Buccaneers Head Coach Rumors: Bruce Arians, Jim Caldwell Among Targets

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are casting a wide net in their search for a new head coach for next season. 

Per SiriusXM NFL Radio's Alex Marvez, the Buccaneers have "legit" interest in interviewing Bruce Arians. Other candidates for the job could include Jack Del Rio and Jim Caldwell. 

In a text message to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Arians said he would listen if the Bucs called because he knows general manager Jason Licht. 

The Buccaneers announced Monday that they had relieved Dirk Koetter of his duties as head coach after a 19-29 record in his three seasons, including a 5-11 mark in 2018. 

Arians, 66, retired at the end of last season after spending five years as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. 

Speaking to the Canton Repository's Steve Doerschuk last month, Arians said the Cleveland Browns were the only team he would consider coming out of retirement for.

Caldwell has a 62-50 coaching record and four playoff appearances in seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions. The 63-year-old interviewed with the Green Bay Packers about their vacant head coaching job last week.

Del Rio spent 12 seasons as a head coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-11) and Oakland Raiders (2015-17). He went 1-3 in three combined playoff appearances with both teams. 

The Buccaneers' 11 seasons without a playoff appearance is the second-longest active drought in the NFL, only trailing the Cleveland Browns (16 seasons). They have only had two winning seasons since 2008.