Everything has escalated quickly for the Bucs and their coaching staff and front office in recent days. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen is back but assistant general manger John Spytek is on the move to Las Vegas to be the general manager of the Raiders while defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers is going to be the defensive line coach for the Lions. The Bucs might just lose their other defensive coordinator in Larry Foote, next.

According to a report from Fox NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Foote is expected to take an interview with the Lions for their defensive coordinator opening. The Lions, who have played the Bucs three times over the last two seasons, clearly have their eye on the Bucs after hiring Rodgers and talking with Foote, have a lot of holes to fill on their coaching staff. Their former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn took the head coaching job with the Jets while former defensive line coach Terrell Williams has moved to the Patriots and will has been given the position of defensive coordinator.

Larry Foote’s Coaching History

Larry Foote has many ties to the Detroit and Michigan area. He was born in Detroit and played his college football at the University of Michigan. While mostly known as a Pittsburgh Steeler having won two Super Bowls with them, he did play one season with the Lions over his 13-year NFL career, which also included one stop with the Cardinals.

Bucs OLBs coach Larry Foote and head coach Bruce Arians – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When Larry Foote became a coach, he started out as an assistant linebackers coach in 2015 working under Bucs Ring of Honor member Bruce Arians. He then was promoted to linebackers coach from 2016-2018, even for that one season when Arians retried. Foote followed Arians to Tampa when he became the Bucs head coach, moving to the role of outside linebackers coach and winning a Super Bowl together in 2020.

The 2022 season saw a big change for the Bucs as Arians stepped down to take a senior consulting position, making Todd Bowles the head coach. Larry Foote was moved to inside linebackers coach, which was his natural position, and was also promoted to passing game coordinator. This meant he was a co-defensive coordinator along with Rodgers, who was the run game coordinator.

In his coach career, Foote was at the helm getting to coach the likes of Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett when he was an inside linebackers coach along with Lavonte David, Kevin Minter, Devin White, SirVocea and others when he was coach of the inside linebackers.

This Is An Upgraded Chance For Larry Foote If He Leaves Bucs

So why would Larry Foote want to leave Tampa for Detroit, especially without Rodgers no longer on the Bucs? It’s still an opportunity to upgrade his overall status in the league. Todd Bowles still calls the defensive plays while being the head coach of the Bucs. The only opportunity Foote got to call plays was in the preseason when the games didn’t count.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles & Co-DC Larry Foote – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Even if he was promoted to the lone defensive coordinator position with the Bucs, he’d in the same spot he’s already in. If Larry Foote takes the job with the Lions as defensive coordinator, he will have the opportunity to call defensive plays while working with Dan Campbell. It would also already be established that it’s not a co-sharing role with Rodgers, with Foote taking on more responsibility.

There’s also a lot of appeal coaching this Lions defense. They went out early this postseason but that had to do with many injuries on the defensive side. By next season with everybody healed up, Foote gets to coach premiere edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson along with talented defensive backs Brian Branch and Terrion Arnold. That’s a tough opportunity to pass up.

It’s also a rough perspective from the Bucs, who struggled defensively last season. While a lot of the defensive coaches have gotten the blame, it was more towards outside linebackers coach George Edwards, cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross and safeties coach Nick Rapone. Foote and Rodgers didn’t get much criticism, especially Rogers with what the defensive did this year.

The Bucs are already without Rodgers and soon enough may no longer have Foote on the staff. It looks like they have to go back to the drawing board with a coaching search.