Arians returns to head coaching ranks in Tampa BayArians returns to head coaching ranks in Tampa Bay
Football

Arians returns to head coaching ranks in Tampa Bay

Here's a look at all the latest news on Virginia Tech alums in the National Football League.  
 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced on Tuesday that Virginia Tech alum Bruce Arians will be the 12th head coach in that franchise's history.
 
Arians served as the Arizona Cardinals' head coach from 2013-17 before electing to retire at the end of the 2017 campaign. During those five years, the Cardinals posted a record of 49-30-1, making Arians the winningest coach in the history of a franchise that began play in 1920. Including his 12-game stint as an interim head coach in Indianapolis in 2012, during which his team went 9-3, Arians has an all-time head coaching record of 58-33-1 and an exceptional winning percentage of .636. He was named the NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Press in both 2012 and 2014, first with the Colts and later with the Cardinals.
 
Arians began his coaching career in 1975 as a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech after serving as a quarterback for the Hokies.

Tech has a pair of players still competing in the NFL Playoffs – Kendall Fuller (Chiefs) and Brandon Facyson (Chargers), while Eugene Chung and Keith Gray are coaching for the Eagles.
 
Saturday, January 12
 
Indianapolis at Kansas City – 4:35 p.m. ET
CB Kendall Fuller and the Kansas City Chiefs host the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round. The Chiefs are coming off a bye after securing the No.1 seed on the AFC, while the Colts are coming off a 21-7 win in the AFC Wild Card Game against the Texans.
 
Fuller looks to play a pivotal role in the matchup as he has had an astounding season for the Chiefs. On the season he tallied 82 tackles, 12 passes defended, one forced fumble and two interceptions.

Sunday, January 13
 
L.A. Chargers at New England – 1:05 p.m. ET 
CB Brandon Facyson and the No. 5 L.A. Chargers face the No. 2 New England Patriots. The Chargers defeated the Ravens 23-17 last week to advance to the divisional round of the playoffs. The Patriots are coming off their bye week that was given to them for earning a top two seed in their conference. Facyson saw five snaps at cornerback against the Ravens.

Philadelphia at New Orleans – 4:40 p.m. ET
The Eagles orchestrated another dramatic postseason comeback en route to a 16-15 victory over Kyle Fuller and the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Philadelphia needed a last-minute touchdown and a partially-blocked, game-winning FG try to go off the left upright and the crossbar for the Bears to preserve the victory. Eugene Chung serves as an offensive assistant for the Eagles, while Keith Gray is an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Eagles.

In other news on Tech alums in the NFL ranks ….

Seattle Seahawks
Richmond native Duane Brown and the Seattle Seahawks had their season came to an end as they fell to the Cowboys in last weekend's NFC Wild Card Game. Brown started all 16 games at left tackle and was second-team All-Pro selection.
 
Baltimore Ravens 
S Chuck Clark and the No. 4 Baltimore Ravens fell to the No. 5 L.A. Chargers 23-17 as their season came to an end. The Ravens finished the regular season with a 10-6 record and the winners of the AFC North.

Clark registered eight snaps at free safety against the Chargers and on the season, he finished with 20 tackles, one pass defended and one interception.
 
Chicago Bears
All Pro CB Kyle Fuller and the No. 3 Chicago Bears season ended as they fell to the No. 6 seed Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears finished the regular season 12-4, winners of the NFC North and with their best record since 2006.
 
Fuller had five tackles and one pass defended against the Eagles. Fuller finished the regular season tied for first in the NFL with seven interceptions to go along with his 55 tackles to go with 21 passes defensed. An All-Pro selection, Fuller will also represent the Bears in the Pro Bowl on January 27 in Orlando.