Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Lovie Smith may have mutual interest
By Josh Hill
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers said yesterday that the job of head coach Greg Schiano was safe, but after a 42-17 thrashing against the New Orleans Saints, the tides have changed and not only is Schiano out, but general manager Mark Dominik was fired as well. But Bucs fans won’t get too hung up on Schiano as they’ve finally rid themselves of his gap-toothed fury and are looking ahead to who will lead the coach next.
For months now, fans have been kicking around the name of Lovie Smith and now that Schiano is officially gone, Jason La Canfora is jumping on rumblings he’s hearing about there being possible mutual interest between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Lovie Smith.
Several people close to Lovie Smith had told me in recent days that if the Tampa job opened up, it would have a particular allure to him...
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) December 30, 2013
Smith was on Tony Dungy’s staff back in the early 2000s and made his name in Tampa before becoming the head coach of the Chicago Bears. This has led to speculation that a Lovie Smith-Jay Cutler reunion could happen in Tampa but first that Buccanneers would need to get Smith on as their head coach.
It’s a distinct possibility, not only because of the history Smith and the Bucs share, but because Lovie’s laid back style goes completely against the Schiano dictatorship that was just overthrown. Nothing is imminent at the moment, but Lovie Smith returning to Tampa Bay is more than just something to ponder this Black Monday.