ESPN REPORT: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach is Being Fired Due to….
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.”
The team’s three home victories in the last two seasons, according to Licht, indicate that supporters “have been patient enough.” Licht stated he will take over as manager of the 53-man roster now that Smith is out.
Licht also stated that ownership made the choice, and he gave it credit for being patient and “not making an emotional decision.”
Smith was dismissed over the phone at his home, according to a report published on Thursday by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk provided some details on the procedure that resulted in Smith’s dismissal:
Despite Smith’s dismal (8-24) record with Tampa Bay, he turned around a floundering ship in 2014. The Buccaneers had a decline from 7-9 in Greg Schiano’s first season to 4-12 before coach was sacked following the 2013 campaign.
Although Smith’s first season as head coach was marred by his decision to start Josh McCown as the starting quarterback for an excessive amount of the game, his roster was essentially in flux from the outset. In 2014, he also made dubious remarks during a 2-14 season, including these after a Week 12 defeat.
