Albert Breer: “Whispers About Todd Bowles’ Job Security”
December 15th, 2025
So Albert Breer of SI.com is an NFL insider people take seriously, including the folks at One Buc Palace.
Every year, it seems, Bucs executives are happy to talk to Breer about key team subjects, and Joe sees Breer at the big annual NFL events hanging with big shots around the league.
Therefore, Joe must take any Breer comment about Bucs management seriously.
On Saturday’s Breer Report, the host wanted to impart that Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles probably is coaching for his job — because he likely was doing the same thing during the past two holiday seasons.
“Down the stretch the last couple of years, before the Buccaneers were able to pull their division titles out, there were whispers about Todd Bowles’ job security. I think that becomes a topic now,” Breer said.
Very interesting. So Breer says these “whispers” of Bowles in danger of being fired spanned two years? Hmmm.
The Joe typing here felt Bowles’ job was on the line on Dec. 10, 2023, in the fourth quarter of a game in Atlanta. For those who forgot, Rachaad White took a handoff at Atlanta on 4th-and-1 at the Bucs’ 45-yard line with exactly 2 minutes remaining. The Bucs were trailing, and the season was on the brink.
White got three yards.
Without that conversion, or if the Bucs were crazy enough to punt — Bowles had two timeouts in his pocket — Tampa Bay would have been sure to lose and fall to a 5-8 record. That would have doomed the season. Instead, White got the job done and Cade Otton caught the winning touchdown seconds later.
As for Bowles’ job security now? Joe is confident Team Glazer had no desire for regime change prior to Thursday.
However, the real question is whether Thursday’s ugly home loss changed Team Glazer’s attitude toward Bowles. Or will whatever happens next affect Team Glazer’s assessment of whether Bowles is worthy of a 2026 season?
Remember, the NFL is a real-time league. Yesterday’s truth is tomorrow’s nonsense.
December 15th, 2025 at 11:24 am
If he eeks in to division again even with 9-8 he Baaaaack next year.
December 15th, 2025 at 11:26 am
Does Licht go too or just Bowles?
December 15th, 2025 at 11:28 am
He has to win a playoff game this year to stay in my opinion. Anything less and they should show him the door
December 15th, 2025 at 11:28 am
We win our he stays
December 15th, 2025 at 11:29 am
Mutter mutter…OUT
December 15th, 2025 at 11:33 am
Please – no more Bowles and mediocrity!
December 15th, 2025 at 11:39 am
I can’t see them getting rid of Licht and Bowles together. Like him or not Licht seems to be getting better at drafting good players. He is considered one of the top GM’s in the league. Without his shrewd management of the draft and especially free agency we don’t win a Super Bowl with Tom Brady.
December 15th, 2025 at 11:41 am
I’m not sure I understand why so many are also looking for Licht’s head. He’s made a number of top-flight moves (e.g., Brady, Shaq, etc.) and drafted some good players (e.g., Evans, Wirfs, Godwin, Winfield, etc.). Perhaps some of his other drafts have flopped because Bowles simply wasn’t able to develop them in a way they could reach their full potential or haven’t preformed as well as they could because Bowles hasn’t inspired them. So, I understand the anger over Bowles, but think the anger towards Licht is misplaced.
December 15th, 2025 at 11:45 am
Go undefeated through February! Then I would want him back! lol
December 15th, 2025 at 11:47 am
Joe, we all know Bowles is on very thin ice. Their are mulptiple people to blame, but the coach falls on the sword. The Saints game in some ways while in excuseable was understandable in that it was a division game. However, the way they lost was not. However, the ATL game, you can’t lose a game like that , 3-28, 4th-14, to a team that had what 19 penalities. Atl , was trying to give the Bucs the game, even though ATL was out playing them, in many ways, but always seemed to shoot themselves in the foot. When you lose like that on a national stage, to a team, who is trying to lose the game, with all those penalities, your job has to be on the line!!!.
It was a national embrassment. It only helped to enhance the Bucs reputation for worst losses by a team ever and made the team a laughing stock once again. In the end I guess ATL said well, if you are not going to put us away I guess we will take the game as a gift after all.
ATL, thank You Bucs, we tried to help, but you just would not allow too, so again we THANK YOU!!, for the win.
