work and the Glazer family’s commitment to winning. Before you start thinking this is about my health, don’t. This is the best I have felt in many years and I’m looking forward to helping this team continue winning through my new role," the statement continued. "I really began thinking about my personal transition plan earlier this offseason. I wanted to ensure when I walked away that Todd Bowles would have the best opportunity to succeed. So many head coaches come into situations where they are set up for failure, and I didn’t want that for Todd."

Arians told NBC Sports that Tom Brady coming out of retirement partially encouraged him to move on.

"It hit me after the Super Bowl," Arians said, according to the outlet. "I thought really hard about going out on top. Then it was like, nah, let’s go for two. [The 2021 season] was a grind with all the injuries but still winning and getting to where we got. Immediately after, two to three weeks afterwards [I thought] … if I quit, my coaches get fired. I couldn’t do it then."

"Tom was kind of the key," he added. "When Tom decided to come back … and all of these guys back now, it’s the perfect timing for me just to go into the front office and still have the relationships that I love."

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Arians said he butted heads with Brady in the past, as he did with every player, though he denied there was a connection between him quitting coaching and the quarterback coming out of retirement. 

"No," Arians said. "No. Tom was very in favor of what I’m doing. I mean, I had conflicts with every player I coached because I cussed them all out, including him. Great relationship off the field."

Brady took to social media on Wednesday evening to talk about his former coach. 

"Thank you, BA for all that you have done for me and our team. You are an incredible man and coach, and it was a privilege to play for you. You are a true NFL legend and pioneer for all the work you have done to make the league more diverse and inclusive," Brady wrote on Instagram. 

"Smart, tough, and loyal are a few of the words to describe your style. I will always remember the conversations we had when you recruited me two years ago and all of the things we discussed came true," he added. "We all benefited from your leadership and guidance, and I’m so proud of everything we accomplished. You were a huge part of the decision to join the Bucs, and I’m forever grateful."

"I’m so happy you will spend the much-deserved time with your loving and supportive family that has given so much to our communities," his statement continued. "Congratulations on an amazing coaching career but more importantly, how you positively impacted me and everyone else in the game of football."

Soon after, the Instagram account of Arians commented on Brady's post, writing "Thanks brotha."

In three seasons with the Buccaneers, Arians led the team to a 31-18 record in the regular season. He previously served as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 2013-17.

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Arians and Bowles are expected to discuss the transition during a news conference in Tampa on Thursday.