Tom Brady's retirement from the Buccaneers could cause a seismic shift for that organization.
According to a report from the Pro Football Network, Bruce Arians has informed his staff that they are free to explore outside opportunities for 2022, even if they are lateral movements.
That could be of interest to the Steelers, who have some openings on Mike Tomlin's coaching staff.
One, in particular, that could interest Tomlin would be former Steelers linebacker Larry Foote. Foote has spent the past three seasons coaching the Bucs linebackers.
The Steelers have an opening for an outside linebackers coach following the retirement of Keith Butler last week. Butler, the Steelers defensive coordinator, also coached the team's outside linebackers.
Prior to joining the Bucs, Foote spent four seasons on Arians' staff coaching inside linebackers with the Cardinals.
Foote spent 13 seasons in the NFL, including 11 in two different stints with the Steelers, helping the team win the Super Bowl in 2005 and 2008 and reaching another in 2010.
A fifth-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2002, Foote appeared in 187 career games. He spent the 2009 season with the Lions before returning to the Steelers in 2010 and finished his career in 2014 with the Cardinals.
Foote isn't the only member of Arians' staff with ties to the Steelers. Assistant head coach/run game coordinator Harold Godwin began his career as a coaching assistant with the team from 2007 through 2011 before becoming offensive line coach of the Colts in 2012. He then joined Arians in Arizona as his offensive coordinator.
Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich also spent four seasons -- 2008 and 2010 through 2012 -- as a backup quarterback with the team. Leftwich is a finalist for the head coaching job with the Jaguars.
Offensive assistant A.Q. Shipley began his playing career with the Steelers, while defensive/special teams assistant Cody Grimm is the son of former Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm.
