Thomas McGaughey A Stand-Up Guy
October 3rd, 2025
Bucs special teams coach Thomas McGaughey.
Few fans or media have been unnerved by the play of the Bucs’ special teams more than Joe. And in a way, it’s sad.
All is not bad on the Bucs’ special teams. For the first time in years, the Bucs have revived an otherwise too-long dormant punt return game.
And what can anyone add to the exploits of Chase McLaughlin? He’s just got in the NFL record books for the longest outdoor field goal in NFL history, and he followed up that record 65-yarder on Sunday with a 58-yard kick.
But that’s what’s made Joe sad. For as good — very good — as those two elements of the Bucs’ special teams have been, the rest has been untreated raw sewage that likely cost the Bucs its lone loss.
The overall stench of the special teams has dragged down and overshadowed its best aspects. That’s how bad it has been.
So yesterday, when Bucs special teams coach Thomas McGaughey had an opening statement — Joe can’t recall any Bucs assistant coach with an opening statement of any kind for any reason — confessing the buck stops at his desk when it comes to poor special teams play, Joe was overly impressed.
That was a stand-up thing to do. No stammering. No hiding behind the podium.
What a contrast McGaughey’s move was compared to 13 or so years ago when then-Bucs defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan was fielding questions at one of his weekly press conferences. He was informed how Bucs fans were howling about his poor defense (remember when Eli Manning hung 510 yards passing on Sheridan’s defense?). Sheridan flippantly said if fans want to know why he called the defense the way he did, he would be happy to sit down with them at 5:20 a.m.. Sheridan said he would show the fans film and explain his ways.
“We even have free Cokes!” Sheridan sarcastically said.
Well guess what? The next morning, fans were waiting at the gates of One Buc Palace to meet Sheridan, hoping they could have his promised film breakdown before his day got going.
What did Sheridan do? He rolled down his window just enough as he drove past the gates to look down his nose at the fans, giving them a sarcastic smirk and a wave goodbye as he drove past them.
Asshole.
What an opportunity lost for a 20-minute piece of public relations gold — for the defensive coordinator to turn public opinion and get fans on his and the team’s side. In fact, Team Glazer should have read the guy the riot act for that stunt.
(It’s somewhat ironic that Sheridan now works as a senior defensive advisor for the Jaguars.)
What a contrast between McGaughey and Sheridan. McGaughey basically said his special teams; his fault.
Sheridan? He basically gave fans the finger.
Props to McGaughey for being a professional.
October 3rd, 2025 at 2:55 am
Until last weeks Jets game I thought we had excellent special teams. I tend not to overreact at one bad play.
I like McGaughey standing up and taking on the resposibily. Too many folks these days refuse to. Instead making excuses and looking for someone to blame.
Now lets fix it Sir. If other teams can see our weakiness they will continue to exploit it. It is gonna be tough becuse you can bet future opponents have been paying attention. It’s like a running back with a history of fumbling. Every tackle is also an attempt to get the ball out.
Go Bucs!
October 3rd, 2025 at 3:58 am
Fire him….sorry. And i know missing Ko on special teams hits, but dude, your guys arent prepared and thats ON YOU!
October 3rd, 2025 at 4:01 am
and wheres the new punter we need? Gotta fix this now!!
October 3rd, 2025 at 4:33 am
Bowles kind of a guy.
October 3rd, 2025 at 4:49 am
Kudos to him. Hopefully he can turn it around
October 3rd, 2025 at 5:16 am
What a jerky move by Sheridan. Figures he is onboard with the Jags. Seems as though they like sliminess. Bad optics for them.
Let’s see what McGaughey does this week and go from there. He said it’s his fault and are making improvements. Self-Confident and honest people admit when they have made an error. Narcissistic personalities don’t.
October 3rd, 2025 at 5:48 am
@heyjude
Agreed.
October 3rd, 2025 at 5:57 am
I respect Bowles loyalty for his friend.
But we have an amateur special teams unit!
We need a new special teams coach!
October 3rd, 2025 at 6:45 am
I forgot about old B Sherri. He was so bad, even Mike Smith laughed at how bad he was.
October 3rd, 2025 at 6:59 am
Kudos for standing in front of the press.
Bit that said, being a standup guy doesn’t make him a great coach.
October 3rd, 2025 at 7:20 am
Thank you, Vanessa 😊😊
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:03 am
Accountability, that’s a good start. We’ll see what these personnel changes look like and this upcoming Sunday.
