The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith are finalizing a contract for Smith to coach the Buccaneers.
Smith will replace Greg Schiano, who was one of many NFL coaches that were fired on Monday. The Buccaneers finished this season with a 4-12 record. In nine seasons with the Bears, Smith was 81-63, and led them to the Super Bowl in 2006, according to the Associated Press. The Bears fired Smith last year after going 10-6 and missing the playoffs for the fifth time in six years.
Working in Tampa will be nothing new for Smith. He was the Buccaneers linebackers coach under Tony Dungy. He would be Tampa’s third head coach in six seasons and the tenth coach in franchise history, according to the Florida Tribune. He will have an offense that was last in the league and a defense that is ranked 17th.
Schiano was hired by the Buccaneers last year. In two years with the team he had an 11-21 record during that time. Former Minnesota Vikings coach, who was also fired on Monday, will be the defensive coordinator for the Buccaneers.