Report: Buccaneers DC Mike Smith signs extension
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Mike Smith is staying in Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers defensive coordinator drew interest for head coaching vacancies, but took himself out of the running for the Los Angeles Chargers' top job before signing an extension to stay with Tampa Bay, a league source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The move would mark the second year in a row the team has retained a hot coordinator. Last season, the Bucs feared losing then-offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter to another team, but instead promoted him to head coach.
Koetter and Smith helped guide Tampa Bay from 6-10 and last place in the NFC South in 2015 to 9-7 and on the brink of the playoffs this season.