Joel Glazer: Jason Licht Will Lead Head Coaching Search
December 30th, 2018
“Jason, please don’t call Mike Smith.”
This news will turn the stomach of many Bucs fans.
Fair or not, that’s the reality.
Per the official Buccaneers news release on the firing of Dirk Koetter after today’s loss to the Falcons, general manager Jason Licht will be spearheading the Buccaneers search for their next head coach.
“We sincerely appreciate the hard work and commitment shown by Dirk over the past several years. Working with Dirk has been a pleasure and we wish him and his family all the best in the future. Our search for a new head coach will begin immediately and will be conducted by General Manager Jason Licht,” Glazer said.
Is there a reason to trust Licht as the chieftain in this process? Joe can’t say yes to that with any certainty.
The Koetter-Licht marriage certainly was uninspiring, as has been Licht’s five-season tenure at GM.
Joe would have a lot of questions about this process. Joe sure hopes Team Glazer had Licht all over this process for the past month, and maybe, just maybe, Licht can do a sales job on his old friend Bruce Arians coming here.
Good luck, Jason!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:07 pm
Licht needed to go faster than anyone in this organization. He gets a 3rd head coach to ruin? I’m in shock.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:09 pm
Seems like the most likely head coach is Josh McDaniels with the Bucs retaining Jason Licht.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:09 pm
It means no high profile coach, it means scouting assistant coaches, etc. If the Glazers were going to get a high profile guy they’d be doing it themselves just like they have in the past.
This could mean however that this is not seen as a rebuild, that they want someone that will come in and fix the defense and special teams and perhaps leave the offense in place under Monken. Not sure on that since I haven’t heard the fate of the offensive coaches, but if you got a low profile guy, a defensive coordinator for example, perhaps they’re only hired if they leave the offense in place. I’d be A-OK with that, since it wouldn’t mean a full rebuild.
We shall see what the news is on the other coaches on the staff soon I guess.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:09 pm
My guess is that if they go for a high profile head coach then Licht will just hold the position until the coach eventually takes over personnel moves. Similar to Gruden with the Raiders this year.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:10 pm
Heck no on Josh McDaniels. Absolutely not, if that’s an option.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:10 pm
He sucked in his last coaching search. What makes anyone think that he will do better this time?
December 30th, 2018 at 8:11 pm
Is he gonna clean out the snitch equipment manager and his staff? They are all Dirk hires. Why do you think the locker room is so fractured. Players don’t trust anyone in that room or player development guy, or any of the support staff
December 30th, 2018 at 8:11 pm
Malcom Glazer forgot more about running an NFL team than his knucklehead sons know. This debacle will surely continue with the Glazer boys and Jason Licht running this $hitshow.
RIP Dirk Koetter
December 30th, 2018 at 8:11 pm
I would like to speculate that Licht might be hiring his fist HC. Dirk was hired shortly after Black Monday. The orginazation knew Dirk was their guy. It may have been the Glazers decision and Licht may have played no role in the decision making.
This could be why they aren’t firing Licht with Dirk
December 30th, 2018 at 8:12 pm
Licht has not been able to hire a head coach in Tampa. Lovie hired him and Dirk was a Glazers move. Let the man build this team. I think its the right the move.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:12 pm
We’re doomed with Licht in charge boooooooooooo!!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
The Glazers are stupid for keeping that moron. How could Licht not be held accountable for all all the free agent failures and draft busts. They don’t know squat about running a team. Good luck selling tickets and winning more than 5 games. The saga of sucking continues in Tampa Bay. Licht is the real Joe Dirt. He sucks but the Glazers are worse.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
Glazers you will be remembered in history for very bad decitions on an NFL franchise and for melting down one of the biggest soccers teams in history, Man united is a second tier team today……..Youn fire a coach and keep a mediocre GM , the biggest responsable for this mediocre team……what a joke!!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
What a bunch of bulls@it! Bud Licht needs to be GONE!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
Well let’s look at who might be on Lichts Top Ten List…,..
1)Arians
2)?
3)?
Ect
Any suggestions?
