(via Tampa Bay Buccaneers Communications) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that Bruce Arians has been named the 12th head coach in franchise history.
Arians is a two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year, earning the award in 2012 (Indianapolis Colts) and in 2014 (Arizona Cardinals). He is the only coach in NFL history to earn the award multiple times in a three-year span with different teams and is one of only 12 coaches in NFL history to win the award multiple times.
“Bruce Arians is one of the NFL’s most well-respected coaches over the past two decades and we are excited to have him leading our team. Throughout this process, we focused on finding the right coach with a proven ability to elevate our players and lead our team forward. Bruce has played a large role in the development and career success of some of our league’s best players and we look forward to seeing him continue that work here with our franchise,” said Buccaneers Owner/Co-Chairman Bryan Glazer.
Prior to arriving in Tampa, Arians spent five seasons as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals (2013-17) in addition to a 12-game stint as interim head coach for the Indianapolis Colts (2012), compiling a regular season record of 58-33-1. During that 92-game stretch Arians was a head coach, his 58 wins ranked fourth in the NFL, trailing only Bill Belichick (73), Pete Carroll (63) and Mike Tomlin (59).
Throughout his 25-year NFL career, Arians has worked closely with some of the league’s top passers including Pro Bowlers Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck and Carson Palmer. As an offensive play-caller, Arians has directed top-10 offenses with three different teams (Arizona, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh) over the last nine seasons of his coaching career.
During his time in Arizona, the York, Pennsylvania native compiled a 49-30-1 regular season record (.619 winning percentage). The Cardinals’ 49 wins during that span were the seventh-most in the NFL and the third-most in the NFC. Arians won 50 total games in Arizona (49 regular season, one postseason), finishing his time there as the winningest coach in franchise history. His 49 regular season wins are also the most by any coach in Cardinals history.
Arians posted three seasons with double-digit wins as the head coach of the Cardinals, including tying the then-franchise best with 11 in 2014. The following season, Arizona established a new franchise record with 13 wins, which also featured the team’s first-ever postseason bye and second-ever appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
Under Arians, the Cardinals offense set several single-season team records, including points scored (489 in 2015), total touchdowns (59 in 2015), total net yards (6,533 in 2015) and first downs (373 in 2015). Arians also helped coach individual players to some of the best seasons of their careers. In 2015, Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer set franchise records for passing yards (4,671), passing touchdowns (35), yards per attempt (8.70) and passer rating (104.6) en route to a Pro Bowl selection. In 2016, running back David Johnson established new team records for rushing touchdowns (16), total touchdowns (20) and yards from scrimmage (2,118), while leading the NFL in total touchdowns and yards from scrimmage. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald posted the top three seasons for receptions in Cardinals history under Arians and ranked third in the NFL in catches during that span.
Arians came to Arizona after spending the 2012 season with Indianapolis. Hired as the team’s offensive coordinator, he also served as the team’s interim coach for 12 games while head coach Chuck Pagano was treated for leukemia. He led the Colts to a 9-3 record and was selected as the 2012 AP NFL Coach of the Year. Indianapolis’ nine-win improvement (2-14 to 11-5) matched the third-largest single-season turnaround in NFL history.
Arians helped the Colts’ offense rank 10th in the NFL in yards (362.4 ypg) and seventh in passing yards (258.0 ypg). Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck – the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft – made the Pro Bowl and set rookie records for passing yards (4,374) and 300-yard passing games (six). He also established the NFL single-game rookie record for passing yards (433, 11/4 vs. Miami). Luck finished with the then-third-most passing touchdowns by a rookie in NFL history, with 23.
Prior to his time with the Colts, Arians spent eight seasons with the Steelers, five as offensive coordinator (2007-11) and three as the wide receivers coach (2004-06). During his tenure as the offensive coordinator, the Steelers had a 55-25 record, tying Green Bay for the second-best mark in the NFL during that span. Pittsburgh won three AFC North Division titles, two AFC Championships and earned a victory in Super Bowl XLIII over the Cardinals. Arians was also part of the Steelers’ Super Bowl XL win as the team’s wide receivers coach.
Under Arians’ guidance, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger put together some of the best seasons in team history, establishing a then-franchise record with 32 touchdown passes in 2007, recording a then-team record 4,328 passing yards in 2009 and registering a career-high and Steelers-record 104.1 passer rating in 2007. Roethlisberger earned his first career Pro Bowl selection in 2007 under Arians.
In 2009, the Steelers’ offense became the first team in NFL history to have a 4,000-yard passer (Roethlisberger), two 1,000-yard receivers (Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Rashard Mendenhall) in the same season.
