Report: Bucs, OC Dirk Koetter finalizing deal to become head coach

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will reportedly hire offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter as their new head coach.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are finalizing a contract with offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter to make him their new head coach, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported Wednesday that Koetter was telling Bucs assistants he had the job. ESPN’s Mark Dominick reported last week, shortly after Tampa Bay fired head coach Lovie Smith, that he expected Koetter to be named head coach “within the week.”

Tampa Bay fired Smith one week ago after a 6–10 season and just eight wins in his two years at the helm. Koetter will replace his former boss and give the team some continuity, particularly quarterback Jameis Winston, who made strides in Koetter’s offense as a rookie.

Koetter would be Tampa Bay’s third head coach in five seasons. The Buccaneers have finished last in the NFC South six of the past seven years.

“After careful consideration, we informed Lovie that we have decided to make a change,” Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer said last week in a statement following Smith’s removal. “I want to thank Lovie for his hard work and dedication to the Buccaneers during his time here. This decision was difficult on a variety of levels. I am disappointed that we were not more successful these past few seasons, but we are committed to doing what is necessary to give our fans the winning team they deserve. As we move forward, general manager Jason Licht will oversee the process for finding our next head coach.”

- Jeremy Woo