December 30th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
Smh
December 30th, 2018 at 8:14 pm
Yep! Im good with this! You hit and miss on drafts and FA’s. The 3rd for JPP was awesome. And he’s hit on draft picks more than he’s missed. Now to try and recoup that 3rd come draft time! I like the ACDC headbanger!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:15 pm
F U and the horse you rode in on Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:15 pm
I’m not mad Licht is still here, I think Dirk was a much bigger problem and Licht gave him just enough rope to hang himself.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:16 pm
Awful decision and shows the Glazer Bros have no idea or plan.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:16 pm
I just hope he picks coaches better than he picks in the second round of the draft.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:16 pm
Maybe just maybe this is a good thing and they will actually let Licht hire the coach this time around. He didn’t hire Lovie and it is common knowledge that Lovie was fired so they could hire Dirk.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:16 pm
For the record I wanted Licht gone as well but let’s see who he hires…
December 30th, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Licht is not the problem. Lovie was garbage. Koetter was a good mind and had a solid year with Jameis in 2015. Drafts haven’t been bad, except for the Aguayo fiasco, and passing on Derwin. Licht and Jameis staying is the right choice. Dirk and MeJax leaving is also correct.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Can’t say he will be able to coach the Bucs well, but they aren’t going with some BS name that doesn’t have a solid past or doesn’t have very good credentials if it’s an OC/DC.
McCarthy!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Hey Joel if you’re reading this blog, which you should, you suck at this.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Troy
That tells me the Glazers picked Dirk. If licht did he would be toast. Maybe now theyll stay out of it. Now you licht haters watch what these so called draft pick “busts” turn into under different coaches. The gm can only pick the players with the coaches based on their systems. The defensive system was non-existent. Get a real coach and this team will be a playoff team next season.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Well….there goes my hope for Oline in the 1st & 2nd round……Licht will get cute by moving up into the 2nd for a “project”.
The Glazers must have made the decision to stick with Licht some time ago or he would be out today also because the season has gone down hill for a while now.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:19 pm
A rudderless …leadership franchise starting with the Glazers…and I’ve had their backs at every turn since the bought the team…nice guys…well intended…HORRIBLE decision makers….Horrible….Licht is not much better….he is going to get chewed up and spit out by the NFL fraternity….this is really really bad….there is no freak’n plan…just rearrange to furniture and try to fool the fans with the next great savior….
December 30th, 2018 at 8:19 pm
If Licht could of brought in the right kicker Koetter would still have a job. Licht needs to go too.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:19 pm
The guy that drafted Roberto “couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat” Aguayo in the 2ND ROUND and also the same guy that drafte Ronald Jones in the second round and then proceeded to give up on the man FIVE MINUTES AFTER DRAFTING HIM….
Is allowed to continue to run our beloved Buccaneers…
This is an absolute travesty. It is sad and pathetic.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Licht has a better chance of hiring the right coach as the Glazers do. Where is Rich McKay when you need him?
Oh yeah, the Glazers fired him, too.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Man, I had hoped the Glazers already had a deal in principle with a new coach. Clearly that’s not the case. Bud Licht still around – ugh!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Wow way to let the fox guard the hen house
December 30th, 2018 at 8:20 pm
A round of Jason Licht Fail Ale for everyone…where winning 1/3 of your games after 5 years is good enough for ownership!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:21 pm
I’d assume we won’t hear about a new head coach for a while unless it’s someone like McCarthy – otherwise the only reason Licht would still be around, in my mind, is to do all the coordinator scouting of coaches, and most of those guys you’d want to talk to will be in the playoffs.
