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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has agreed a new multi-year contract extension with the team, it has been announced.
Bowles, who has spent three of his six seasons with the Bucs as head coach after initially joining as defensive coordinator, was entering the final year of his previous $3million contract in Tampa Bay.
Yet this week the 61-year-old has extended his stay even further after putting pen to paper on an extension, with ESPN reporting that his new agreement is for three seasons.
As well as Bowles, general manager Jason Licht is also said to have been handed a new multi-year deal.
'Jason and Todd's excellent leadership and vision have been critical to our organizational success, and the winning culture they have established has us well positioned into the future,' Buccaneers owner and co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement on Thursday.
'Jason has evolved into one of the top talent evaluators and general managers in the NFL, while Todd has led us to three consecutive division titles and is one of the league's leading defensive minds.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has agreed a new multi-year contract extension
'Under their guidance, we will continue building towards another championship.'
Both Bowles and Licht, the NFL's fifth longest-tenured GM who is preparing to enter his 12th season, have played a key part in Tampa Bay's recent revival, which started with a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LV.
The Bucs have owned the NFC South since then, winning four straight titles - three of which have come under Bowles after he was promoted by Licht from DC to head coach following the retirement of Bruce Arians in early 2022.
In his three years at the helm so far, the former defensive back has amassed a 27-24 record while making it as far as the Divisional round of the playoffs.
And in his stints both as a DC and head coach, the team's defense has ranked amongst the NFL's best since 2019, leading the league in rushing defense (93.8 yards per game), opponent yards per carry (4.0), and fumble recoveries (68), while placing second in sacks (281.0) and fifth in red zone efficiency (53.8 percent).
'I am excited to continue working with Jason for years to come as we build on the success we've enjoyed and keep reaching for even bigger and better goals,' Bowles said after extending his stay with the Bucs.
'My family loves Tampa and we're looking forward to delivering more great moments for our fans in the coming seasons.'
Licht, meanwhile, said: 'I am very grateful to the Glazer Family for the trust and belief they have shown in what we are doing here. I am also very excited to continue working alongside Todd well into the future as we continue our mission of finding and developing talented players and chasing additional championships for our fans.'
