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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense under defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has been a key ingredient to their success, especially during their Super Bowl run last season. Because of that, the Bucs did the right thing by rewarding Bowles with a new deal Wednesday.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Tampa Bay has given their defensive coordinator a new three-year deal.
Buccaneers are giving Todd Bowles a new three-year contract that continues to make him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive coordinator, per source. He did have one year left on his deal, but this contract replaces that, and doesn’t preclude him from taking another head coaching job.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 4, 2021
Bowles was a head coaching candidate last season and interviewed with the Eagles and Falcons for their head coaching vacancies back in January but those teams went a different direction. Another successful season defensively for the Buccaneers will almost guarantee Bowles’ name being brought up again for other head coaching positions following 2021.
Following Tuesday’s practice, head coach Bruce Arians talked about what Bowles beings to the team.
“I think it starts with individual teaching. He can pick guys out that he knows is going to help him and what their deficiencies are as far as learning or whatever,” Arians said. “How do they study film? He’ll bring them in at 5:30 in the morning individually, or maybe two or three, to teach them how to watch film. His expertise in defense is outstanding. He knows everything, he’s seen everything, he’s done everything. So the X-and-O part, that’s probably the easier part for him. It’s fitting all the pieces together on guys. What can this guy do, what can that guy do? Where can I create mismatches? Where can I get a guy on the easiest guy to beat on the offensive line? Breaking down protections and things like that. He does just a fantastic job of it.”