The Buccaneers announced the firing of head coach Lovie Smith Wednesday night.
Smith had been the Buccaneers’ head coach for two years. This news comes as a surprise after the Bucs went 6-10 in 2015 while starting rookie quarterback Jameis Winston, the No. 1 pick in last spring’s draft. The Bucs went 2-14 in 2014.
“After careful consideration, we informed Lovie that we have decided to make a change,” Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement. “I want to thank Lovie for his hard work and dedication to the Buccaneers during his time here. This decision was difficult on a variety of levels. I am disappointed that we were not more successful these past few seasons, but we are committed to doing what is necessary to give our fans the winning team they deserve. As we move forward, General Manager Jason Licht will oversee the process for finding our next head coach.”
Smith, 57, was the head coach of the Bears from 2004-12.