Key Buccaneers defensive staffer returning to Tampa Bay in 2025

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be retaining a key piece of their defensive staff after interest from other teams around the league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker coach Larry Foote talks with the team at Nissan Stadium.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker coach Larry Foote talks with the team at Nissan Stadium. / Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
In this story:

Tampa Bay's 2024 season came to a screeching halt in the Wild Card round of the playoffs as the Buccaneers suffered a defeat to the Washington Commanders. While upsetting they couldn't make a deeper playoff run, there is plenty of optimism for what lies ahead in the future.

With the season complete, the Buccaneers have once again had to watch and wait to see what unfolded in the coaching carousel. One of the main moves came quickly as Liam Coen, the team's offensive coordinator this season, left the franchise for a head coaching opportunity with the Jacksonville Jaguars. While Coen was the hot name on the Bucs' staff for a promotion, there was also interest in other coaches including linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Larry Foote.

Foote, who has been with the Bucs since 2019 when Bruce Arians became the head coach, interviewed with the Detroit Lions for their open defensive coordinator position before they ultimately decided to stay in-house with the hire, promoting linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard. With the news breaking about a week ago, it likely meant that Foote would reprise the same role he's held with the Bucs since 2022, and that was officially confirmed by Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud.

READ MORE: Tristan Wirfs excited for future of Buccaneers offense under Josh Grizzard

Foote has spent time as the Buccaneers' outside linebackers coach, pass game coordinator and inside linebackers coach since coming into the organization and has been a great co-star next to Todd Bowles on the defensive staff. While the play of the defense has slipped the past couple of seasons, the bones are there and they will just need to get the right guys in the right positions for things to play out how they are supposed to.

Tampa  Bay Buccaneers pass game coordinator/ inside linebackers coach Larry Foote during NFC Practice for the Pro Bowl Games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass game coordinator/ inside linebackers coach Larry Foote during NFC Practice for the Pro Bowl Games. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Buccaneers' coaching staff has been raided the past couple of seasons, which means that they are doing something right. With Foote now garnering interest around the league for a promotion, don't be surprised if we start to see more and more of the staff leaving for other opportunities as we continue to move forward.


READ MORE: Mike Evans reveals thoughts on new Buccaneers offensive coordinator

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2024 season.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook

More Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

• Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield takes friendly jab at Liam Coen for taking Jaguars job

• Get to know new Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard

 What Peyton Manning had to say about Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield during Pro Bowl

• Buccaneers fans, pundits react to new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard


Published
Caleb Skinner
CALEB SKINNER

Caleb is from Nashville, TN and graduated from Florida State University in 2018 with majors in Sociology and History. He has previously written for an FSU outlet and started covering the Buccaneers in March of 2022. Caleb is an avid sports fan and former host of the Tribeoholics podcast. You can follow Caleb on Twitter @chsnole