Tom Brady thanks 'true NFL legend and pioneer' Bruce Arians: 'It was a privilege to play for you'
In a shocking move Wednesday night, Bruce Arians announced he was stepping down as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The timing was especially surprising considering the reigning NFC South champions seemed poised for a great 2022 campaign after learning just a few weeks ago that Tom Brady was ending his short-lived retirement and coming back to the team.
Arians' decision to step down – combined with the brevity of Brady's retirement – has caused mass speculation about the quarterback's potential role in Arians' decision to walk away. At least publicly, though, Brady expressed gratitude for what Arians did for him and celebrated what they achieved in their two seasons together.
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"Thank you, BA for all that you have done for me and our team," Brady wrote in a post on Instagram. "You are an incredible man and coach, and it was a privilege to play for you. You are a true NFL legend and pioneer for all the work you have done to make the league more diverse and inclusive.
"Smart, tough, and loyal are a few of the words to describe your style. I will always remember the conversations we had when you recruited me two years ago and all of the things we discussed came true 💯. We all benefited from your leadership and guidance and I’m so proud of everything we accomplished. You were a huge part of the decision to join the Bucs and I’m forever grateful.
"I’m so happy you will spend the much-deserved time with your loving and supportive family that has given so much to our communities. Congratulations on an amazing coaching career but more importantly, how you positively impacted me and everyone else in the game of football ❤️❤️❤️"
Arians responded to Brady's post with a comment that read: "Thanks brotha 🥃"
In his statements announcing he was stepping down, Arians cited his desire to set successor Todd Bowles up with a successful team as a driving force in his decision – with Brady's return apparently playing a big role in that.
"I wanted to ensure when I walked away that Todd Bowles would have the best opportunity to succeed. So many head coaches come into situations where they are set up for failure, and I didn't want that for Todd," Arians said in a statement released by the team. "Tom's decision to come back, along with (GM) Jason (Licht) and his staff doing another great job of keeping the core of this team intact during free agency, confirmed for me that it was the right time to pass the torch to Todd."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tom Brady thanks Bruce Arians after Buccaneers coach steps down
