Some Minute Ago: Lovie Smith Fired by Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After two unsuccessful seasons as head coach, Lovie Smith was let go by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday.
Joel Glazer, co-chairman of the group, shared the following statement on its official website:
Tom Pelissero of USA Today claims that the coaching staff of Tampa Bay was unaware that Smith would be let go. One Bucs coach was quoted by him as saying, “We are all in shock.” Josina Anderson of ESPN said that she had just spoken with staff members who “thought everything was fine.”
The day was “one of the toughest of his career,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht told reporters on Thursday. He also said he had “respect for [Smith] as a coach and a person.”
