The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have named Bruce Arians their new head coach. The former Arizona head coach is the sixth head coach since 2008.
Arians led Arizona to the postseason in 2014 and 2015 and compiled a 49-30-1 record in five seasons with the Cardinals. He also spent one season as the Indianapolis Colts interim head coach, compiling a 9-3 record.
Arians, 66, will take over in Tampa Bay after spending this past season as a TV analyst for CBS.
The Buccaneers are coming off a 5-11 season and have not made the playoffs since 2007. The team fired Dirk Koetter last month, following three seasons.
Arians will become the 12th head coach in franchise history and the sixth since 2008.
He is a two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year, winning the award in 2012 with the Colts and 2014 with the Cardinals. He's the only coach in NFL history to win the award multiple times in a three-year span with two different teams, and is one of just 12 coaches to win the award more than once.
Arians's history of success with quarterbacks is likely what attracted the Buccaneers to 25-year NFL veteran. He has mentored Pro Bowl QBs Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck and Carson Palmer. Former number-one overall pick Jameis Winston attended Arians' football camps as a youth in Alabama.
There's also well-documented history between Arians and Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht and Arians - the two worked together in Arizona before Licht arrived in the Bay Area.
In a press release from the team, Owner and Co-Chairman Bryan Glazer said, "Bruce Arians is one of the NFL's most well-respected coaches over the past two decades and we are excited to have him leading our team."
"Throughout this process, we focused on finding the right coach with a proven ability to elevate our players and lead our team forward. Bruce has played a large role in the development and career success of some of our league's best players and we look forward to seeing him continue that work here with our franchise."
Arians coaching career began in 1975 at Virginia Tech. He also spent time at Mississippi State and Alabama. He was one of the youngest head coaches in Division-I history, when Temple hired him in 1983 at the age of 30.