Trust me, no team ownership will stand for that, especially after spending millions on a 50 year history of the franchise, which was just released. It has become clear the Ownership is trying to become one of the more elite franchises all the way from the top down. That game by itself put the team back going the other direction.
Unless the Bucs really look good over the next few weeks, which is not likely, unless the offense begins putting up massive points, I think the Coach will go. I am not a Bowles detractor, However, you can’t lose like that on a nationl stage, when at the beginning of the year people were putting you into the tope seed of the playoffs.
Bowles knows that the players know that, the GM knows that
December 15th, 2025 at 11:48 am
Watching the Bucs documentary, which is great, it is hard to believe the Glazers will keep Bowles unless the Bucs win the Super Bowl this year. Which isn’t going to happen.
December 15th, 2025 at 11:52 am
I came down for vacation to watch this game ! with my son who’s first time at Raymond James!! Great game atmosphere Thursday night, fans were awesome, looked like a packed house. Great seats behind Bucs bench, What a Morgue seen I witnessed from the bench and from coaches. No cheering for teamates, no hugging from the coaches my 17 year old was disgusted by the defense collapse!! He played Varsity and was calling out plays. Bad !!! Bowles did not move from his spot, hilarious. Glazers hope you read this, thanks. Go Bucs
December 15th, 2025 at 11:52 am
“Joe is confident Team Glazer had no desire for regime change prior to Thursday.”
If this is true then it does not matter what happens from here on.
They have likely already made the decision to double down on mediocrity.
With a three year extension already in place and the injury bug, they have room for excuses.
Same as it ever was. 35-34
December 15th, 2025 at 11:54 am
we fired Gruden and Dungy for way less
December 15th, 2025 at 11:54 am
I think we can find any coach that’ll put players to sleep like Bowles. Drafting good players makes any head coach look good. The eagles are a good example because their coach is trash too
December 15th, 2025 at 11:55 am
Please!!! Free the fans of the Bowles regime. Last in the league in defense and his teams play lifeless. So many bad coaches and players (mostly on defense) on this team that make it so hard to root for this team.
December 15th, 2025 at 11:57 am
No interest in regime change as of last Thursday afternoon is very concerning. If the SNF game and saints games weren’t enough to do hopefully Thursday night was.
December 15th, 2025 at 11:58 am
There is virtually no way Bowles is fired if he wins the division, makes the playoffs and even loses a home playoff game…
No way!!!…..>There is one thing more distasteful to the Glazers than losing a home playoff game and that is to change coaches…..and when you fire Bowles…you change all of them.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Saints trying to help BOWELS yesterday
December 15th, 2025 at 12:06 pm
The lasers are thinking about getting a new coach in the same way todd was thinking about kicking the ball out of the end zone.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
The Bucs will back into the playoffs with a 8-9 record. Bucs eek out a victory at Carolina, lose to the Dolphins but rest players after Seattle defeats the Panthers.
The Panthers win the final game against the Bucs, but the Bucs take the NFCS with an 8-9 record because of tiebreakers.
Bucs fans will be cursed with more of the same in the 2026 season.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Aaron
Can believe you say that with a straight face. The team imploded under gruden LMAO
December 15th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
bucs will probably hire steve wilks to be DC and keep bowles as HC
December 15th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
I can’t see why Licht should be fired.
When/if Bowles is fired he will be fired for not only losing but also because he was unable to develop players. Make no sense to throw the baby out with the bath water. I have never heard a logical argument that Bowles can develop players. Because he can’t. There is a lot of talent on this team that has been wasted. Times are tough with this team right now. Jason Licht is not the cause of that.
The Glazers are on the clock.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Don’t get me wrong I’m not calling for Licht’s head but just asking the question. If you’re saying Bowles goes but Licht stays then I take that as you feel that this is a super bowl caliber team but the coach just isn’t getting the most out of his guys.
So let’s forward the clock to next season with a new coaching regime, if we’re seeing the same results does that then mean there’s a lack of talent or the coach isn’t developing guys? What available coaches do you see out there that you feel could take this team to the super bowl next year?
December 15th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
I want him gone even if we win the Super Bowl because it will be in spite of him not because of him.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:22 pm
The way the rest of this season plays out should determine whether Bowles stays here as HC. At the same time, be careful what you wish for. Many of y’all wanted Gruden to be fired; he was and all that led to was 11 consecutive seasons of misery and missing the playoffs. At the end of the day, on paper, Bowles will still be in the top half of head coaches in Buccaneers history.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:22 pm
I hope the Bucs make it to the playoffs because I’m a fan of the team. That should mean Todd Bowles will be here next season.
Some of you knuckle-dragging mouth breathers would rather see the team miss the playoffs just so Todd Bowles is fired. If that’s you, then admit you’re a fake fan and root for the Panthers.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Gruden’s time here wasn’t all that. Won the SB in 02, 03 and 04 missed playoffs, 05 Wild Card loss to Skins, 06 no playoffs, 07 Wild Card loss to Giants, 08 was 9-3 and finished 9-7 then he was fired. Love Gruden for our first Super Bowl, other than that he was ordinary.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Waterboy Says:
December 15th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Don’t get me wrong I’m not calling for Licht’s head but just asking the question. If you’re saying Bowles goes but Licht stays then I take that as you feel that this is a super bowl caliber team but the coach just isn’t getting the most out of his guys.
—–
If they had a quality defense they would have been a Super Bowl contender last year.
No question.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
D-Rome, you are correct sir. I’m a Bucs fan, I want a 7 game win streak and Bowles retires after a boat parade. There is a universe in which that will happen, I just hope we are in that one.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
If we make the playoffs with all the injuries we’ve had this year, Bowles is staying 100%.
Guaranteed not fired if we make the playoffs.
50/50 if we don’t.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
Bowles has a real track record of late season drama. He needs to be replaced regardless of two late wins over Carolina (which won’t happen).
December 15th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Liam Cohen gonna haunt us for years!!!!!!!!
December 15th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Super bowl or GTFO. That’s it he has pissed around the last 2 seasons and gotten lucky. Time to shi or get off the pot. Watching the Jags with less talent do what they do makes me even madder.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
If Dungy & Gruden got the axe…so should Bowles. We have been given the division on a silver platter. Any other division, we would be near the bottom. Time to make a change, regardless of a playoff appearance!!
December 15th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
Licht is a great GM. We have done much worse.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
My opinion is, and as I always say, opinions are like rearends everybody has one. Bowles has to do more than win out. I really think that he must win more than 1 playoff game to keep his job. I am aware that he has a first time play caller but when you look back over the last 6 games, the defense has lost the game and that Bowles specialty DEFENSE. 1. Bus score 32 points defense give up 44. 2. Defense blow a 14 point lead in the 4th. 3. Although the offense didn’t play well against N Orleans, the defense couldn’t stop one of the worst offenses in the lead. If you put those 3 very winnable games in the win column, the Bucs are10-4 the rest speaks for it self
December 15th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Were the Bucs to fire Bowles there is NO guarantee that the new coach would want to keep Jason Licht and may demand his ouster considering his TOTAL inability to make trades at the trade deadline to improve his team when there are deals out there to be made.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
It is Time. This Team will not be hoisting the Lombardi at year’s end with Todd and this wretched Putrid Pass Defense. No one is pulling for the Bucs losing but the Silver lining when the inevitable happens is this guy will be gone. He has worn me out. Go Bucs!!
December 15th, 2025 at 1:00 pm
Todd: I’m not sure what trades were out there, I do know that JTS got traded to the Bears for a 6th Round pick…I don’t consider JTS to be worth an 8th Round pick, so the asking prices were obviously high.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
Whispers?
Shouting from the rooftops.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
Its more than just the result of this season. The Glazers are also looking over Bowles shoulder at what Coen is doing in Jacksonville. Dont think for one second that it isnt stuck in their craw that they let the future of their franchise walk out the door and gave an extension to the doom of their franchise. They’re embarrassed for sure, and if they aren’t, then the franchise is in bad hands.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
I guess the Browns threw in a 7th Rounder, but still too much.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Jordyn Brooks of Miami was available and is the leading tackler in the Nfl and also one of the best coverage LB’s. Adding a player of that quality would have made an immediate improvement of the defense, Just look at any year what Licht has done at the trade deadline and the answer is nothing. Licht always thinks he is the smartest guy in the room and that his players are the bEST, because HE picked them.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:05 pm
I was with Ira 💯 back in 2018 that Lickt should be fired. I remember people at the Wing House on Gulf-To-Bay, and Sports Legends (old Tilted Kilt on Drew St.) asking me about Lickt way back then. NO ONE liked him. But, then Brady came along and absolutely SAVED HIS ACE. So, it’s really been a looong time coming. He has an extremely high opinion of himself, but it just doesn’t add up. He has waaayyy overvalued HIS guys, and has failed in free-agency, miserably. I thought his 2024 draft was really good one (agreed with every pick), but that was about it outside of 2020. Through 12-YEARS. I am NOT a fan of his, at all. I believe it’s about time to just move-on. The Bucs need a brand new start with a fresh set of eyes, and new energy! They need a HUNGER.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
MelvinJunior Says:
December 15th, 2025 at 1:05 pm
I was with Ira 💯 back in 2018 that Lickt should be fired.
