A little stability, please.
Now that the Bucs are coach-shopping, again, it should be time to think long-range. It should be time to think about patience. It should be time to think about building. Most of all, it should be time to ask again whether the Glazers, as owners, have enough patience for the National Football League.
The Bucs are about to hire their fifth coach in the past eight seasons. Only three teams have hired more (six). A coach doesn’t come here to retire, in other words. He comes here with a last chance in mind. None of the last four coaches the Bucs have fired have gotten another head coaching job in the league.
If you look at Tampa Bay’s history, it isn’t that bad. The Bucs have been through 10 coaches in their 40 seasons, which is an average of four years a coach. That’s less turnover than the Raiders (16), the Falcons (15), the Bills (14), the Lions, 49ers and Colts (13), the Jets and Chiefs had 12. The Saints also had 12, counting the two they went through in the year of Sean Payton’s suspension). Interim coaches are included.
But since the Bucs let go of Jon Gruden in 2008, the team can’t seem to find a guy worth keeping. Raheem Morris got three years. Greg Schiano got two. Lovie Smith got two. Only the Raiders, Browns and 49ers have six. Only their lack of interest in interim coaches keeps their number looking realistic.
At this point, something is happening too quickly: the hirings or the firings. The Bucs had to hire Morris because he had an interview and they didn’t want to lose him. They settled for Schiano after missing on Chip Kelly. Then Lovie, who had reached a Super Bowl in Chicago, seemed like the answer.
Compare that to, say, Pittsburgh, which has had three head coaches over those same 40 seasons. They have had one since 2008.
Is the answer stability at the top? Of course it is. Look at the teams that have not changed coaches since 2008: New England, Cincinnati and Green Bay. You can find them in the playoffs.
In other words, the Bucs need to find a coach who can last this time.
Otherwise, we’ll all meet here in two years.
