Bucco Bruce Arians Says He Has The “Itch” To Return To Coaching
November 12th, 2026
Ready to return!
Hey, Joe knows a team with a general manager who Bucco Bruce Arians is friends with that needs an offensive coordinator in the worst way.
Bucco Bruce Arians, who won a Super Bowl with the Bucs the last time he coached, dropped a bombshell on the “Schultz Report,” a podcast hosted by NFL insider Jordan Schultz. There, Arians said he has the “itch” to return to coaching.
“Now that I’m all healthy again, I’ve got the itch again,” Arians said. “So, we’ll see.”
Arians, 74, said he has yet to speak to any NFL team and then said this is the first time he’s ever mentioned his desire to anyone.
There also was Bucs info Arians opened up about.
Arians said a big reason he retired abruptly with the Bucs in the spring of 2023 was his health. He had an Achilles injury that prevented Arians from standing on the sidelines for most of a game without being in severe pain.
Arians did say in his days with the Bucs he was being monitored for an aneurysm in his heart. He had open-heart surgery early this year.
Arians’ “itch” began this September after attending high school games in Arizona where his son is a coach. Arians confessed he misses being around the players and going to the high school games revived those emotions.
While the official Buccaneers website says Arians is a staff advisor to general manager Jason Licht, Arians says he is no longer affiliated with the Bucs and is no longer a team consultant. (Cynical Joe wonders if Arians wants to return to coaching as much as he wants better health insurance?)
C’mon, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, can you bring Arians back to the Bucs as an offensive coordinator and play-caller to save this season?
The Sage of Tampa Bay sports, Ira Kaufman, told Chris “Mad Dog” Russo yesterday he thinks the Bucs have a better chance at the playoffs than the Rams. So the season isn’t over.
Let Arians save the Bucs (again).
Ironically, it was around the same time in November of 2018 when then-retired Arians said publicly he’d consider returning to be a head coach of one team: the Browns led by quarterback Baker Mayfield. Two months later, Arians took over the Bucs job.
News: Super Bowl-winning HC Bruce Arians tells me he wants to return to coaching.
“This is the first time I had the itch again. I had no desire to go back. … After open-heart surgery, I have so much more energy.”
Full interview drops soon! pic.twitter.com/QyNbIYmsyi
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) November 12, 2026
November 12th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
It’s called Jock Itch
November 12th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
💯 Lfg!
November 12th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
Have him at least work with Robinson if not take over entirely. Or just don’t run up the middle EVERY 1st down.
November 12th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
He ain’t gonna go to the Bucs that’s for sure
November 12th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
Bring Winston with you..
November 12th, 2026 at 1:57 pm
Maybe as a passing game coordinator or a QB coach…
But not as an NFL head coach or OC again.
Not at 74 with past health issues.
Nope.
November 12th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
This is exactly like 2019 good defense trash QB play.
November 12th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
Yes, all you have to do is state that a team will make the playoffs over another team and then it happens as if it were magic.
No effort, skill, experience, or knowledge is needed to succeed. Just blind optimism.
Pom Poms waive, Pom Pom waive, Pom Pom waive!!!
November 12th, 2026 at 2:00 pm
If we had average QB we’re probably undefeated every single gm was there to win.
November 12th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
He will be 75 next season the stress of coaching would not be healthy at his age. As much as I would like to see you coach again there’s a lot of important things you can do for an organization
November 12th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
stroud asked him if he would come back and he said yes
November 12th, 2026 at 2:02 pm
He said he would consider returning to Tampa
November 12th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
Welcome back to The Krewe, Captain Bucco Bruce!
PS: any concern that he felt need to state clearly he is no longer affiliated with Bucs? Not saying Bruce should proclaim undying devotion or anything. Just saying we were in an (at least) open relationship…did we just break up?
November 12th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
BRING HIM IN! End this awful nightmare called the Zach Robinson offense. This offense brings pain to my heart every Sunday.