So I guess we go into a period where little happens short of the Glazers getting on the phone and trying to trade for Tomlin. I mean Licht will have to do the stupid minority token interview that NFL demands, so I guess they’ll get that done, but outside of that I’d guess most guys they’d want to talk to aren’t going to be available.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:21 pm
Guys seriously how do you know judge the quality of a player when the coaching is clearly horrible? So that also means you can’t judge the man picking them either.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:22 pm
Time to find a new favorite team after 40 years of being a fan. This ownership is destroying this franchise…..so sad.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:22 pm
F U Glazers!!!!! May your financial advisor treat your fortunes like you do your football team!!!!!!!!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:22 pm
Same guy who drafted America;s Ass Clowm #1 Preview of things to ccome
December 30th, 2018 at 8:23 pm
What about Chuck pagano
December 30th, 2018 at 8:23 pm
We need a defensive guy who has a smart offensive staff.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:24 pm
A GM’s job first and foremost is to give players to a coach to win, and sign draft picks to 2nd contracts. Jason has done that, plus some. Koetter should have let Mike Smith go last year, this defense did not play to its talent. They got much better with subpar Duffner calling the plays. We lost 6 games when scoring 27 or more points, that’s coaching. Not players. Jason is a damn good GM. His draft picks and rookie FA’s, Mike Evan’s, Cameron Brate, Ali Marpet (all on 2nd contracts), need to sign Donavon Smith, Adam Humphries, Kwon Alexander now, soon will be Jameis, OJ Howard, Justin Evan’s, Chris Godwin, PEOPLE LOOK AT THE TALENT ON THIS FOOTBALL TEAM, WITH GOOD COACHING ITS A 11 WIN TEAM. WOW.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:25 pm
If you list all of Lichts hits and misses in the Draft and Free Agency, his record mirrors Koetters or worse. I can’t believe they allowed all the blame fall on Koetter. Talk about a lack of leadership. How can you not see Licht as a major part of the problem and at least equally responsible.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:25 pm
Brett – Rich McKay was fired after Gruden went to the Glazers and demanded they fired him after McKay refused to sign an old washed up Andre Rison who couldn’t break a 5.0 40. When Gruden was brought in he wasn’t allowed to do anything to the team since the Glazers saw the team as being a SB contender, but Gruden couldn’t take being told by everyone he just won with Dungy’s team and had to tear it apart to PROVE he could win a SB on his own. So in late 2003 he gets McKay fired, then hires his personal lacky Bruce Allen, then gets rid of Lynch and Sapp to sign guys like Charlie Garner and every injured mid-30s offensive lineman he could fine.
Ugh… thinking of what Gruden did to this team, how he destroyed it, still makes me stick. Should have been a contender for another 5 years at least.
Meanwhile Dungy goes to Indy, literally takes the worst defense in football and makes them the best defense in football in a few years and even manages a SB win with that choke artist Manning at the helm.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:26 pm
He is a good GM? WTF ever. C’mon XFL.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:26 pm
By Ndog’s logic Roberto Aguayo would be a star if not for big bad Dirk Koetter. And Jason Licht has no accountability when it comes to drafting players because of big bad Dirk Koetter.
Both are to blame sir.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:27 pm
Keeping licht will limit coaches who want to come here. His Bridge player fantasy was a huge failure . As a lot his free agent picks were. Totally uninspired this decision. Good Luck , Dirk you are a class act that players have gone out of their way
to support. And congrats on your last game ,Jameis put together a game that you would be proud of. Time will tell if you finally got through to Jameis at your own expense.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:28 pm
“need to sign Donavon Smith”
Have you watched 5 minutes of any Bucs game this year?
December 30th, 2018 at 8:28 pm
Let Licht find a HC who can get Winston to run a winning offense.
A HC who will have a tough team that won’t bend over for Pittsburg at Home in Prime Time……The moment Conte got thrown by his face we lost the season.
Licht needs to hire a HC who won’t allow for this. And if something like that does happen we need a HC and team that’s going to smack somebody in the mouth on the very next play. Not have Grimes get completely run over for yet another TD. And why are we friggen apologizing for hitting the QB????
I’m sick of this BS!!!! Licht you better fix this or you need to be on the train with Dirk 🍺 with the first ticket outta here.
GOO BUCS!!!
END RANT*”””
December 30th, 2018 at 8:28 pm
Great, the best DE Licht drafted is Noah Spence. The best kicker he drafted is Aguayo. The defense and special teams killed Koetter….
December 30th, 2018 at 8:29 pm
Typical Bucs. One step forward one step back.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:29 pm
1. Arians
2. Jim Caldwell or Tomlin if available
3. Kris Richards
4. The unknown
5. Herm
December 30th, 2018 at 8:31 pm
Well we’re still screwed with this ass clown doing the search he can’t even get a second round draft pick right or hit the field good choice there glazers don’t know who the bigger ass clown is
December 30th, 2018 at 8:33 pm
Winston isn’t intelligent enough to run josh McDaniels offense
Jamies needs simple offense where receivers stand still
December 30th, 2018 at 8:33 pm
5th pick secured= draft OT Jonah Williams or Greg Little. Anchor LT and let D Smith test FA. Perhaps we can match an offer?
