Todd Bowles Would Survive 6-11?

June 14th, 2025

Imagine the horror of the Bucs entering their Week 18 home game against the Panthers this season with a 5-11 record.

Fans already would have set social media ablaze after a ruined holiday season.

Nearly every Bucs fan would be in disbelief over how a loaded roster with experienced coaches and a franchise QB landed in the NFL sewer. The calls to fire Todd Bowles would be a relentless chorus day after day on sports radio.

Somewhere on the streets of Jacksonville, Liam “El Serpiente” Coen would be snickering his ass off.

For the sake of this hypothetical, give the Bucs a home “W” to finish the season 6-11.

That record is good enough to guarantee a Bowles return for 2026, says Sage of Tampa Bay Sports Ira Kaufman, the venerable JoeBucsFan.com columnist.

That’s what Kaufman told WDAE radio on Friday evening.

“Now look, if [Bowles] crashes this year, then he’ll be in trouble in 2026, as he should be,” Kaufman said. “He’s not getting fired. I don’t care what happens; I don’t think the Glazers would fire him this year even if they go 6-11.”

That was a somewhat fascinating take considering Kaufman said, as of now, he’s thinking the Bucs are an 11-win team that should win a playoff game.

Bowles’ job security has been a debate on the Ira Kaufman Podcast on and off for months. Ira and one of the Joes are convinced Bowles would survive a bad 2025 season like 6-11; the other Joe thinks they’ve lost touch with reality.

Joe is confident the Bay area would be in mourning if the Bucs limped their way to a 3-5 record at their Week 9 bye. In that scenario, an actual six-win season would mean the Bucs never snapped out of that funk following the bye. In fact, they would have played worse.

Could Bowles really survive such a horror show?

61 Responses to “Todd Bowles Would Survive 6-11?”

  1. Dewey Selmon Says:

    When did Kyle Trask become the starter?

  2. Beejezus-belt Says:

    Only, only, if Mayfield is lost for am extended period of time, like at least half the season. I believe this team is on the verge, which I really hate that feeling because they usually let me down. The only other OUT this could possibly be is Gizzard dropping a deuce on the season. If the defense lets this team down no way Bowles could, or should survive.

  3. Woodman Says:

    Where’s Aqualung l am sure he has a comment.

  4. ModHairKen Says:

    Nah. He’d be gone.

  5. Woodman Says:

    No comment!

  6. JimBobBuc Says:

    What if the Bucs win a Super Bowles, would Bowles be extended? What if Grizz’ offense is #1 in the league, who would the new OC be? Too many what ifs to be worth my time.

  7. FilthyAnimal Says:

    You’d really have to look at the circumstances. If they lost key starters for extended periods of time, but still were fighting out there every week, you’d have to look at the whole picture. If we lost Mayfield and Wirfs, for instance, and the offense struggles, is that really on Todd? It’s all about how well he adjusts to whatever circumstances they face. You can’t really say this or that record gets him fired…. But, I’ll say this, if they’re basically healthy and struggle to 8-9, he’s in trouble.

    Barring severe injuries to key starters, 6-11 is not happening.

  8. Durango 95 Says:

    He likely would only have only 6 wins if last year’s offense was equal to last year’s defense. So, if the Glazers were to keep him after 6 wins this season would it really be all that surprising. Since effectively they have done that already.

  9. Statguy Says:

    6-11 and Gruden is back next season

  10. Defense Rules Says:

    I don’t understand why Ira even brought up the possibility of Bucs going 6-11. Clearly the Sage believes that we’ll win 11 games. We’ve got a potentially awesome team and the 6th easiest schedule in the NFL … in a division that’s been struggling for several years. And oh ya, this team is hungry.

    Like Filthy Animal ends with, I suppose 6-11 is possible with ‘severe injuries to key starters’, but that’s not a road I want to travel. If that happens, it happens, but none of us know how our depth players will respond when they jump in there to replace them. Much prefer though to keep a positive outlook than to run ‘to the dark side’.

  11. Erik with Pilot and Driver™ Says:

    The only way we could finish 6-11 is if Baker was injured for most of the season.

  12. Tony Says:

    I really didn’t think Todd would last this long.

  13. gotbbucs Says:

    Would totally depend how the team was playing. If they’re blowout losses, he’s gone. If it’s due to injuries and the team is still fighting, then unfortunately they would probably keep him.
    He’s one of the lowest paid head coaches in the NFL, so for the Glazers the incentive to keep or fire is low either way. They make these decisions on the feel around the team.