November 12th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
Bucco Bruce, come on down, your the next contestant on, right this ship! I am all for it
November 12th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
No his offense gets quarterbacks killed and they throw a lot of interceptions and they gets hurts under B.A .
November 12th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
Can we set up a Go Fund Me?
November 12th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
My Guess he has already talked with Licht. put a donut on that one. the question would he take on a OC role instead of HC. Could he , not sure that is in his dna
November 12th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
With a lights out D and a punishing rushing attack already In place!
Thats a shocker!!
November 12th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
Bring back arians
November 12th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
However at 74 and OC job might be of more interest than HC, which is a lot of headache much less a 74 yr old.
November 12th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
Will he bring Byron Leftwich with him?
November 12th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
Stay retired BA
He could scheme the run game and never called plays here, he was chillin being a CEO head coach
November 12th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
He COULD NOT scheme the run game
November 12th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Bucs should hire him to Whisper to Mayfield and Yell at him if he doesn’t listen
November 12th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
Now fire Robinson and hire Bruce to be the new OC watch how quickly things get fixed. Only problem is Baker can’t throw a deep ball to save his life.
November 12th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
I would take him as an OC. Bowles on the sidelines. Arians in the booth.
November 12th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
Fire Robinson today. Don’t let the door hit your a$$ on the way out.
November 12th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
If Arians chooses to do Byron Leftwich a solid who are we to complain? Just get Bruce and his mouth in the building and the team will be healed.
Of course Mayfield might have trailer tracks down his back and not just in his underwear. And the first dropped pass will yield a whole opera of profanity. Receivers and TEs better be on notice.
The defense, too. Arians claimed he left Todd Bowles and his squad alone. Never believed it. Bruce didn’t have to be at every rep to share his opinion. And to make sure his opinions were clear and effective.
November 12th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Absolutely not – no way – awful idea – bringing back Arians to coach would be like bringing back Brady as QB – they captured lightning in a bottle that Cooper Kupp extinguished but it was fun while it lasted –
November 12th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
I mean it was his sudden retirement late in the season that handcuffed the Bucs with Bowles as the HC, so one could say he owes the franchise & fans one (and could maybe make some amends by helping out/taking over the offense for the rest of the season?). If he can turn the passing game dumpster fire around and not mess with the run game it certainly would look good reviving his NFL resume as a quality HC candidate.
November 12th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
He’s a feel-good Band-aid.
November 12th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
All this BS talk about a team thats still in the hunt!!
Meaningful games in December
Here we come!
The Bucs ,the last team a team
wants to see in the playoffs
Yes sir!!
November 12th, 2026 at 2:52 pm
He’ll go to the chargers, or eagles next season. Dark horse is the colts. He was there with Andrew luck. Bucs are better off, going with a young minded HC.
Nate Scheelhaase, Grant Udinski..
November 12th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Is Licht on the phone yet?
November 12th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
Love the fantasy of firing Robinson for Arians, as if transitioning schemes could be performed overnight and it would work…smh… for those that don’t recall, supposedly Arians offense is incredibly challenging for QBs in year 1. Palmer had an epically bad first year. Winston ints were his worst, and even the GOAT before making adjustments wasn’t exactly thriving until late in the season in his first year with Arians.
This goes back to the 1 JBF contributor who kept harping on the podcast the franchise not giving a crap due to not firing Robinson… and replace him with who? One of the other Bucs offensive staff members that has never called plays at the NFL level? Let me guess, anything is better than what we’ve seen? I’m not in love with Robinson, but nothing has really gone right either. Oline pass protection is suspect, guys are dropping balls on critical third downs. Baker’s decision making is poor, plus he got injured. We all expect Coen results, and yet in most cases he is the outlier. Changing play callers, who can’t replicate the offenses current scheme simply makes zero sense.
November 12th, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Honest question – do we have rights to his contract like a retired player? Or the fact that we hired him to a different position after he retired make that null and void??
