The Buccaneers lost a trainer who worked with new head coach Lovie Smith when Smith was an assistant in Tampa earlier in his career and they’ve replaced him with one of Smith’s colleagues from Chicago.
Bobby Slater has left the Bears after 15 years to become the director of sports medicine and performance in Tampa. Slater was the director of rehabilitation and an assistant trainer in Chicago, but jumped to the Bucs after longtime trainer Todd Toriscelli left to join the Titans after 17 years with the Bucs.
“I was fortunate to spend a few years here in Tampa with Todd during my first stint with the Buccaneers and I know he is a true professional and a very well-respected member of the league’s medical community. I wish him all the best in his new role with the Titans,” Smith said in a statement from the Bucs. “I also believe we are very fortunate to have the opportunity to bring Bobby here to work with our players. I have a deep respect for the work Bobby did during my time with him at the Bears. I witnessed first-hand his expertise and attention to detail in working with the players and I know he will provide our Buccaneers players with great medical care.”
Toriscelli is replacing Brad Brown in Tennessee, giving the organization their first new trainer since Brown joined the Houston Oilers in 1987.