  14. BucsFanSince1996 Says:

    FilthyAnimal Says:
    But, I’ll say this, if they’re basically healthy and struggle to 8-9, he’s in trouble.
    —————————————————————————————

    ^^^^^I agree with this.

    With the O-line, RB’s TE’s, and WR’s the Bucs have, Terry Bradshaw could come out of retirement at age 76 and win 6 or more games. 😉

  15. Saskbucs Says:

    Hahahaha

    I agree with Filthy Animal and the Joe standing alone. Would need a lot more information than just the record though.

    This roster is loaded! If the Bucs stay healthy and win less than 10 games, miss the playoffs or bow out round 1, Bowles has to be gone. It would mean that the in game management and conservative approach hasn’t improved and/or there is too much complacency sunk in. Loving the player coach is great but it doesn’t always get the best results and the writing would be on the wall at that point.

  16. FilthyAnimal Says:

    Statguy Says:
    June 14th, 2025 at 7:50 pm

    6-11 and Gruden is back next season

    Why do people keep trying to resurrect Chucky. Outside of his first season with us, he was totally mediocre (at best)… and, as a reminder, his regular season winning percentage as Bucs coach is lower than Todd’s… Just sayin’.

  17. FilthyAnimal Says:

    Durango 95 Says:
    June 14th, 2025 at 7:49 pm

    He likely would only have only 6 wins if last year’s offense was equal to last year’s defense. So, if the Glazers were to keep him after 6 wins this season would it really be all that surprising. Since effectively they have done that already.

    That concoction makes exactly zero sense.

  18. Brian in St Pete Says:

    I think, as far as Bowles’ job security, any record must be seen in the proper context. Let’s say for instance that in TC or in the preseason, God forbid, Mayfield, Evans, Vea, Wirfs, and Winfield all go down with long term injuries and Godwin never comes back right, Lavonte and Reddick take a step back, etc etc. 6-11 may not hurt him whereas if everyone is healthy and he just makes coaching mistake after coaching mistake, he’d be in trouble. Context matters.

  19. FortMyersDave Says:

    If Bowles went 6-11 with a healthy Baker and an offense which puts up 23 points a game plus and his soft D lost several games or if his time clock/game management burns them again he should get launched. If a scenario happened where Baker got hurt along with Bucky and Evans then a 6 dash 11 under Trask would likely be construed not to be Bowles fault and he would be safe unless the injuries happened late in games that are already decided (like what happened to Godwin and Winfield last season), then Bowles should be held accountable….

  20. FilthyAnimal Says:

    Brian in St Pete Says:
    June 14th, 2025 at 8:15 pm

    Context matters.

    100%

  21. Dom Says:

    Something very bad would have had to happen for this team to go 6-11. They should go at least 5-1 in division play alone. Too much talent on this team combined with a great locker room

  22. Durango 95 Says:

    FilthyAnimal Says:
    June 14th, 2025 at 8:13 pm

    Durango 95 Says:
    June 14th, 2025 at 7:49 pm

    He likely would only have only 6 wins if last year’s offense was equal to last year’s defense. So, if the Glazers were to keep him after 6 wins this season would it really be all that surprising. Since effectively they have done that already.

    That concoction makes exactly zero sense.
    —–

    Now you know what I thought when I read this. No wonder people think you are an idiot.

    FilthyAnimal Says:
    June 14th, 2025 at 7:32 pm

    If we lost Mayfield and Wirfs, for instance, and the offense struggles, is that really on Todd?

  23. Joe Says:

    I don’t understand why Ira even brought up the possibility of Bucs going 6-11.

    Of course, there is the distinct possibility he was asked.

  24. FilthyAnimal Says:

    Durango 95 Says:
    June 14th, 2025 at 8:26 pm

    Now you know what I thought when I read this. No wonder people think you are an idiot.

    Check yourself before you wreck yourself. 🤣

  25. Durango 95 Says:

    FilthyAnimal Says:
    June 14th, 2025 at 8:39 pm
    Durango 95 Says:
    June 14th, 2025 at 8:26 pm

    Now you know what I thought when I read this. No wonder people think you are an idiot.

    Check yourself before you wreck yourself. 🤣
    ——

    Lol. You know you really suck at this. It’s the internet, people are going say things you don’t agree with. Yesterday you had a hard time dealing with something that Joe wrote and now this . Maybe you should go outside get some fresh air. Call Dr. De Respino (his number is on this website) he can probably help with your low T issues as well. Toughen up butter cup.

