Former Virginia Tech quarterback Bruce Arians leads Tampa Bay to Super Bowl win

At the end of the long and grueling football season, a Virginia Tech Hokie sits atop the mountain as a Super Bowl champion.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by former Virginia Tech quarterback Bruce Arians, defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV to become world champions for the second time in franchise history.

The story of the game was legendary quarterback Tom Brady winning his seventh Super Bowl ring — and first with the Buccaneers.

Brady was outstanding, but a lot of credit should also go to the defense and defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles. Bowles’ defense features a pair of former Hokies in prominent roles.

Nick Rapone is in his second year as safeties coach for the Bucs. Rapone was a college teammate of Arians at Virginia Tech back in the mid-1970s. Rapone was instrumental in the development of outstanding rookie safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Grimm, an All-ACC linebacker for the Hokies back in 2009, is a defensive and special teams assistant for the Buccaneers.

Former Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster mentioned all three coaches after the game.

For the 68-year-old Arians, this is a terrific story. He becomes the oldest coach ever to win a Super Bowl. He won two rings as an offensive coordinator and assistant. Arians coached the Arizona Cardinals for five seasons before retiring after the 2017 season.

He missed the game and returned to the sideline with Tampa Bay in 2019.

In 2020, Tampa Bay signed Brady and the rest was history.

Arians has always spoken of his love for Virginia Tech and his win — is a win for all Hokies on this night.

Congratulations to Bruce Arians, Nick Rapone, and Cody Grimm.