Before joining the Steelers, Arians spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2001-03). He joined Cleveland after spending three seasons with the Colts as the team’s quarterbacks coach. Working with offensive coordinator Tom Moore, Arians helped tutor Peyton Manning during his first three seasons in the league and helped him earn Pro Bowl berths in 1999 and 2000.
Arians’ first NFL job was with the Kansas City Chiefs, working as the team’s running backs coach for four seasons (1989-92). There he helped Christian Okoye to two Pro Bowl selections (1989, 1991). Arians also spent the 1996 season as the tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints.
Arians’ coaching career began as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, in 1975, before being elevated to running backs coach in 1977. He spent 1978-80 with Mississippi State as the school’s running backs/wide receivers coach before coaching the running backs at Alabama for two seasons (1981-82) under legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Arians would later return to Mississippi State (1993-95) and Alabama (1997) to serve as the offensive coordinator for the respective schools. He became one of the youngest head coaches in Division I history when Temple University hired him in 1983 at the age of 30. He spent six seasons coaching the Owls (1983-88).
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Arians grew up in York, Pennsylvania, and played quarterback at Virginia Tech. He and his wife, Christine, have two children – son, Jake, and daughter, Kristi Anne, as well as a granddaughter, Presley and a grandson, Aiden.
Arians’ NFL HEAD COACHING CAREER
Year Team W L T Pct. Playoffs
2012 Indianapolis Colts* 9 3 0 .750
2013 Arizona Cardinals 10 6 0 .625
2014 Arizona Cardinals 11 5 0 .688 0-1
2015 Arizona Cardinals 13 3 0 .813 1-1
2016 Arizona Cardinals 7 8 1 .469
2017 Arizona Cardinals 8 8 0 .500
TOTALS 58 33 1 .639 1-2
*As an interim head coach, the NFL attributed all results to head coach Chuck Pagano.
ARIANS AT A GLANCE
YEARS HEAD COACH
1972-74 Virginia Tech, Player Charlie Coffey/Jimmy Sharpe
1975-76 Virginia Tech, Graduate Assistant Jimmy Sharpe
1977 Virginia Tech, Running Backs Jimmy Sharpe
1978-80 Mississippi State, Running Backs/Wide Receivers Bob Tyler/Emory Bellard
1981-82 Alabama, Running Backs Paul “Bear” Bryant
1983-88 Temple, Head Coach
1989-92 Kansas City Chiefs, Running Backs Marty Schottenheimer
1993-95 Mississippi State, Offensive Coordinator Jackie Sherrill
1996 New Orleans Saints, Tight Ends Jim Mora/Rick Venturi
1997 Alabama, Offensive Coordinator Mike Dubose
1998-2000 Indianapolis Colts, Quarterbacks Jim Mora
2001-03 Cleveland Browns, Offensive Coordinator Butch Davis
2004-06 Pittsburgh Steelers, Wide Receivers Bill Cowher
2007-11 Pittsburgh Steelers, Offensive Coordinator Mike Tomlin
2012 Indianapolis Colts, Offensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach Chuck Pagano
2013-17 Arizona Cardinals, Head Coach
2019- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Head Coach
Notable Players Under Arians
John Abraham
· Pro Bowl Selection (2013)
Budda Baker
· First-team AP All-Pro (2017) · Pro Bowl Selection (2017) · PFWA All-Rookie Selection (2017)
Justin Bethel
· 2x First-team AP All-Pro (2013, 2015) · 3x Pro Bowl Selection (2013-15)
Antonio Brown
· Pro Bowl Selection (2011)
Calais Campbell
· 2x Second-team AP All-Pro (2014, 2016) · 2x Pro Bowl Selection (2014-15)
Alan Faneca
· First-team AP All-Pro (2007) · Second-team AP All-Pro (2008) · 3x Pro Bowl Selection (2007-09)
Larry Fitzgerald
· 4x Pro Bowl Selection (2013, 2015-17)
David Johnson
· First-team AP All-Pro (2016) · Pro Bowl Selection (2016)
Chandler Jones
· First-team AP All-Pro (2017) · Pro Bowl Selection (2017)
Andrew Luck
· Pro Bowl Selection (2012)
Peyton Manning
· 2x Pro Bowl Selection (1999-2000)
Tyrann Mathieu
· First-team AP All-Pro (2015) · Pro Bowl Selection (2015) · PFWA All-Rookie Team (2013)
Heath Miller
· Pro Bowl Selection (2009)
Christian Okoye
· First-team AP All-Pro (1989) · Second-team AP All-Pro (1991) · 2x Pro Bowl Selection (1989, 1991) · AFC Offensive Player of the Year (1989)
Willie Parker
· Pro Bowl Selection (2007)
Carson Palmer
· Second-team AP All-Pro (2015) · Pro Bowl Selection (2015)
Patrick Peterson
· 2x First-team AP All-Pro (2013, 2015) · 5x Pro Bowl Selection (2013-17)
Maurkice Pouncey
· First-team AP All-Pro (2011) · Second-team AP All-Pro (2010) · 2x Pro Bowl Selection (2010-11)
Ben Roethlisberger
· 2x Pro Bowl Selection (2007, 2011)
Mike Wallace
· Pro Bowl Selection (2011)
Hines Ward
· Second-team AP All-Pro (2004) · Pro Bowl Selection (2004)
Reggie Wayne
· Pro Bowl Selection (2012)
Offensive Milestones Under Arians
Arizona Cardinals
· Most points scored in a season in team history (489 in 2015). · Most yards gained in a season in team history (6,533 in 2015). · Most touchdowns scored in a season in team history (58 in 2015). · Most passing touchdowns in a season in team history (35 in 2015). · Most first downs in a season in team history (373 in 2015). · Most passing first downs in a single season in team history (237 in 2015).