  26. Gipper Says:

    I Baker stays healthy, this team is 12-5 in 2025. The caveat is if the defense is just middle of the pack, which incidentally, is a big improvement over the horrid defense of the last couple of years. Fully expect a mediocre defense in 2025 with Bucs playing in 2025 NFC Championship. Don’t know beyond that but remain cautiously hopeful.

  27. Mayhem41 Says:

    Zero chance Todd isn’t fired after 6 win season. Outside of Mayfield going out early for the season, no way. May be the dumbest statement ever made by Ira (If he said that).

  28. Cybetsecurity_intern Says:

    Bowles should have been fired two years ago but here we are. So who knows…….

  29. ManzielMadness Says:

    The only way I see him surviving 6-11 is if we have horrible luck with injuries.

  30. GoneGator Says:

    Relatively speaking, I find it much more likely we go 12-5 (or better) than 6-11.

    Since we’re speculating, is Todd’s job secure if that happens?

  31. Dewey Selmon Says:

    Every team in the NFCS finished 3-3 in the division, the Bucs go 3-8 non division while the rest of the NFCS goes 0-11. Bucs win the NFCS 6-11 the world loses it’s sheet when the Bucs have a home playoff game and Bowels gets an extension.

  32. Sapp 2 Fundamentally Sound Says:

    I would make the bet that Bowles job security would be in more jeopardy with a 8-9 or 9-8 record than a 6-11 or 5-12 record next year.

    With the overall talent level from top to bottom of the entire organization this teams floor is 10-6 IMO. Bowels can’t regress. Last years team was horribly decimated by injuries on both sides the ball and we still won 10 games. We have more talent/depth this year so we should win more games & I believe we will.

    The doomsday scenario with only winning six games or less this year would be losing almost all offensive skill position players and over half of the starting offensive line. If something drastic like that were to happen then Todd would be more likely giving a pass.

    I think we go 11-6 and make some noise in the playoffs winning another 2 games gaining valuable experience/confidence moving forward. Go Bucs!

    On another note…there is a Good football game on right now UFL Championship.
    Buccaneers Super Bowl Champion kick returner Jaydon Mickens is making plays big catch and runs on offense. Good game so far . Good football

  33. Hearty Dikerson Says:

    He would need to be fired.

    If it was the D that was responsible for the poor record, he’d obviously have to pay the price.

    If it was the O that was responsible, it would show how much offensive coordinators matter, and would (should) force the Glazers’ hand to stop the revolving door and find a good offensive mind to lead the team.

  34. HC Grover Says:

    Bowles will win between 8 and 10 games. As usual.

  35. Aqualung Says:

    Reality is, Todd is one heroic Anthony Nelson strip fumble on Chuba Hubbard from being on the faculty at Temple University.

  36. FilthyAnimal Says:

    Durango 95 Says:
    June 14th, 2025 at 8:52 pm

    Call Dr. De Respino (his number is on this website) he can probably help with your low T issues as well. Toughen up butter cup.

    Wow. You’ve got the maturity of a 13 year old apparently.

  37. FilthyAnimal Says:

    Durango 95 Says:
    June 14th, 2025 at 8:52 pm

    It’s the internet, people are going say things you don’t agree with. Yesterday you had a hard time dealing with something that Joe wrote and now this

    Right, it’s the internet, and when someone says something I don’t agree with or that I think is retarded, this is the place to express disagreement.

    Like your idiotic formulation that somehow Bowles was a 6-11 coach already because the defense was poor, so the Glazers somehow have already approved of 6-11. What kind of dumfookery is that?

  38. adam from ny Says:

    i’d say the culture is really great in tampa right now…

    i don’t think the glazers “crash out” and “pull the plug” if the record somehow reverses itself this year
    (i have us at about 11-6 for the season)…

    i’m guessing they stay the course for a bit…

    but…

    i could see them having an unexpected early to mid season 2026 season, pull the plug type move, if sh!t would continue to go haywire into the following season…

    but i’d say the ship is on a pretty steady course right about now, and team glazer would probably let it ride for the next 20-25 games of this season and the next one…

    and yes i know they don’t really do mid season canings…but if the 2026 season is potentially circling the drain – yep they could certainly send coach packing…

    otherwise, coach should be sitting on an ice cool seat for more than a minute…

    but if chucky is sitting tight and waiting in the wings, you just never know

  39. adam from ny Says:

    also…

    come to think of it…

    bowles might be in the same exact situation dungy was in before chucky’s arrival…

    bowles might be able to put the team together and bring them to a certain point, but then the chuckaneer comes in and brings them over the top…

    just a thought…

    however, dungy had no offense – and that’s why chucky was called upon…we happen to seemingly have a top 5 offense right about now – so that’s not really the issue…

    if we stay away from major team injuries, and coach gets his D back up to par…we should be realtime contenders and the vibe should be free flowing