Also, at a minimum, he owes this to us for sticking us with Bowels for so many years!!!!
November 12th, 2026 at 3:05 pm
bring in this ninja as the OC for the rest of the year…!
fcuk yesss!
#BAwillSaveTheBucsOffense
November 12th, 2026 at 3:06 pm
😳
November 12th, 2026 at 3:09 pm
if he doesn’t come back as bucs OC right now, then he knows the inside info on tom thumb’s throwing hand, more than we the public do…
if tom thumb’s hand is lame, he fully knows, and isn’t coming back…
if he knows by early december baker could be back to full throttle and cooking – hello BA!
November 12th, 2026 at 3:09 pm
It can’t be that challenging to learn. Tom Brady did it in 6 months during Covid where you could have limited contact between players and let’s be honest. I damn Publix bag boy could do better than Zach Robinson at this point. I mean we can’t throw the ball downfield at all. Anything is better than the offense we have going on right now.
November 12th, 2026 at 3:09 pm
this defense is superbowl ready
November 12th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
This is the best Buc news in a while. Remember BA loves Baker.
November 12th, 2026 at 3:17 pm
If your hope is Todd is let go and BA returns, here is who I feel might be potential competition for his services:
Jets, Texans, Colts, Chargers, Commanders, Eagles and Panthers.
Slightly possible Vikings, Cowboys and Cardinals.
If I am on the mark, I think he goes to the Chargers. Don’t know how good Herbert really is, but kid has a cannon.
But don’t think Baker is an impediment to anyone taking the job. The contract is no big deal after next year, which means a new coach with runway ahead of him can take him for a test drive and then make a decision. Sort of like the first time BA was here with Jameis
November 12th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
Marine beat me to it. Passing game coordinator. Why not?
Nutty professor again with context Free post. Why not engage doofus? I mean, even though we assume you’re not intellectually up to the task, an attempt might be a good idea. Wave those pom poms in your your diminutive “professor” brain and come up with something original.
November 12th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
Revive BA’s red pen. Have him come in on Friday’s look at the game plan — cross out 6-10 plays and give that many better plays.
How many more games would we have won with a red pen!
November 12th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Youngbuc. You need to go see where the defense was ranked
November 12th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Also of note, interesting that it happened on the bye week.
November 12th, 2026 at 3:43 pm
Baker needs a marriage with a proven offensive mind. Glazer of you don’t get on that phone right now and at least talk. I’ll consider it high treason to us fans.
November 12th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
Would Todd consider going back to DC in this situation?
November 12th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
Please, please, please bring back no risk it, no biscuit.
November 12th, 2026 at 3:56 pm
Yep, perfect idea……
Glazers work out deal with Arians for next season.
Ask Todd to take demotion back to DC and run it.
Todd got the defense playing as good as he ever had…..
Would be less pressure for him to handle offensive issues…
Arians comes in and revamps the offense back to the success….
Would love to see this!!!!!!
But no Byron Leftwich as OC!!!
November 12th, 2026 at 3:59 pm
Bring him. Todd would be able to help him develop his short and horizontal pass offense to perfection.
November 12th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
Will TB12 also be coming back? How about Gronk?
Bring back all the old war horses. Playoff Lenny and Lavante aren’t busy.
Mike Evans won’t be back of course because he prefers actual W’s over participation trophy L’s.
Leftwich will also need to be back as Bowles replacement once he retires.
That will be BA’s legacy of forcing both his coordinators on the Bucs to be failed HC’s.?
November 12th, 2026 at 4:12 pm
Next year after he has a top ten or higher draft pick.
Timing is everything and even though we have a highly paid starter take advantage of potential to draft a future starter.
Start Baker next year and let the new QB learn and settle into the NFL game.
Then in 2028 may the best man win the starting job.
If the new quarterback is playing well in 2028 try to trade Barker at the deadline.