Danny Smith Joins Buccaneers As Special Teams Coordinator

The winds of change are swirling in the NFL, and nowhere is that more apparent than in Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Tuesday that Danny Smith, one of the league’s most respected special teams coordinators, will be joining their staff, ending a 13-year tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This move comes just a week after Mike Tomlin’s high-profile resignation as head coach of the Steelers—a decision that has sent ripples through the coaching ranks and triggered a cascade of staff changes.

For Steelers fans, Danny Smith is more than just a name on the sideline. At 72, Smith boasts nearly five decades of coaching experience, including 29 seasons as a special teams coordinator in the NFL. Since 2013, he’s been a fixture in Pittsburgh, helping to shape some of the league’s most consistently effective units under Tomlin’s leadership. Now, he’s heading south to Tampa Bay, taking on a new challenge with the Buccaneers and reuniting with a franchise eager for a fresh start on special teams.

"Danny is one of the most respected and highly regarded special teams coaches in our league," Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles said in a statement released by the team. "He is an extraordinary teacher and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all areas of special teams. I am confident that he will get the most out of our players and take our special teams unit to the next level."

Smith’s hiring is the first move by the Buccaneers following a major coaching staff shake-up that left seven vacancies after the 2025 season. The search for a new special teams coordinator was competitive, with Smith emerging from a pool of five candidates interviewed over the past week and a half. His track record speaks volumes: before arriving in Pittsburgh, Smith served as special teams coordinator for Washington (2004-2012), Buffalo (2001-2003), and the Philadelphia Eagles (1995-1998), and even spent two seasons as tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions. Factor in his early years in the college ranks, and Smith brings nearly 50 years of football wisdom to his new post.

The Buccaneers’ decision to target Smith is hardly a surprise when you look at the numbers. Tampa Bay’s special teams struggled mightily in 2025, ranking 30th in both kickoff return average allowed and average opponent drive start after kickoffs. The Bucs also suffered five blocked kicks last season—three field goals and two punts—a stat that haunted their efforts in close games. In stark contrast, Smith’s Steelers units were models of consistency and discipline. Pittsburgh ranked eighth in the NFL in kickoff coverage (allowing just 25.2 yards per return), sixth in punt coverage (7.0 yards per return), and fifth in average opponent drive start after kickoffs (29.0-yard line) in 2025. Remarkably, the Steelers haven’t had a punt blocked since 2016 under Smith’s watch.

Smith’s impact in Pittsburgh extended well beyond the stat sheet. In 2024, his special teams group delivered across the board. Kicker Chris Boswell led the NFL with 41 successful field goals, while wide receiver Calvin Austin electrified fans with a punt return touchdown. The Steelers also blocked two field goals and one punt that season, further cementing Smith’s reputation for fielding aggressive, opportunistic units. Smith’s ability to develop talent has been evident: in the past three seasons, he coached two players to first-team Associated Press All-Pro honors—Boswell in 2024 and safety Miles Killebrew in 2023, the latter recognized for his prowess in blocking punts and making game-changing plays on coverage teams.

Boswell, who spent 11 years under Smith’s tutelage, has become one of the NFL’s premier long-distance kickers. His career success rate of 82.5% on field goals from 50 yards or more is second only to Tampa Bay’s own Chase McLaughlin (84.3%) among qualifying kickers. That kind of consistency and clutch performance is exactly what the Buccaneers hope Smith can help instill in their own specialists.

The timing of Smith’s departure from Pittsburgh is closely tied to the seismic changes following Tomlin’s resignation on January 13, 2026. The Steelers, anticipating a new era, informed their coaching staff they were free to pursue other opportunities. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Smith wasted no time in finding his next landing spot, becoming the first assistant from Tomlin’s regime to secure a new job. The Steelers are currently conducting in-person interviews with head coaching candidates, and it’s expected that the new head coach will have significant input on staff decisions. With Smith gone, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith reportedly fielding multiple interviews—including a recent request from the Los Angeles Chargers—the Steelers’ coaching landscape could look dramatically different by the start of the next season. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, on the other hand, has not attracted outside interest, a reflection of critics’ views that he failed to maximize one of the league’s most talented defensive rosters.

For Smith, the move to Tampa Bay represents both a fresh start and a formidable challenge. The Buccaneers are eager to erase the memory of a special teams unit that faltered in key moments last year. The hope is that Smith’s decades of experience, tactical acumen, and knack for player development will help turn things around. And with several other coaching vacancies still open—offensive coordinator, cornerbacks coach, safeties coach, defensive line coach, and quarterbacks coach—Smith will be part of a broader effort to reshape Todd Bowles’ staff and set the franchise on a new trajectory.

Smith’s journey through the NFL is a testament to his adaptability and staying power. From his early days in Philadelphia to his long run in Pittsburgh, he’s weathered the ups and downs of professional football with a steady hand and a teacher’s mindset. Now, as he takes the reins of Tampa Bay’s special teams, all eyes will be on how quickly he can make his mark—and whether his proven formula for success can help the Buccaneers climb back into contention in the ever-competitive NFC South.

With the Steelers bracing for more staff departures and the Buccaneers betting big on a proven veteran, the NFL’s annual coaching carousel is spinning at full speed. As the dust settles, both organizations are hoping their bold moves will pay dividends when the new season kicks off.