As soon as Bruce Arians shockingly announced he was stepping down as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tom Brady speculation started up. Did Brady give the Buccaneers an ultimatum before unretiring: It’s either Bruce or me?
Not likely, based on the lovefest between Brady and Arians on social media Wednesday night. And certainly not if the reporting of the Tampa Bay Times is accurate.
Tom Brady effusive in praise of Bruce Arians
After Arians’ announcement, Brady took to Instagram to thank the head coach in pretty affectionate terms.
“Thank you, BA for all that you have done for me and our team. You are an incredible man and coach, and it was a privilege to play for you. You are a true NFL legend and pioneer for all the work you have done to make the league more diverse and inclusive.
“Smart, tough, and loyal are a few of the words to describe your style. I will always remember the conversations we had when you recruited me two years ago and all of the things we discussed came true 💯. We all benefited from your leadership and guidance and I’m so proud of everything we accomplished. You were a huge part of the decision to join the Bucs and I’m forever grateful.
“I’m so happy you will spend the much-deserved time with your loving and supportive family that has given so much to our communities. Congratulations on an amazing coaching career but more importantly, how you positively impacted me and everyone else in the game of football ❤️❤️❤️.”
Was this sincere or an orchestrated act?
Arians responded in the comments: “Thanks brutha.”
Now, skeptics will say this orchestrated, and Arians’ very late decision to quit — only after Tom Brady retired and then unretired — means little. That Brady would have never come back unless he knew Arians was out.
But it also would seem very out of character for the Buccaneers organization to throw Arians overboard for just one more season of Brady. A far more plausible explanation is that Arians knew things would run smoother if Todd Bowles, and not he, was on the sidelines in 2022. But that would make the decision his, and not the Buccaneers’ (and by extension, Brady’s), to step aside.
That theory seems to have some support based on the reporting of the Tampa Bay Times. In a tweet, Rick Stroud said, “Bucs QB Tom Brady was informed Bruce Arians planned to step down and Todd Bowles would succeed him as head coach either the same day or a day after the QB announced he was ending his retirement, the Tampa Bay Times has learned. Team insists it was not related to Brady’s decision.”