The Tampa Times reported over the weekend that the Buccaneers paid $500,000 to Rutgers University to cover part of new Bucs coach Greg Schiano's buyout, via ProFootballTalk.com.
Rutgers spokesperson E.J. Miranda confirmed the payment to the newspaper in an email.
The Bucs hired Schiano, who spent the last 11 seasons as Rutgers' head football coach, to replace Raheem Morris after the team finished 4-12 in 2011.
Schiano's contract with Rutgers wasn't set to expire until Dec. 31, 2016. Because he left before then, he was required to pay the school $500,000, per the terms of his contract, according to the newspaper.