Mike Smith Named Buccaneers DC: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added a key piece to their coaching staff Friday by hiring Mike Smith to be their new defensive coordinator.

The Bucs announced the move via their official website, and NFL Network's Rand Getlin provided a look at Smith's impressive resume:

Smith, 56, will replace Leslie Frazier, who was let go when the front office decided to fire Lovie Smith from his head coach position.

Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter was promoted to head coach Thursday, which paved the way for the hiring of Smith, with whom Koetter is extremely familiar.

Koetter was the Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive coordinator in 2007, while Smith served as the defensive coordinator. Then, while serving as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2012, Smith hired Koetter as his offensive coordinator.

A former assistant with the Baltimore Ravens and Jaguars, Smith most recently spent seven seasons with the Falcons. He went 66-46 overall, winning two division championships and making four playoff appearances. Atlanta nearly made the Super Bowl in 2012 before losing to the San Francisco 49ers 28-24 in the NFC Championship Game.

That would wind up being the peak for Smith's tenure, as the Falcons took a swift nosedive after that loss. They battled through a lost 4-12 campaign in 2013 and followed that up with a 6-10 campaign in 2014 that got Smith fired. 

While he sat out the 2015 campaign after his dismissal, Smith became a hot target for head coach and coordinator openings this winter. He impressed in Miami before the Dolphins hired Adam Gase and got an interview with the New York Giants when they began expanding their search, per the New York Daily News' Ebenezer Samuel.

Smith was ultimately unable to land a head coaching gig, but his track record suggests the Bucs made a great hire since he will bring the experience of a successful head coach to the coordinator spot.

The Buccaneers have a ton of young talent on offense including quarterback Jameis Winston, running back Doug Martin and wide receiver Mike Evans, but a consistent defense may be the biggest key to returning to playoff contention.

If Smith can provide that, then another head coaching gig may very well be in his future.