Pittsburgh Steelers
· Then-most passing touchdowns in a season in team history (34 in 2007). · Then-highest passer rating in a season in team history (99.9 in 2007). · Then-highest completion percentage in team history (65.5 in 2009). · Then-highest third-down conversion rate (46.8 percent in 2007).
Larry Fitzgerald
· Most receptions in a season in team history (109 in 2015 & 2017). · Led NFL in receptions (107 in 2016)
David Johnson
· Most rushing touchdowns in a single season in team history (16 in 2016). · Most touchdowns in a single season in team history (20 in 2016). · Most yards from scrimmage in a single season in team history (2,118 in 2016). · Led NFL in total touchdowns (20 in 2016). · Led NFL in scrimmage yards (2,118 2016).
Peyton Manning
· Led NFL in passing yards (4,413 in 2000). · Tied for NFL lead in passing touchdowns (33 in 2000).
Carson Palmer
· Most passing touchdowns in a season in team history (35 in 2015). · Most passing yards in a season in team history (4,671 in 2015). · Highest passer rating in a season in team history (104.6 in 2015). · Highest yards per attempt in a season in team history (8.70 in 2015). · Led NFL in yards per attempt (8.7 in 2015).
Christian Okoye
· Then-most rushing yards in a season in team history (1,480 in 1989). · Led NFL in rushing yards (1,480 1989).
Ben Roethlisberger
· Highest passer rating in a season in team history (104.1 in 2007). · Then-most passing touchdowns in a season in team history (32 in 2007). · Then-highest completion percentage in a season in team history (66.60 in 2009).
NFL Leaders In Winning Percentage (2013-17)
Rk Team Wins
1. New England Patriots .788 (63-17-0)
2. Seattle Seahawks .681 (54-25-1)
3. Kansas City Chiefs .663 (53-27-0)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers .663 (53-27-0)
5. Carolina Panthers .644 (51-28-1)
6. Denver Broncos .638 (51-29-0)
7. Arizona Cardinals .619 (49-30-1)
8. Green Bay Packers .594 (47-32-1)
9. Cincinnati Bengals .588 (46-32-2)
9. Philadelphia Eagles .588 (47-33-0)
NFL Head Coaches From Week 5, 2012-Week 17, 2017
Rk Coach (Team) W-L
1. Bill Belichick (New England) 73-19
2. Pete Carroll (Seattle) 63-28-1
3. Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh) 59-33
4. Bruce Arians (Arizona/Indianapolis) 58-33-1
5. Ron Rivera (Carolina) 57-34-1
6. Mike McCarthy (Green Bay) 56-35-1
7. Andy Reid (Philadelphia/Kansas City) 54-38
8. Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati) 53-37-2
Most Wins In Arizona Cardinals Franchise History
(Including Postseason)
Rk Coach (Years) Wins
1. Bruce Arians (2013-17) 50
2. Ken Whisenhunt (2007-12) 49
3. Don Coryell (1973-77) 42
4. Jim Hanifan (1980-85) 39
5. Charley Winner (1966-70) 35
5. Jimmy Conzelman (1940-42, 46-48) 35
Most Regular Season Wins In Arizona Cardinals Franchise History
Rk Coach (Years) Wins
1. Bruce Arians (2013-17) 49
2. Ken Whisenhunt (2007-12) 45
3. Don Coryell (1973-77) 42
4. Jim Hanifan (1980-85) 39
5. Charley Winner (1966-70) 35
(PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES)