Tampa Bay Bucs Head Coach Bruce Arians Positive For COVID-19

Tampa FL

28 December, 2021

6:12 PM

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TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians will sit out week 17 of regular season play after testing positive for COVID-19. Arians is isolating at home after testing positive for the coronavirus Tuesday. In his absence, the team's assistant head coach and run game coordinator, Harold Goodwin, will step up as interim head coach, the Bucs shared on social media. Tampa Bay is scheduled Sunday to take on the Jets in New York. In a statement, Arians said he tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday morning and had "only experienced mild symptoms" as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the team's website. He expressed support for Goodwin taking over the team while he's out sick. "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." The 69-year-old has a history of health issues prior to his time with Tampa Bay, ESPN reported. In 2007, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and skin cancer in 2013. A renal cell carcinoma diagnosis in 2017 led to part of his kidney being removed. Before Arians was hired, the Bucs required him to undergo a physical to ensure he was healthy enough for the job, reports said. The former Arizona Cardinals coach joined Tampa Bay in 2019. He's the second member of the Buccaneers' coaching staff to test positive for the virus this week, Sports Illustrated reported. Wide receivers coach Kevin Garver has been out sick since Monday. The Buccaneers said it also has five players on its COVID-19 reserve list: wide receiver Jaelon Darden, cornerback Jamel Dean, wide receiver Mike Evans, cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches. Earlier this month, two Tampa Bay players — wide receiver Antonio Brown and safety Mike Edwards — were suspended by the National Football League for violating the league's COVID-19 protocols.