——
You might remember that it was Ira Kaufman that was openly advocating for a Todd Bowles contract extension about this time last year.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
@Durango 95
No question if they had a defense last year it was a super bowl year but go back and look at the players on defense and tell me you see super bowl quality players.
I don’t see the game wreckers on that defense. JTS was their starting OLB/Edge rusher. The secondary was garbage with Winfield and Dean rotating in and out with injuries. Not to mention Slo Mo at MLB who couldn’t get to the edge when teams would run outside.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
@ Todd Says: “ Licht always thinks he is the smartest guy in the room and that his players are the bEST, because HE picked them.”
YES. Lmao. And, it is soooo ‘comical’ on so many levels, it’s pathetic. It’s really embarrassing for him. Those types of people are soooo insufferable to me
December 15th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
I am feeling the same about the Glazers too because they did give Todd and Jason extended contracts. Maybe through 2028? Seemed like they were happy at that time with the both of them. On the flip-side, we don’t know what the contract says either. There could be a timeline clause of some sort.
gotbbucs – I don’t think the Glazers are losing sleep over how Coen is doing. The way Coen left showed bad character. They aren’t going to forget that. Coen burned his bridges. He could have been professional, told the truth, resigned respectfully, and moved on as HC for the Jags. Instead he was very immature for being 40 years. Canales did it the right way when he moved on.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
@Patrick
I would still to this day say firing Gruden was the right move. He won 0 playoff games since that super bowl 20 years ago and constantly went from 11-5 to 5-11 every season. He’s a great talker but the consistent results aren’t there to support his legend.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
@ Durango 95 – I know, and so was T-Krass on WDAE. All along. They both have defended him until NO END, until this past Thursday Night LoL.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
SOUP OPERAS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR 1 SEASON
I’ll continue to watch the season play out because it’s a soap opera. LVD leaving early, VV arguing with Reddick, Evans yelling 4-14!, Bowles yelling at everyone but himself, Wirfs moping in his locker.
It’s funny because these guys have Super Bowl rings.
That said, it’s only funny for one season. I won’t pay much attention next season if Bowles with at the helm. Funny morphs into pathetic pretty quickly.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
Tampa Bay is -3 this Sunday at Carolina, Vegas is picking Tampa to win, what do the 2 Joe’s, and Ira think of this, write your answer in a upcoming article.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
One other question I have. If Bowles is moved to the front office or fired which seems to be a strong possibility, who do the Bucs go after? There aren’t any Arians or S Peyton out there who are proven winners unless the Bucs pull off a deal like they did with Gruden and go get McVay who was unhappy in LA a few years ago but seems to back happy in LA so that would be far fetched
December 15th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
Bowles will need to make the playoffs and possibly the NFC Championship game for him to stay on. The Glazers have shown that they are willing to make bold moves in order to get the team on the right track. This includes paying coaches a lot of Glazer loot not to coach and trading precious first round picks. The question is: who do they want? Bellicheat? Any assistant coach on Sean McVay’s staff? Sean McVay himself? We understand that these are short-term moves with enormous costs (i.e., to the salary cap, draft picks, etc). Then, we complain about it later.
December 15th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
I don’t know how a full plan for replacement isn’t in full swing
Grizz cannot be the OC and the defense is mostly bad and sometimes historically bad
We have a legitimate QB with high end skill players — that is not a common scenario for the Bucs
Outside of a miraculous playoff run, Bowles is gone
December 15th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Let’s be honest, the goal is to win the Super Bowl. Does anyone believe that Todd Bowles has the ability to coach a team to a Super Bowl, let alone win one? No, he does not! The Rams have a good young offensive coordinator that would look awfully good as the Bucs next head coach.