The Bucs are losing yet another coach. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, longtime Tampa Bay special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong has informed the team that he is retiring.

#Buccaneers special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong has told the team he plans to retire, sources say.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 31, 2024

Armstrong joins Dave Canales, Brad Idzik, Harold Goodwin and Joe Gilbert as coaches from the 2023 division-winning staff who have now departed the team in some form or fashion.

Armstrong’s Career With The Bucs

Bucs ST coordinator Keith Armstrong and head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Armstrong joined the Bucs in 2019 as a part of former head coach Bruce Arians’ staff. Current head coach Todd Bowles retained Armstrong when Arians retired and he was promoted in 2022. Bowles retained Armstrong again in 2023 when he jettisoned a plethora of other assistants following a lackluster 8-9 season and an early exit from the playoffs.

Over his time with the Bucs, the team enjoyed one of its best runs of field goal kicking in team history. Matt Gay, Ryan Succop and Chase McLaughlin combined to convert 140 of their 165 field goal attempts (84.8%) over Armstrong’s five years with the team.

Outside of the kicking game, though, special teams was a struggle over Armstrong’s tenure. Tampa Bay’s kick coverage unit was historically bad at times. In addition, their return game has been sporadic as the team struggled to find a consistent returner. Under Armstong, Tampa Bay gave returns to the likes of Bobo Wilson, Kenjon Barner, Jaelon Darden and now Deven Thompkins.

Pro Football Focus had the Bucs’ special teams unit ranking 29th, 30th, 27th, 29th and 26th in each of Armstrong’s seasons at the helm.

Bucs Have A Possible In-House Replacement Following Armstrong’s Retirement

Former Bucs S Keith Tandy – Photo by: Mark Lomoglio/PR

Assistant special teams coordinator Keith Tandy is well-respected in Tampa Bay stemming back to his days as a player and has been in his current role for the last four years. It may behoove the team to seek out an external hire due to the struggles the unit has experienced in recent years, but Tandy could be an in-house option.

The search for Armstrong’s replacement is just the latest coaching search for the Bucs’ brass to take on. The big priority will be filling their offensive coordinator vacancy, as that would be the first step in filling out the offensive coaching staff that now needs a new wide receivers coach, offensive line coach and run game coordinator in addition to the offensive coordinator role itself.

The 2024 season was already going to be a big one for Bowles as he is just 17-17 through two regular seasons as Tampa Bay’s head coach and has a 1-2 record in the postseason. Now, the head coach is looking at entering that season with a staff full of new faces.