The Buccaneers could be in the market for a new head coach and possibly a new general manger in the near future.
Those potential vacancies won’t be filled by former Bucs coach Tony Dungy.
In a conversation with BHSN’s Adam Kohler, Dungy indicated he is content with his work as a television analyst for NBC’s Football Night in America, and a return to coaching, specifically for the Buccaneers, is not something he’d be interested in.
“No, I really wouldn’t,” said Dungy when asked if he could envision himself working for the Buccaneers as a GM or coach. “I hope they don’t have to make those changes, but for me, it was 28 years in football. I had a great time when I was doing it, I just moved on to another lifestyle and another set of goals.”
Dungy may not be interested in coaching the team that unceremoniously fired him after the 2001 season, but he does have some advice for their current head coach.
“You have to continue to do what you believe in,” said Dungy regarding Greg Schiano’s coaching style. “Do what you do, just do it a little bit better. There’s always going to be pressure, ‘Change this, try something different.’ That can’t happen.”
While Schiano’s methods haven’t produced any wins this year, Dungy doesn’t believe a shift in his coaching philosophy will do anything to help the situation.
“I don’t think you can really change as a coach,” said Dungy. “What got him here were those methods and that’s what he believes in. You’ve just got to get the players to believe in.”
But 24 games into the Greg Schiano era, it’s apparent that time is running out on the former Rutgers head coach. After all, the Buccaneers fired Dungy after three straight playoff appearances.
Schiano is headed for the same fate, but unfortunately for the Buccaneers, the circumstances couldn’t be more different.