We can chalk up at least one part of the pretty-much-broken Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise that will improve in 2026.
Or, at least, no more touchbacks on purpose because the kickoff coverage teams are so bad and can’t tackle anyone inside the 35-yard line.
“Bucs hired Danny Smith as their new special teams coach,” Tampa Bay Times NFL reporter Rick Stroud wrote on X on Tuesday. “Smith, 72, has been the Steelers special teams coordinator since 2013 and now takes that role with the Bucs.”
Smith is one of the most well respected assistant coaches and coordinators in the NFL.
“The Buccaneers are hiring veteran special teams coordinator Danny Smith, sources tell me,” NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo wrote on his X account. “Now 50 years into his coaching career, Smith is still going and still considered one of the best in the biz. On to Tampa for the 72-year-old, gum-chewing Smith.”
Smith came on the market when his boss, head coach Mike Tomlin, resigned on January 13 after 19 seasons.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers informed all of Mike Tomlin’s coaches that they won’t be retained unless the new head coach rehires them,” Steelers Update wrote on its official X account. “The team is encouraging Tomlin’s coaching staff, including OC Arthur Smith, DC Teryl Austin and STC Danny Smith to pursue other opportunities as they search for a new head coach. All coach contracts will expire at the end of February.”
Smith is known in NFL circles for not only being great at his job but for chewing massive amounts of Bazooka bubble gum.
“I can confirm Bucs are hiring Danny Smith as special teams coordinator,” Fox Sports NFL Reporter Greg Auman wrote on X. “He’s 72, has coached 31 years in NFL, including 13 years at Steelers’ STC. Coached at Dan Marino’s high school in Pittsburgh when he was QB there in 1977. Chance for major improvement for Tampa Bay in 2026.”
Bucs Special Teams Bottomed Out in 2025
Of all the low points the Buccaneers hit during the 2025 season as they went 8-9 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019, special teams stood out. Head coach Todd Bowles fired special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey after 2 seasons as part of a massive staff purge.
” … On special teams, the Bucs sought to potentially make a move in-season with McGaughey in Year 2, but the team stuck with him, believing it did not have a replacement on the roster,” ESPN’s Jenna Laine wrote. “So, late in the season, with the division on the line, Bowles said they opted to kick touchbacks and automatically have their opponents start at the 35-yard line because their coverage units performed so poorly.”
For a relatively under the fold headline of hiring a special teams coordinator, getting Smith is a massive step in the right direction.
To put it lightly, Steelers fans were upset at losing Smith.
“NO PITTSBURGH LOST MY GOAT,” RotoWorld’s Luke Sawhook wrote on X.
“One the very few coaches that should have stayed,” Steelers fan 2 Mini Hulk wrote on X. “SMH”
“The only coach that deserved to stay,” Steelers fan Coach Mike Ri wrote on X.
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