Report: NFL Assistant With Ties to Todd Bowles Joins Buccaneers Staff
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are continuing to fill out their staff under second-year head coach, Todd Bowles. Bowles made a number of fires amongst last year's staff and has done his due diligence in constructing a new staff he believes will help give the Bucs a jump start.
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On Tuesday afternoon, shortly after the announcement of the Bucs' new running backs coach, Greg Auman reported that Bowles and the Buccaneers have hired George Edwards as the team's next outside linebackers coach. He replaces former assistant Bob Sanders, who retired at the conclusion of Tampa Bay's season in January.
The veteran coach from North Carolina has a wide spread resume when it comes to coaching in the NFL. Edwards started his NFL coaching career with the Dallas Cowboys in 1998 as the team's linebackers coach before spending time with the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, and the Miami Dolphins in the same role.
After garnering a solid reputation in his position as a coach, Edwards then moved on to become the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills. The stint with the Bills didn't necessarily go as planned as he then moved back to the Dolphins as their linebackers coach.
Edwards got his chance as a defensive coordinator again after his second stint in Miami under Mike Zimmer and the Minnesota Vikings in 2014. In his first season with the Vikings, Edwards' defense ranked 11th in points per game with 21.4 before improving the following season by allowing just 18.9 ppg, ranking fifth in the NFL.
The previous three seasons Edwards spent time as a senior defensive assistant with the Dallas Cowboys before it was announced he would not be retained following the 2022-23 season.
Edwards brings in a veteran presence at the coaching position and is familiar with head coach Todd Bowles as the two coached together in Cleveland and Miami.
The Buccaneers and Edwards also have somewhat of a tie as the franchise interviewed Edwards four years ago prior to hiring Bruce Arians.
Tampa Bay hired running backs coach Skip Peete earlier on Tuesday, who coached with Edwards in Dallas over the past three years.
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