Bruce Arians has given Buccaneers fans something to think about again.
The former Tampa Bay head coach, who stepped away after the 2021 season, said he’s feeling the pull of the sideline once more. Arians retired after guiding the Buccaneers to their second Super Bowl title during the 2020-21 season, and his influence still hangs over One Buc Place. He remains in the franchise’s Ring of Honor, and his run in Tampa Bay helped reshape a team that had long been stuck in the wrong column.
Arians told NFL insider Jordan Schultz that health issues played a major role in his abrupt retirement. He said he was dealing with a torn Achilles and an aneurysm in his heart that led to open-heart surgery. With his health now back in order, the old coaching itch has returned.
“This is the first time I had the itch again. I had no desire to go back.
After open-heart surgery, I have so much more energy... Now it’s just a matter of, we’ll see what happens."
He also said he misses the players and the locker room side of the job, and watching his son coach high school football this season helped spark the desire to get back to the NFL.
That naturally raises the question in Tampa Bay: could Arians end up back with the Buccaneers if Todd Bowles’ tenure ends this offseason?
Bowles is viewed as one of the coaches under the most pressure in the league, and unless the Buccaneers pull off a major turnaround that includes a playoff run, a change on the sideline is expected. If that happens, Arians would apparently be open to the idea.
According to Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud, Arians said he would consider returning to the Buccaneers if the job were available.
I asked Bruce Arians if he would consider returning to the Bucs. “If it were open, yes,” he said. https://t.co/akaIE1rPTw
- Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) November 12, 2026
Arians’ Tampa Bay resume speaks for itself: a 31-18 regular-season record, a 5-1 mark in the postseason and a Super Bowl championship. Add in the fact that he stayed with the organization as a senior football consultant from 2022-25, and the connection is still very much alive.
If the Buccaneers do go looking for a new head coach this offseason, Arians would be a name that makes immediate sense.
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