Bruce Arians could become Buccaneers' offensive play-caller in 2023 if Byron Leftwich leaves?

Many in the NFL community were shocked to learn in March that Bruce Arians was stepping down as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to become a senior advisor with the organization. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles was promoted to Arians' prior role. After all, it was Arians who made it clear earlier that same month while quarterback Tom Brady was "retired" that the club would not simply allow Brady to play for another team during the upcoming season. 

After Arians stepped down, he insisted that offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich deserved more credit for the success the Tampa Bay offense enjoyed over the previous two seasons. 

"I would anticipate him to be a head coach real fast," Arians said of Leftwich at that time. 

It appears Arians may already be preparing for Leftwich's departure. 

A piece published by the Joe Bucs Fan website on Friday explained that Arians has recently been "front and center behind the quarterbacks" during preseason practices and has been counseling primary backup signal-caller Blaine Gabbert as Tom Brady curiously remains away from the team.  

"Joe told Arians that he looked like a guy who missed coaching and wanted to get back into it," the piece notes. "Joe also told Arians that this story would be written – projecting Arians to be the Bucs' playcaller in 2023 if offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich gets a head coaching job. 

"Arians neither waved off the suggestion nor told Joe not to write the story." 

The story also said that "Brady might miss Arians' constant feedback and how Arians interacted with him" after the two were seen "talking more and more" on the practice field this summer before the seven-time Super Bowl champion began his 10-day absence. 

Publicly, the Buccaneers have more questions than answers regarding the 2022 season with Brady attending to undisclosed "personal" matters until further notice. It does, however, seem the figurative wheels may be in motion for Arians to possibly return to the sidelines for springtime workouts after the upcoming campaign ends.