  40. Aqualung Says:

    Adam – therein lies the irony. Here we have a defensive guru running the team but also running the defense, so he’s only got half as much time for each that the competition has. And then, his defense – his alleged expertise – has been a flailing Gomer Pyle. “Injuries, blah blah blah.” Let the maroons cupcake about it some more.

    I believe Todd is turning the corner and evolving.

    I believed that last year too, though.

  41. Jmarkbuc Says:

    JHC

    For the last time.. Tony Dungys offenses over his time here averaged less than one point than Grudens teams averaged. Context matters.

    Without that incredible defense’s own scoring, who knows how it might have turned out in 2002.

    Gruden was a spark for sure, and terribly average after that year.

  42. heyjude Says:

    Todd’s contract is up at the end of 2026. Hoping we get a Super Bowl this year. Agreed, thinking they could extend another year if he gets 6-11, giving him another chance instead of bringing in someone new when things are getting better. Since 2024, Todd has been on the NFL competition committee. I don’t know how that works once he is no longer coaching or involved with the NFL.

  43. Todd Says:

    Discussing what aint gonna happen is a Fools Errand.

  44. Kenton Smith Says:

    I’ve heard one of our Joes ask the question on our podcast about what happens to Bowles if we implode this year. Ira didn’t start that crap. I think that Joe is still shell shocked by the Lost Decade. How’s about we trust our eyes to what is happening in Tampa right now. We’re building a powerhouse and 6-11 ain’t happening. 11-6 ain’t happening either. Thirteen or more wins in 2025.

  45. JimBobBuc Says:

    I turned the question around and it leads to a more interesting question:

    How could the Bucs go 6-11 ? The obvious answer is that Baker has an early season-ending injury. Trask comes in and plays anywhere ranging from fair to poor. Would that scenario lead to Bowles fired?

  46. Jeff Says:

    If Baker plays 15+ games Bowles would not survive a 6-9 season. No way.

  47. Jeffrey Becker Says:

    Bahahaha if he doesn’t win 8 he’s in deeeeeeeep kaka

  48. adam from ny Says:

    once again the idea of 13 or 13+ wins is kind of absurd…

    why…?

    because even during out highest win total in history – with tommy b – and during that mini stint of becoming “the new america’s team…and with the nfl and refs in our corner…
    (if only for that moment) – we won 13…

    only that one time in the history of the team have we won 13…just let that sink in…only once…

    13 -4 is not easy man…look at the schedule…we should have about 2 losses in divisional games alone…leaving us with a terrific 4-2 in division record…

    we will drop one of the 2 west coast games to the rams and seahawks…we aren’t going 2-0 in those…come on…

    then look at the schedule…

    we imho are going into detroit this year and getting blown out…i don’t know why i’m getting those vibes for the detroit game this year, but i am…

    so that’s 4 already….

    then look at all the games on the schedule…

    people in here with the “my teams the best, my teams the best” attitude need a reality check…for real…

    11-6…

    but i will certainly take more 🙂

  49. adam from ny Says:

    also the saints early game before the bye and the patriots game after the bye are trap games…we can get caught sleeping…

    we ALWAYS lose one game a year where everyone says WTF…it’s who we are…

    we will lose one game guaranteed to a BAD team…and it’ll be like we never showed up to play

  50. Tye Says:

    ‘Could Bowles really survive such a horror show?’

    He shouldn’t and WOULDN’T with respectable winning teams…
    It would definitely be a Bucs thing to do to lean on the ‘buddy system’ thing to do to keep a bum as HC and stay middle of the pack in the NFL!

  51. Zoocomics Says:

    I’m a Bowles supporter and the only way he survives a 6-11 season is if Baker goes down early, and his entire team is plaque with injuries. I also think, Bowles could go 9-8 and if his defense looks the way it did last season, I think we could see a change as well.

    As my much as we love our Bucs, Tampa has never been the media darling, and we just aren’t attractive as an organization. Smaller market perhaps? Example? Look how we’ve acquired our coaches in the past, and not once did we land the hot coordinator to take over this team, that being said, the pieces we have in place right now, make us very attractive for an upstart coach and/or hot HC veteran to come in and coach this team. 6-11 guarantees a nice draft pick as well.

