Bucs' Arians retires from coaching, Bowles takes over

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians is retiring and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will succeed him, the team announced Wednesday.

Arians will move to the front office, where he'll be a senior football consultant. Meanwhile, Bowles will sign a new five-year contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"With the organization in probably the best shape it's been in its history, with Tom Brady coming back … I'd rather see Todd in position to be successful and not have to take some (crappy) job," Arians told Peter King of NBC Sports. "I'm probably retiring next year anyway, in February. So, I control the narrative right now. I don't control it next February because (if) Brady gets hurt, we go 10-7, and it's an open interview for the job … I got 31 (coaches and their) families that depend on me. My wife is big on not letting all those families down."

Arians coached the Buccaneers from 2019-21 and led the team to a championship in Super Bowl LV. The 69-year-old previously said he'd return for a fourth campaign.

Arians retired once before, though his absence lasted only one season. He coached the Arizona Cardinals from 2013-17, leading the club to a pair of playoff berths and one appearance in the NFC Championship Game. He left the Cardinals as the winningest coach in franchise history.

The 69-year-old steps away three weeks after Brady announced his return from retirement, and amid rumors their relationship had soured. Brady was informed within one day of announcing his return that Arians was stepping down and Bowles was going to replace him, reports Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. However, the Buccaneers said Arians' decision wasn't related to Brady's comeback.

Publicly, Brady and Arians both said they were on good terms. Brady paid homage to Arians following the coach's announcement, touting him as a "legend."

Arians finishes his career on the sidelines with two Coach of the Year awards and an official record of 80-48-1. He went 9-3 with the Indianapolis Colts while filling in for Chuck Pagano in 2012, but that record is officially attributed to Pagano.