Charlie Strong is making his way back to the big leagues. After spending the 2023 season as an analyst at Alabama, the former Texas Longhorns and Louisville Cardinals head coach has secured a role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirmed that Strong has been hired as a defensive line coach, marking his return to professional football.
Charlie Strong Joins Buccaneers’ Coaching Staff
Strong previously worked with the Jacksonville Jaguars under Urban Meyer. Following Meyer’s short-lived NFL experiment, Strong took on the role of co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Miami before joining Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama.
His experience at both the collegiate and professional levels made him an appealing candidate for Tampa Bay’s coaching staff.
The Buccaneers are replacing Kacy Rodgers, who left this offseason to take the defensive line coach role with the Detroit Lions. Strong will inherit a talented position group featuring Pro Bowler Vita Vea and 2023 first-round pick Calijah Kancey.
South Florida is a familiar territory for Strong. He previously served as the head coach at the University of South Florida (USF), where he led the Bulls to a 10-2 season in 2017, earning a spot in the AP Top 25. However, his tenure ended on a disappointing note, as the team finished 4-8 in 2019, leading to his dismissal.
Before his time at USF, Strong was best known for his successful tenure at Louisville. He guided the Cardinals to a 23-3 record over his final two seasons, including a major Sugar Bowl upset over the Florida Gators in 2012. His leadership and defensive expertise earned him the Texas Longhorns’ head coaching job, but his time in Austin was far less successful.
Texas Longhorns Journey and NFL Opportunity
Strong’s tenure at Texas was widely criticized. He took over in 2014 but failed to meet expectations, finishing with a 16-21 record over three seasons before being fired. Since then, he has taken on various assistant coaching roles in college and the NFL.
His most recent stint at Alabama was part of Saban’s well-documented practice of hiring experienced coaches as analysts. While it was not a front-line coaching role, it kept Strong involved at the highest level of college football and positioned him for a return to the pros.
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Tampa Bay’s coaching staff has undergone significant changes this offseason. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen unexpectedly left to become the head coach of the Jaguars, adding to the instability.
Strong’s hiring is part of an effort to stabilize the defensive side of the ball under head coach Todd Bowles, who continues to serve as the team’s de facto defensive coordinator.
Strong’s role with the Buccaneers will be crucial as they attempt to maintain a strong defensive presence in the NFC South. With veterans like Vea and young talent like Kancey, he has the tools to make an impact. The question remains whether he can translate his experience into success at the professional level.
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