The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a clear statement on fixing their decades-long special teams issues this offseason by turning to experience, hiring longtime NFL assistant Danny Smith as their new special teams coordinator. For a team that struggled in that phase of the game last season, fixing the small but costly mistakes that often decided close games was a clear need heading into the offseason.

Smith arrives in Tampa Bay with one of the most accomplished special teams résumés in the league. At 72 years old, he brings nearly 30 seasons of NFL experience as a special teams coordinator, most recently spending 13 years in the same role with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His units were rarely flashy, but they were consistently disciplined, physical, and effective.

The numbers back that up. In 2025, Smith’s Steelers units ranked eighth in the NFL in kickoff coverage and sixth in punt coverage, limiting explosive returns and forcing opponents to drive longer fields. Pittsburgh also finished with the fifth-best average opponent starting field position after kickoffs, a critical metric that reflects how often special teams quietly tilt the field in a team’s favor.

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Beyond coverage, Smith’s units developed a reputation for making game-changing plays. Since 2021, the Steelers led the NFL in total blocked kicks, a product of detailed preparation and aggressive but controlled schemes. Just as importantly, Pittsburgh rarely hurt itself. The Steelers went nearly a decade without allowing a blocked punt, an area where Tampa Bay struggled last season.

Smith also has a long track record of developing elite special teams players. Under his guidance, Miles Killebrew emerged as one of the league’s premier core special teamers, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2023 after consistently impacting games with blocks, tackles, and coverage plays. Smith also oversaw the continued rise of kicker Chris Boswell, one of the most reliable specialists in the NFL and a multiple-time All-Pro.

That level of consistency stands in stark contrast to where the Buccaneers found themselves in 2025. Tampa Bay ranked near the bottom of the league in kickoff coverage and opponent starting field position, and allowed multiple blocked kicks that directly swung momentum in games. Too often, the Bucs were forced to overcome poor field position or sudden breakdowns in a phase that should be routine.

For head coach Todd Bowles, the hire represents an effort to stabilize one of the roster’s weakest links. Even marginal improvement in special teams efficiency could have a noticeable impact on Tampa Bay’s ability to control games – as just a middle-of-the-pack unit likely grants the Buccaneers 2 more wins in 2025 instead of multiple game meltdowns.

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Smith is not known for gimmicks or headline-grabbing schemes. What he brings is structure, experience, proven ability to maximize the margins – and a whole ton of bubblegum. If Smith’s history in Pittsburgh is any indication, Tampa Bay’s special teams may not suddenly become flashy, but they should become reliable.

And in the NFL, reliability in the hidden third phase of the game often makes the difference between winning and losing on Sundays.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs hiring Danny Smith as special teams coordinator