When the Buccaneers gathered in the locker room for the final time following the 2016 season, the team’s defensive players were unsure of the fate of their leader and defensive coordinator, Mike Smith. A popular name for several head coaching vacancies, Smith was slotted to interview for a handful of positions, and the Bucs knew they could potentially be heading into 2017 with a third defensive play-caller in as many seasons.
On Friday, the Bucs announced that Smith had withdrawn his name from consideration for an outside head coaching position and signed a multi-year agreenement to remain in Tampa Bay.