New Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith has outlined his intention to make the team "relevant" again by reverting to their former style of football.

Smith was unveiled as head coach yesterday, making his return to the team where he spent five years as an assistant to Tony Dungy.

The 55-year-old believes that he helped lay a good base for the side during his first spell with them and is keen to return to that philosophy this time around.

"We did lay a foundation for Tampa Bay Buccaneer football. There's a certain brand of football that you expected from us," Smith told reporters.

"That would be relentless, you play hard, physical, but there was a brand of football that you did get from us each week at Raymond James Stadium. It was hard for opponents to come in and win.

"We have gotten away from that a little bit. And it is time, as we go to the future, for us to become a relevant team again."

The Buccaneers have not reached the playoffs since 2007.