    At the end of the day, it’s about ticket sales. 6 wins isn’t exactly going to boost sales going into the 2026 season. If I had to guess, the fanbase is 50/50 with Bowles. I don’t think anyone would be too said if we went in another direction.

  52. jimmy Says:

    anything can happen. too many people think the bucs have improved during the offseason and nobody else has. i dont think bowles survives another .500 season and a quick exit from the playoffs, never mind 6-11.

  53. Obvious Says:

    If mayfield is injured then it’s a completely different story, but I’d have a hard time believing Bowles would play out 26 on a one year contract. Not only would the glazers not have to fire him, they’d have to extend him.

    If the qb is healthy and we go 6-11, try selling an extension to the fans and business community, even 1 year.

  54. Rod Munch Says:

    If the Bucs go 6-11, and it’s not because Baker got hurt early, not only is Bowles getting fired, Baker is also getting the boot and we’re getting a full rebuild. Well, maybe not a full rebuild, maybe a reload with Aaron Rodgers at QB and giving it one last shot.

  55. Ted Says:

    Bowles will win 8-10 as usual and limp into the playoffs. He will retire as Bucs HC whenever he decides he is ready for a life change.

  56. FilthyAnimal Says:

    Rod Munch Says:
    June 15th, 2025 at 4:15 pm

    If the Bucs go 6-11, and it’s not because Baker got hurt early, not only is Bowles getting fired, Baker is also getting the boot and we’re getting a full rebuild. Well, maybe not a full rebuild, maybe a reload with Aaron Rodgers at QB and giving it one last shot.

    This take boggles my mind.

    You don’t blow up and rebuild a young talented team. First of all, Baker won’t be the reason, if the season heads south. Second, for the sake of argument, suppose he did drop a turd and no longer looked like our franchise QB… in that case, you get a new QB, you don’t blow up the team… and you definitely don’t waste a year with Aaron Rodgers. He’s a rental for Pittsburgh this year, and then he’s done.

    I believe the organization is committed to Baker as their franchise QB, and I can’t imagine a scenario where he’d be so awful that they’d change their mind on that.

  57. Kenton Smith Says:

    Rod Munch, I’ve got to say, That’s a doozy!

  58. View from 132 Says:

    The real question is whether JoeBucsFan survives a 6 win season. Whole lotta readers would go back to their comic books.

  59. dumboldguy Says:

    He should have been gone after last season. He has a long track record of mediocrity, at best. And with a well above average roster his coaching directly led to several losses and his overall philosophy cost a playoff game.

    If the Bucs go 6-11 under any circumstances he should not even be here for week 17 and any consideration for Bruce Arians being in a ring of honor be removed for forcing Bowles on the team.

    That said, some of the changes he made and things he has said this offseason are encouraging but also discouraging that it took this long. Coaching mistakes and deficiencies need to be corrected at halftime or next game at worst, not after a full season.

  60. Rod Munch Says:

    FilthyAnimal – If the Bucs went 6-11, and it wasn’t because Baker was injured, it means he had a horrific year and greatly regressed, and would have one year left on a deal where he’s a cap hit of $50M. So the Bucs would have to choose to extend him, or boot him, and they’re not extending him if he regressed that badly – plus they’d be firing the entire staff, and a new coach is unlikely to want a QB who has had, at that point, 3 horrific seasons in the last 5 years. To be sure, I don’t at all think that will happen – Baker played really well last year and I expect that to continue with all the weapons he has. But just saying, if it did happen, people need to remember that 3yr/$100M deal is really more of a 2yr deal with a 3rd year option. As for signing Rodgers, just saying, if the team feels like they’re set and only need a QB, they might look foundly back at the last time they were in this situation and give it one last try before blowing up the team. Again, very unlikely, not saying it will happen, I don’t want it to happen, but if it did, I think this would be the outcome.

    Now if they somehow went 6-11 and Baker wasn’t the problem and played really well, then obviously this example is invalid.

  61. FilthyAnimal Says:

    dumboldguy Says:
    June 15th, 2025 at 9:50 pm

    He should have been gone after last season.

    The record has improved each year, the team is still trending up. Only a dumbass fires a coach when the needle is pointing up. If they take step back this year, then we can talk. I promise you, there are at least 20 other fanbases that would trade their situation off ours, Bowles included in the deal. Intolerant fans are the worst.