BREAKING: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a new head coach

Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is set to take the reins in Tampa Bay with the retirement of Bruce Arians.

Bruce Arians just announced his retirement as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his place, the team is promoting from within the organization, with defensive coordinator Todd Bowles set to take the reins.

🚨 BREAKING: Bruce Arians retiring from coaching, moving to @Buccaneers' front office, reports me and @LATimesFarmer.

Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles picked to replace him. Staff being told the news at this hour.

Full story: https://t.co/g4gKTBsKtT pic.twitter.com/c9IhdXw2fA

— Peter King (@peter_king) March 31, 2022

The breaking news comes as a shock to many as Arians was expected to lead the Bucs once again this season. Todd Bowles is an established NFL coach and has spent the past 3 seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Buccaneers. 

READ MORE: A look at the text message Bruce Arians sent to Tampa Bay Buccaneers players

Before joining the Bucs, Bowles was the head coach for the New York Jets from 2015-2018. His record in New York was not astonishing by any means at 24-40, but he also did not have the caliber of team he now has in Tampa Bay.

The move to promote from within makes a lot of sense. The players are comfortable with Bowles as they have spent the past 3 seasons with him and Bowles/Arians' relationship goes back 39 years to when the younger Bowles played for Arians in college at Temple University.

A piece of history has also occurred with this move as reported by Adam Schefter.

Todd Bowles now becomes the fourth Black head coach in Buccaneers’ history - two more than any other NFL team ever has had.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 31, 2022

Shortly after the breaking news hit mainstream media, Bowles released a statement regarding his hiring as head coach of the Bucs.

"I am appreciative of the Glazer family and Jason Licht for having faith in me to take on this role, and to Coach Arians for his support and guidance over the past four decades," Todd Bowles says in a team release regarding his hiring as new Bucs head coach.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 31, 2022

Bowles seems very excited to receive another shot at being a head coach in the NFL and with the team he has around him, he has a good chance of succeeding. Now the question becomes, do we see any more surprising moves from Tampa Bay now that they've made another change?

READ MORE: Tampa Bay giving Todd Bowles massive contract extension

Stick with BucsGameday for more to come on this breaking news for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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