Bruce Arians says he was around Buccaneers 'too much last year'

It sounds like Tampa Bay Buccaneers senior advisor Bruce Arians may not be as visible during summer practices as he was last year. 

"It’s his imprint now. It’s his footprint. And that’s the way it has to be," Arians said about head coach Todd Bowles at an Arians Family Foundation event, as shared by Ira Kaufman of the JoeBucsFan website. "And I think I might have been around too much last year. You know, I’m not going to be around that much this year on purpose because it’s his." 

Arians shocked members of the NFL community in March 2022 when he stepped down as Tampa Bay's coach, a decision that allowed the Buccaneers to promote Bowles from the role of defensive coordinator. However, it was learned in August that Arians was spotted "front and center behind the quarterbacks" during preseason practices.

It was suggested last summer that Arians could become the Buccaneers' main offensive play-caller if then-coordinator Byron Leftwich landed a head-coaching gig this offseason. That was before Arians confirmed he was hospitalized in October with myocarditis and before it was reported in November the 70-year-old "likely" won't return to the sidelines. 

Arians previously acknowledged he was "extremely unhappy" over coaching changes that involved Tampa Bay parting ways with Leftwich and five other assistants after the January playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Nevertheless, Arians vowed during Monday's event he will offer Bowles and general manager Jason Licht "whatever they need" throughout the summer and fall months. 

"But I’m going to step back and get out of the way," Arians added. 

Both Bowles and Licht could find themselves fighting for their jobs if the Buccaneers are involved in a so-called "soft tank" by Thanksgiving Day. Thus, it's understandable Arians wants to help but also doesn't want to become a distraction after all that Tampa Bay endured regarding Brady's off-the-field issues last season.