The conspiracy theory train is up and running tonight.
Tom Brady retired shortly after the Buccaneers lost 30-27 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, but much like the rumors that stated he would come back, he did exactly that in March with his return.
Now, at the end of the month, Bruce Arians has retired from coaching and stepping into a front-office position. Todd Bowles will take over as the new coach for the Bucs.
Soon after the news dropped, “Tom Brady to Miami” started trending on Twitter as many fans thought Brady would indeed be getting traded away.
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Arians told NBC Sports and the Los Angeles Times that he began thinking about making this move at the NFL Scouting Combine a month ago. He also thought about retirement following the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LVI victory in February 2021.
“I have spent most of the last 50 years of my life on the sidelines as a football coach in one form or another,” Arians said in his statement released by the team. “Today, I have made the decision to move from the sidelines into another role with the Buccaneers front office, assisting Jason Licht and his staff. I love football. I love the relationships, the strategy, the competition—everything. It has been one hell of a ride, but I know this is the right time for me to make this transition.”
There had been rumors that Arians and Brady’s relationship had soured over his tenure in Tampa Bay, but Arians noted that the two have a “great relationship off the field.”
“Tom was kind of the key,” Arians told NBC Sports and the L.A Times. “When Tom decided to come back … and all of these guys back now, it’s the perfect timing for me just to go into the front office and still have the relationships that I love.”