December 30th, 2018 at 8:34 pm
I have more faith in Licht leading the search than I do the Glazers…
December 30th, 2018 at 8:34 pm
I’m not a Caldwell fan.
Tomlin seems like he would want more spotlight in a bigger city.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:35 pm
Holy crap. Andrew Luck with monster drive and amazing TD
December 30th, 2018 at 8:36 pm
Licht is also a big dumb dumb
He can only draft low hanging fruit
90% of his free agent signings were trash
Yet beta male glazers are keeping him for another year
December 30th, 2018 at 8:39 pm
Has Licht drafted any 1st team All Pros??? What am I missing? Three HC’s, drafting top ten four of five seasons and the all the FA misses and draft picks. Anyone heard of Noah Spence, a kicker, a small 1st round corner. A worse record than Dominik and he had more money and higher draft picks.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:45 pm
Biggest Mistake Ever! Firrreeeeee Licht!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:46 pm
Licht isn’t being kept for another year. He’s just being kept to announce the new head coach and will be Firrred after that.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:47 pm
If they are keeping him and the coaches in tact it means they have already talked to And or agreed to a deal with either Arians or Mcarthy.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:51 pm
And this is why they needed a team president to make these decisions. Licht strikes me as the kind who was throwing Koetter under the bus before the season began and has been greasing the Glazers for years.
“Oh, Aguyo wasn’t my fault, nor were all my other busts. You can’t get rid of me after Ali Marpet I’m a football genius.”
Keeping D-Jax was a fireable offense when other teams wanted to trade for him yet Licht refused to trade him.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:52 pm
It’s a bucs life. The glazers are a joke. Sad days round here.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:52 pm
With Jason Licht leading the HC search (for the 2nd time), it’ll likely entice Bruce Arians to entertain the option of coming to Tampa. It’ll also prevent a full-blown rebuild from happening again.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:53 pm
Do you idiots not realise that Jason Licht has never hired a head coach? It’s pretty easy to pick the fans that know nothing about this team. Jason Licht has not hired a coach he has picked to date.
Know your sh!t before you start tying or speaking please!!!!!
December 30th, 2018 at 8:54 pm
Arians is both a Licht and Winston guy. Perhaps he’ll accept this coaching gig.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:55 pm
I will remind you of the individual who is responsible for the hiring of
Lovie Smith…….none other than Tony Dungy.
And everyday someone posts here get “Father Dungy” to be President of Football Operations.
Stop with the Dungy crap, he is not what you make him out to be.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:56 pm
man…some of the choices in the thread really suck. Tomlin??? Caldwell??? As for having a deal in place, you can’t do that without tampering or screwing up recruiting and bowl games.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:56 pm
Arians as head coach with Monken oc and Buckner at dc switching to a 3-4 would equal a super bowl next season.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:58 pm
Why would anyone hire him caldwell?
December 30th, 2018 at 9:01 pm
rrsrq I think your assessment is very accurate. I think Rod Marinelli may be on their list also though.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:04 pm
Yay Foollow the Licht great decision by the glazers he has skill
December 30th, 2018 at 9:04 pm
I sure he doesn’t pick a kicker for the job…
December 30th, 2018 at 9:05 pm
#NoahSpenceRobertAquayoRonaldJonesFireLicht
Does that list of potential coaches excite you, nah me either.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:07 pm
Revenge of nerds continue!!!
December 30th, 2018 at 9:08 pm
Or maybe he could bring Chris “Swaggy” Baker as chief of practice scheduling and team morale…
December 30th, 2018 at 9:16 pm
As long as Licht is part of this organization it will fail.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:17 pm
Arians is an excellent coach. I thought he “aged-out”!? Isn’t he near 70 years of age?
