Bruce Arians Says He Has the Itch to Coach Again

Bruce Arians says he is interested in coaching in the NFL again after recovering from open-heart surgery, but he has not contacted teams or committed to a return.

The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach discussed his renewed interest in an interview with NFL insider Jordan Schultz. “Now that I’m all healthy again, I got the itch again,” Arians said. He added that he has more energy since surgery and that he would see what happens.

Arians, 74, said his health problems had left him with little desire to return. During his final season coaching Tampa Bay, he tore his Achilles and said the injury contributed to back pain that made it difficult to stand on the sideline for extended periods. He was also monitoring an aneurysm on his heart. He underwent open-heart surgery in February 2026 to repair an aortic aneurysm, according to reports of his comments.

Arians said he has not spoken with any NFL teams about a job. One account reported that he is targeting the 2027 hiring cycle, but he has not publicly committed to pursuing a position on that timetable. His comments leave open whether his interest will lead to a return.

He stepped down as Tampa Bay’s head coach after the 2021 season,...