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:07 am
“(remember when Eli Manning hung 510 yards passing on Sheridan’s defense?)” I was at that game at Met stadium. What a miserable day to be a Bucs fan. I was wearing a pretty sweet Steve Spurrier creamsicle jersey though. Luke warm beer was $12.00 a pop.
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:11 am
McGaughey has no choice but to say that unless he wants to look like a fool and a liar.
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:12 am
I’m glad he stood up. Now complete the move and march right out of the front office.
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:18 am
You mean like a comedian?
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:33 am
great story about sheridan. this current guy is lost though. that punt block was just silly you could tell before snap we were toast and we snapped it anyway. poorly at that. why don’t we just forgo punt coverage, let everyone block, and punt OB every single GD time.
October 3rd, 2025 at 8:34 am
Haha dan i remember Eli doing that, wasn’t he like 35 for 37 or something
October 3rd, 2025 at 9:05 am
Nice guys finish last and it is a results driven League. Special teams is hardly ever on the field. Causing a loss is too much failure. I maintain the problem is Riley Dixon. Old school stationary American punters are easy to block because the other team can load up for and get a block because you know where they are. Innovation happens in the NCAA because there are more teams and more losing teams willing to try anything. Ohio state started the trend to recruit former rugby and AFL players To be punters from Australia. Look at our Buckeye rookie and trust Ohio.The advantage is they run out to one side or the other and kick on the run. Plus if anything breaks down they can run like a running back.
October 3rd, 2025 at 9:37 am
Thanks for saving me the time.
I was about to google were sheridan was now.
October 3rd, 2025 at 10:00 am
The Seahawks have already blocked a couple of punts. So they will be coming. Let’s see if coach has improved Special Teams. If not, maybe it’s time to pack bags.
October 3rd, 2025 at 10:27 am
One more blocked kick, and he has to go.
October 3rd, 2025 at 10:46 am
Firing the ST coach and replacing the punter should be super easy, right?
Don’t they grow on trees somewhere?
Simple minds over simplify everything.
October 3rd, 2025 at 10:49 am
These press conferences are getting more and more like political ones. Somebody gets up and says he takes full responsibility. Everybody who should be fired with him breathes a deep sigh of relief. The press says “What a brave guy/gal!” Nobody has to ask probing, embarrassing questions. Everybody goes home feeling good about themselves. Nothing happens. All is forgotten. Until the next screwup and mock apology.
October 3rd, 2025 at 11:12 am
He is a stand up guy for doing that.
He sucks as a coach. Sets a record for vacuum pulled by the suckage. Expect nothing to change.
October 3rd, 2025 at 11:21 am
MoBucs is right. I don’t care if he’s a stand-up guy or if he says he owns it. I want a competent coach who can review film and correct and not keep making the same mistakes every week.
October 3rd, 2025 at 12:02 pm
One of Bowles buddies. In way over his head. A perfect example of NOT to hire your buddies, as they are hard to fire.
October 3rd, 2025 at 1:09 pm
Awesome – way to take responsibility and own it.
But the BIG question is – CAN YOU FIX IT?
1 team having 3 punts/kicks blocked in the span of 4 NFL games has to be some kind of ‘worst ever’ record…
And the coverage teams have been mostly terrible so far as well.
This is a results oriented league and coaches have been fired on the spot for much less. Atlanta already fired one of their offensive coaches for ‘under-performance’ of his unit just 3 games into the season.
Just be glad – I guess coach McGaughey – that you work for a head coach and entire organization that generally go out of their way to not make ‘reactionary’ decisions. So you have been given the chance to improve these catastrophic special teams results in the first quarter of the 2025 season. For 1 game – at least…..
I get that you have the guys you have to work with. And that it changes every week – especially with all the injuries. Losing Keift and Walker hurt I’m sure…
Sean Tucker has seen very few offensive snaps this year – likely because his pass protection blocking is not up to snuff…. So Tucker probably shouldn’t be assigned as the last line ‘protector’ of the punter either…. just sayin
Glad/Not Glad you are getting another chance to do (significantly) better coach McGaughey. You seem/sound like a good dude. But that’s irrelevant. Results are all that matter. We’ve got a Super Bowl caliber roster and can’t be losing games because of special teams fluck ups!
Fix it NOW – or walk the plank…
October 3rd, 2025 at 4:19 pm
Agree with MoBucs – maybe this coach should run for office – in Portland or Seattle
October 4th, 2025 at 1:24 am
Yeah, it is that easy KAbucs!!