Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Dirk Koetter will return as the Buccaneers’ head coach in 2018.
- According to Stroud, Buccaneers’ ownership informed Koetter Friday afternoon that he will not be fired despite the team’s poor 2017 season.
- Stroud adds that one of the reasons for the Buccaneers keeping Koetter as their head coach include the shoulder injury QB Jameis Winston dealt with this year that ultimately him forced to miss three games.
- Adam Schefter has confirmed the news.
Indications have been that the Buccaneers were likely to move on from Koetter after the season and possibly bring back Jon Gruden as head coach. However, it looks like Koetter will get another year to show what he can do as the team’s head coach.
This makes you wonder if Gruden informed the Buccaneers that he plans to remain at ESPN, which led to them to shift gears and tell Koetter that his job was safe.
Koetter, 58, began his NFL coaching career as the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator back in 2007. After five years in Jacksonville, he was hired as the Falcons’ offensive coordinator and later joined Lovie Smith’s staff in the same role for the 2015 season.
The Buccaneers elected to move on from Smith after one season and made the decision to elevate Koetter to head coach.
During his two years as the Buccaneers’ head coach, Koetter has led the team to a record of 13-18 (41.9 percent) and no playoff appearances.
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