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Report: Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith signs extension

By John Buhler

Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith looks on prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith looks on prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly in the process of signing defensive coordinator Mike Smith to a contract extension.

This ride on the 2017 coaching carousel is getting stranger by the day. Four of the six head coaching vacancies have been filled and not one of them by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator and former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons Mike Smith.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the “Buccaneers agreed to terms on extension with DC Mike Smith.” This is fantastic news for the Buccaneers, as he had been instrumental in getting the Tampa Bay defense turnaround in 2016.

Smith is the winningest head coach in Falcons history and was a viable head coaching candidate for at least two jobs in this cycle. Some thought he’d be a great get with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before arriving in Atlanta in 2008, Smith was a strong defensive coordinator in Jacksonville for then head coach Jack Del Rio, specializing in the front-seven.

The other potential landing spot for Smith might have been the recently relocated Los Angeles Chargers. Smith is keen on his ability to win a locker room. One would have thought that Smith could have been the guy that would have aided in move from San Diego to Los Angeles for the Chargers.

Connecting the dots, does this mean former Buffalo Bills interim head coach Anthony Lynn gets the nod with the Chargers? If Smith didn’t want any part of the Chargers job, then Lynn and his supposed defensive coordinator in former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley looks awfully appealing for Los Angeles.

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Odds are that none of these head coaching gigs were good enough to pry Smith away from Tampa Bay. He gets to work alongside head coach Dirk Koetter for at least another season, as Tampa Bay pushes for playoff contention. It will be year three of Jameis Winston with the Buccaneers and another year that Smith can leave his mark on this improving Tampa Bay defense. By keeping Smith at bay, the Buccaneers may have won the coaching carousel after all.

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