When Bruce Arians retired from coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it shocked the NFL world.
He led the team to the Super Bowl in the 2020-21 NFL season.
However, he is calling it quits as head coach and moving to the front office for the team.
Taking over for him as head coach is defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
Bowles’ last coaching job was in 2018 with the New York Jets.
Arians and the Bucs moving to promote Bowles to head coach rarely happens in the NFL.
Most NFL teams look for coaches from outside their organization to take over leadership.
However, that changes with the move in Tampa Bay to promote Bowles.
A New Plan On An Old Concept
The concept of promoting coaches already established inside the team organization isn’t new.
It was something the Colts franchise did when Tony Dungy left the team.
They promoted Jim Caldwell from assistant head coach to head coach for the 2009 season.
So it isn’t new for a franchise to do something like this, but it is something that rarely happens in the NFL.
Also 0 of the 32 NFL head coaches to start the 2021 season were promoted from within. It's not a thing.
— We Want Dallas (@WeWantDallas) January 19, 2022
The reason teams rarely do this is because coaches that are promoted from within usually fail.
But that could change with the promotion of Bowles in Tampa Bay.
How Does Bowles Break The Mold Of Past Coaches That Have Been Promoted?
Bowles has many advantages over coaches from other teams that got promoted from within.
He has managed the team’s defense for four years.
The defense he put together in Tampa ranks as one of best in the league each year.
there were so many narratives about Todd Bowles after the Jets fired him — many questioning his abilities to lead. goes to Tampa Bay, revives the defense, wins a Super Bowl and now, once again, he’s a HC — this time, for the 🐐.
GOD’S PLAN >
— Ashley Nicole Moss (@AshNicoleMoss) March 31, 2022
He also has one of the best offensive powerhouses in the NFL.
With Brady and Byron Leftwich controlling the offensive side of things, Bowles can help break the mold of past promoted coaches.
Coaches promoted from within their teams took over failing teams.
Tampa Bay promoting Bowles gives him a team set and ready for a Super Bowl championship.
That gives him a leg up against the coaches of the past that failed in the NFL when they got promoted.
Bowles’ Success Will Determine If NFL Teams Start Hiring From Within
With Bowles’ second chance as a head coach in the NFL, he has a lot riding on him.
A successful season with Bowles with the Buccaneers can prove to teams that having a succession plan for coaches works.
However, if Bowles fails with his tenure in Tampa Bay, the hopes of others getting promoted from within goes down with him.
The weight is heavy for him to succeed in Tampa Bay.
But Brady and the Tampa Bay defense give him the best chance of success.
So he has a good team around him built for success for now and beyond.
Bowles needs to be a team leader for the players to trust and look to for advice.
The defensive players of the Buccaneers already trust Bowles.
He only needs to build that trust with the rest of the team.
If he can do all these things, his tenure as the Bucs coach will be successful.
NEXT: Todd Bowles Was Always Deserving Of Another Chance To Lead