NFL
Bucs’ head coach Bruce Arians tests positive for covid-19
While they have not had a full on outbreak in the team, Tampa Bay will be concerned as they have had a few players and staff go on the list over the last few days.
As covid-19 continues to lay siege to the league, the Bucs’ head coach is the latest to be sidelined by the virus
Bucs' Arians tests positive for covid-19
According to an official statement from the team on Tuesday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head coach Bruce Arians tested positive for covid-19. It is understood that Arians is currently isolating at home following the test result and is only known to be experiencing mild symptoms, including a cough. "I tested positive for COVID-19 this morning but have only experienced mild symptoms to this point," Arians said in a statement released by the Buccaneers.
Who steps in for the Buccaneers?
According to the Bucs' announcement, assistant head coach and run game coordinator Harold Goodwin will take on Arians' duties and responsibilities during this interim period. Speaking on the unfolding situation and subsequent appointment of Goodwin, Arians both complimentary and positive. "I have complete confidence in him and the rest of our coaching staff to prepare the team for this week's game against the Jets," Arians said. "I look forward to rejoining the team and being back in the facility as soon as I can test back in."
Bruce Arians' health has been a concern before
While Arians has thus far said that he is only experiencing mild symptoms, there has of course been a degree of increased trepidation surrounding the recent news. At 69 years of age, Arians has had a variety of health scares during his career, including a brush with prostate cancer 2007 and then later, a skin cancer diagnosis in 2013. The Super Bowl winning coach also saw a part of his kidney removed in 2017 due to renal cell carcinoma. Indeed, Arians was required to submit to a physical in order to determine his physical capacity to coach the Buccaneers before taking the job in 2019. He has not, however, had any health related setbacks since that time until now. Incidentally, Arians is the second member of the Bucs' coaching staff to test positive this week following wide receivers coach Kevin Garver who tested positive on Monday.
Who is Harold Goodwin?
In actuality Goodwin and Arians have worked together for quite sometime, since 2007 to be specific. At the time Goodwin was serving as the offensive line coach and quality control coordinator while Arians was the offensive coordinator during the pair's time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He would later depart together with Arians as both headed to the Indianapolis Colts, where he served as offensive line coach. Arians once again would serve as offensive coordinator and even had a stint as interim head coach. As if to punctuate the point Goodwin also worked as Arians' offensive coordinator when they worked with the Arizona Cardinals from 2013 to 2017.
What is the Bucs' covid-19 status?
While the Bucs have not been hit as hard as other teams in the league, the reality is they are certainly not free of it's effects. On Tuesday, Tampa Bay also announced that cornerbacks Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean had been placed on the reserve/covid-19 list, meaning that the Buccaneers have a total of seven individuals - including players and coaches - on the list. Should both Dean and Murphy-Bunting remain sidelined, the Bucs would be forced to resort to using veteran Richard Sherman and reserves Ross Cockrell and Carlton Davis as cornerbacks. At this point only time can tell.