Bruce Arians talks Bucs’ succession plan, renewed focus on his health after ‘big wake-up call’

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Bruce Arians was ready to hand the reins of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to defensive coordinator Todd Bowles but only after he knew that Bowles had the right roster in place for him to succeed in his second stint as a head coach in the NFL.

"That was as a big thing when Tom [Brady] decided to come back," Arians told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "That was the trigger for me. It’s time to pass it on. Succession was huge for me. Todd got skipped in this hiring cycle. I didn’t like that.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers senior adviser and former head coach Bruce Arians, left, and new head coach Todd Bowles talk during Buccaneers training camp at AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, Florida, on July 29, 2022. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"We’re in a situation where he’s got a great staff, a great organization, good football team, great roster. I’m going to pass this on now. It was an easy decision for me. I think it shocked a lot of people, but I couldn’t be happier now. I have the best job in the world."

Arians announced that he was stepping away from coaching in March — making sure to note that the decision was not health related — just a few weeks after Brady announced his return to football after retiring just 40 days prior. He’s now enjoying his new role as a senior football consultant for Tampa Bay and thinks that the pieces are in place for Bowles to have a different result the second time around as a head coach.

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"The respect level in our building couldn't be any higher," Arians said when asked about what he’s seen from Bowles over the past several years. "And that’s all you can