December 30th, 2018 at 9:21 pm
@BucEmUp
The Glazers let Jason Licht hand pick his HC in 2016, and in Koetters release statement, Joel Glazer announced that Jason will once again be leading their HC search. So yes, he has hired an HC before.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:29 pm
Bruce Arians born October 3, 1952; 66 years old. I just saw an article where he said he would only return to coach the Browns! Yup, we are the new Browns!
IF he came, we would be replacing him in 2 years for health/ age-related reasons. They MUST have someone lined-up & that may mean that McCarthy is the front-runner.
Oh yes, Licht sucks!
December 30th, 2018 at 9:31 pm
If Licht is hiring and I’m a coaching candidate, I’m demanding final say on all player-personnel decisions as a condition to accept the job. Licht isn’t qualified to draft a soul or make any decisions about the roster.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:39 pm
the more i think about it…..
immmmm okkkaaaay with Licht being retained.
1. hes has brought a lot of talent to the roster.
2. he cuts ties with player that dont preform even after a yer of singing/drafting them
3. w/ the talent on the roster its apparent that coaching is the problem.
the headd coach is the problem,
example: first two games we have a record setting offense by week 2 other teams turn around promt by head coach hring we see all the time i woulld not be suprised if the glazers hired a competent head coach and the bucs trend up
December 30th, 2018 at 9:41 pm
Jim
Problem with your number 2 is that he does that way too often.
Sure he admits when he makes mistakes, but all he does is make mistakes and occasionally draft average players.
It’s a cycle.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:41 pm
This guy should have been the first one out the door….
Fkin stoooooooooooooopid owners!
December 30th, 2018 at 9:42 pm
Jim
3 where’s the talent? There’s some talented players yes. But is it a talented team when compared to other NFL teams, absolutely not.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:50 pm
Insane to retain Licht…just insane.
December 30th, 2018 at 10:01 pm
WTF has this guy done to deserve a sixth year? His draft classes look worse by the year and he can’t find FA’s. And most importantly, he lacks the knowledge to build a team.
December 30th, 2018 at 10:05 pm
^^^ “he lacks the knowledge to build a team”
DING DING DING DING!!!!!
December 30th, 2018 at 10:16 pm
The idiots that believe that Light brought “a lot of talent to the roster”, I hate to break it to you but talent wins. And the Bucs don’t win. In fact Bucs lost 12 of their last 14 games. But tell me again how talented 27-53 Licht’s roster is you moron. Tell me how great MJ Stewart, RoJo and Alex Cappa were this year. Ryan Jensen was a great signing too dumbass.
December 30th, 2018 at 10:40 pm
Jim Schwartz should be on the list of possible choices.
December 31st, 2018 at 4:38 am
“There’s too much to live for to die on the sideline,” Arians said. And coaching Licht’s draft picks and FA’s will kill even healthy coaches.
December 31st, 2018 at 9:47 am
JimmyJack Says:
“Well let’s look at who might be on Lichts Top Ten List…,..
1)Arians
2)?
3)?
Ect
Any suggestions?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am definitely good with that, JimmyJack.
If not Arians, I would want Kris Richard.
But yes, I think this could be a great fit for Bruce Arians and us.
December 31st, 2018 at 11:07 am
I don’t think Arians or most HC would come here if they didn’t have the final say in the draft of FA. Licht really put one over on the 3 stooges. I just don’t think they care. MAN U comes first.
December 31st, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Hey Joe, Koetter was good guy & offensive mind overall but I’m glad he’s gone. 5-11 two yrs in a row can’t be excused; especially starting this yr off 2-0
Now I’m a big Jameis bigger & I think the talent level that Licht has collected is good enough to get to the playoffs in NFC (especially this yr)
Winston, Evans, Goodwin, Humphries. Brate, OJ, Marpet, Vea, JPP, Kwon, Beckwith, Carlton Davis, J. Evans, Grimes.
I mean I’m sorry but this list ISN’T bad collection of talent to win, you can’t have All-Pros on every level but the levels that are most important seem to be addressed (besides Donovan Smith) I don’t think Smith is bust but he’s not a high level LT. So I think Licht did his job in giving the coach high level talent
December 31st, 2018 at 6:49 pm
“Jason, please don’t call Mike Smith.” funniest image caption ever on here. LMAO