TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are counting on Lovie Smith to transform them into a championship contender.
The Bucs haven’t made the playoffs in six years and haven’t won a postseason game since a Super Bowl run in 2002 produced the franchise’s only NFL title.
The Glazer family that owns the team expects the drought to end with the hiring of Smith, a one-time Bucs assistant who was formally introduced Monday as the 10th head coach in club history.
Smith coached the Chicago Bears for nine seasons from 2004 to 2012, winning 81 games, three division championships, two NFC title game appearances and one Super Bowl berth.
And, he’s confident he can lead the Bucs back among the league’s elite.
