Bucs' Bruce Arians on Retirement Rumors: 'Hell No, I'm Not Going Anywhere'

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistFebruary 8, 2021

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians holds up the Vince Lombardi trophy after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs 31-9 to win the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ashley Landis/Associated Press

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians left little doubt about his future plans following Sunday's 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.

"Hell no, I'm not going anywhere," he told reporters when asked about whether he was considering retirement. "I'm coming back and trying to get two."

As for how surreal winning a Super Bowl felt, Arians had quite the answer.

"I'd have to have been smoking something illegal to imagine this being possible," he told reporters.

Arians pointed out that the team always had Super Bowl aspirations and expectations, however:

Carmen Vitali @CarmieV
Bruce Arians: "It really wasn't that improbable when you think about what professionals these guys are." Said they started believing very early in the season and knew that they were going to be a tough out when they made the playoffs.

The Tampa head coach was also quick to praise quarterback Tom Brady and his coaching staff following the impressive win:

NFLonCBS @NFLonCBS
"This really belongs to our coaching staff and our players. This is your trophy." - Bruce Arians https://t.co/MbVxp2iFzn

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer
Bucs coach Bruce Arians on QB Tom Brady: "He played outstanding the whole ballgame." Mentioned the TD throws to Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski, and how Brady protected the ball.

James Palmer @JamesPalmerTV
“I think he got kind of tired of hearing how unstoppable they have been.” - Bruce Arians on Todd Bowles.

Carmen Vitali @CarmieV
Bruce Arians said he thought all three coordinators had great plans coming into this game.

Arians, his coaching staff and and specifically coordinators Todd Bowles (defense), Byron Leftwich (offense) and Keith Armstrong (special teams) were praised after the game outside of Tampa's locker room as well:

Ryan Clark @Realrclark25
Thank you Bruce Arians for showing the world that all 3 of your coordinators can be black, your assistant head coach can be black, you can have 2 full time women coaches and be the best team in the world. BA you’re a trail blazer. Leadership doesn’t have a look!

Clarence Hill Jr @clarencehilljr
Happy for Bruce Arians and his intentional diversity

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Torrey Smith @TorreySmithWR
After a disappointing hiring cycle in the NFL, let’s make sure we give Byron Leftwich, Todd Bowles, and Keith Armstrong their roses! Also, much respect to Coach Arians being who he is!

Much of the conversation after Sunday night will be about Brady's seventh title and his fifth Super Bowl MVP, and that's fair. He's the GOAT. But much of the win over the Chiefs came down to a dominant defensive performance, the Bucs controlling both lines of scrimmage and the coaching staff coming up with a brilliant game plan on both sides of the ball.

The Bucs outperformed the Chiefs in every possible facet. It was a full organizational triumph, with Arians leading the way. And next season, the head coach, quarterback and the rest of the remaining roster and coaching staff will look to repeat.

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