Bruce Arians retirement presser: What he said about his relationship with Tom Brady, HOF candidacy, more

Bruce Arians retired as an NFL head coach Wednesday night, turning over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coaching duties to longtime friend and assistant Todd Bowles. Arians had an impressive head coaching career in the NFL that lasted eight seasons, which included five 10-win seasons and a Super Bowl title with Tampa Bay.

The winningest head coach in Buccaneers history, Arians had a .633 winning percentage (31-18) in his three seasons with the team — including an .833 win percentage in the playoffs (5-1). He finished with an 80-48-1 record (.624 win percentage) in his career with the Arizona Cardinals and Buccaneers. Including his 9-3 record as interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, Arians’ .635 winning percentage (89-51-1) ranks eighth among coaches who have coached at least 100 games in the Super Bowl era.

As Arians said farewell to head coaching in the NFL, there were plenty of notable quotes in his retirement presser. Here were a few highlights: 

On relationship with Tom Brady

“We have a great relationship. All the players, every one of them has gotten cussed out, including him. That’s just part of me. … People gotta write shit. It couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Brady also had a front row seat at the retirement presser.

On his Hall of Fame candidacy 

“I don’t give a shit about the Hall of Fame. Succession is way more important to me.”

Arians is the oldest head coach to win a Super Bowl at 68 years and 127 days. Arians is also the second-oldest head coach to win a NFL championship as George Halas remains the oldest coach to win a title at 68 years and 331 days when the Chicago Bears won the NFL Championship in 1963.

Five of the seven coaches ahead of Arians in winning percentage that coached 100 games in the Super Bowl era are in the Hall of Fame (counting Arians’ record with the Colts as well) — and the other two are still active (Bill Belichick and Mike…