Former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith, who didn't coach in 2013 after being fired last year, is already being considered as the favorite for the head coaching vacancy in Tampa Bay.
Former Bears HC Lovie Smith is considered the favorite for the Buccaneers HC job, based on multiple league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2013
Smith spent five years in Tampa Bay as a linebackers coach under head coach Tony Dungy.
Writes Jason La Canfora with CBSSports.com:
Numerous Bucs and league sources have pointed to former Bears head coach Lovie Smith, a onetime Tampa Bay assistant, as a frontrunner to land the Buccaneers head coaching job, with former Bucs exec Rich McKay returning to the team as a team president. After helping the Falcons secure a new stadium in Atlanta, sources say McKay could get out of his deal without major complications.