The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired defensive line coach Lori Locust, the NFL’s only female defensive coach on Thursday.
The team announced the decision three days after the Buccaneers lost to the Cowboys, 31-14, in the wild-card round on Monday night. She was among a handful of coaching changes made in Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers also fired five other assistants, including offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. The front office made sweeping changes after a disappointing 8-9 regular season and another early playoff exit.
Locust played as a semi-pro defensive lineman for the Central PA Vipers before retiring and going into coaching. She joined the Buccaneers in 2019 and two years later became one of the first female coaches to win a Super Bowl.
After getting fired, Locust took to Twitter with optimism: “Sometimes it’s all that needs to be said…appreciate @buccaneers @KacyRodgers99 Coach Bowles, the staff, the players and the Krewe…been an amazing start here in Tampa…looking forward to what’s next.”
Other coaches let go by Tampa Bay were specialist Chris Boniol, wide receivers coach Kevin Garver, offensive quality control coach Jeff Kastl and running backs coach Todd McNair.
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