Antoine Winfield Said Bucs Are Also Playing To Save Todd Bowles
December 24th, 2025
Fighting for his coach.
It is inescapable. Even though Bucs coach Todd Bowles said he only listens to music when he steps outside One Buc Palace, he surely wasn’t listening to music when a chorus of boos rained down from the seats at The Light House after the Bucs lost to the Dixie Chicks on national television.
Go ahead and do a video search on TikTok for the evidence. There’s way more than one video out there.
Sports radio and social media are flooded with folks howling for Bowles’ head.
Bowles may bury himself in music when he goes home but players read social media and see the hollering shows on sports networks. They know.
And guys like Antoine Winfield know that in the NFL, if you have a bad losing streak in December, they know what could happen.
So Winfield said yesterday he and his teammates aren’t just playing to return to the playoffs, they are playing to save Bowles.
Winfield straight up was asked how much he and his teammates were playing for Bowles.
“A lot,” Winfield said. “You know, he’s a player’s coach. Love playing for him, and so that’s why all these games come down — we have to win, because you know how the league is and how the business side of things works. So we’re playing for everybody here.”
Really, only Team Glazer knows what they want to do. Joe does know this: Team Glazer is predictably unpredictable in their decisions on coaches.
And just because one sees inactivity publicly does not mean there isn’t activity behind the scenes. For example, Joe heard Team Glazer had begun discussions with potential new coaches in October 2013 as they had already decided to move on from former Bucs commander Greg Schiano.
Team Glazer has never released a coach prior to the end of a season. Joe doesn’t expect them to break from tradition now.
As for the players going all out to save Bowles, funny how they waited until the second-last game of the season. Why not do that much earlier and show some pride and be among the respected teams in the NFL?
December 24th, 2025 at 7:10 am
Really? Maybe one of the songs Todd can listen to when he steps outside One Buc Place is I’m A Loser by The Beatles.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:13 am
“It’s been a long time since a Bucs game ended and Joe walked away feeling, ‘Damn, we’re the hungriest and most physical team on the field.’”
Joe hit the nail on the head… probably since the Brady era. Have said elsewhere that I’d wager that having to play under Bowles’ lack of leadership & fire probably pushed Brady into retirement a year or two before he was ready.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:13 am
The fact he needs saving is a tell tale sign. It is supposed to be the other way around where a coach saves the team. Vrabel is the textbook case of a coach saving his former team the Patriots. Now the players are saving the coach?. Is the tail wagging the dog? You should not have to feel sorry for the coach you should fear and respect him the way the Patriot players feel about my HS, Alumni mate Vrabel.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:14 am
🤮
Oh !
So now you start!
What a crock !!!
December 24th, 2025 at 7:15 am
i really hope the glazers have decided to move on from todd, because it isnt just him, it’s his staff as well.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:15 am
Please don’t
December 24th, 2025 at 7:20 am
Jon Gruden for HC and Rod Marinelli comes out of retirement for DC in 2026. Rod Marinelli could turn Kancey into a star under tackle in a base 4-3 Defense like he did Sapp. Let’s Go Glazers!!!
December 24th, 2025 at 7:22 am
He’s really fighting for his job. Next coach who comes in might not be his buddy. New G.M. might view him as a trade piece. There’s three players on this roster that if traded could give you a ton of draft picks, enough to flip the roster. That’s if you want to go total rebuild. New GM, and coach might want to start with a clean slate, with plenty of draft capital, and cap space. I’d make every player available. The three players? Wirfs, Winfield, and Vea.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:25 am
Hey if Jon Gruden comes, can we keep Tom Moore on the Bucs offense staff?? That would be huge loss if we lost Tom Moore.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:28 am
Ronde Barber
Next GM
Need winning attitude
Need accountability
Need to make some cap decisions for fan favorites
This gets more depressing every day!
December 24th, 2025 at 7:29 am
I watched the MNF game and could see it in the 49’ers. It’s hard to describe but you know it when you see it.
It makes me think, while not a top choice, Robert Salah wouldn’t be a bad candidate. Sometimes you have to step away and see what you would do differently if you have another chance.
My first choice is a good offensive mind, but at this point give me someone that can give this team a pulse.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:34 am
It’s great to reminisce. Fond memories.
But get real. Marinelli and Gruden coming back? That’s almost as absurd as the idiotic suggestion of Ronde Barber as GM.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Or not to save his job.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:42 am
Drunk Bucs, we already have one Jets loser of a head coach, and you want us to hire another one? Salah is a younger Todd bowles. He’s successful because the 49er offense is a powerhouse. He was a total failure like Todd as a head man. Put the bottle down. We need the next Shannahan, not his D.C!
December 24th, 2025 at 7:45 am
I think Todd’s problem is not everybody is playing for his job.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:46 am
Winfield not even close to being Pro Bowl player. He led the league in trailing explosive long TD runs and passes this year. Tool late to save TB. Glazer’s need a change to get people into stands next year.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:52 am
Now, let me see. You’re playing for your coaches job by choking away 4th quarter leads against weak divisional foes at home. Okay. Got it.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:53 am
Every player in the league has some pain.I keep hearing he’s hurt.. Maybe? Todd blamed every thing but himself. After next game bucs win and most people on here will forget how bad the 3 stooges are.Bowles, Baker, and Griss. Who wants to pay the QB 35-50 million a year? I hope we win the division but I aso hope the owners are wide awake. GO Bucs
December 24th, 2025 at 7:56 am
Winfield has a pretty posh deal with Bowles as his HC. He can loaf on plays and not be held accountable, he and his teammates can be exposed and embarrassed but he knows Todd will not do a thing. Winfield is resting on his laurels and living off of his past performances as illustrated by his Pro Bowl selection. Bowles gets launched and this dude’s gravy train will probably come to an end as the new coach will have viewed tape on this team and will probably take a meat axe to the roster and make players accountable. Winfield has regressed over the past 2 seasons so yeah he is playing for Bowles’s job in Miami but also his own……
December 24th, 2025 at 8:02 am
Sure doesn’t look like it…
The last thing this team needs is more Todd Bowles. Time for a new direction
December 24th, 2025 at 8:02 am
A coach should be feared not loved.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:06 am
He a good boy. Maybe Santa give nice present.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:08 am
Players like their coach, more than fans do. Imagine that.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:09 am
Can we stop the retread failed old coaches they rarely succeed on their 2nd or 3rd teams, we always seem to get the worst year to get the top pick for QBs or HC talent, just franchise bad luck, as far as Baker, and the season most glaring flaws is losing both guards and Barton regression, Baker, any QB without plus mobility, can’t excel without a solid interior, not an excuse just facts
December 24th, 2025 at 8:10 am
A “player’s coach” is only effective if you have a locker room that holds themselves and each other accountable. We don’t have that.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:12 am
Bill Belichick.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:14 am
AWJ is a joke. He got his. And he’s one of the problems on the D.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:15 am
Only one thing matters in the nfl and it happens on game day. All this crap said during the week about playing with fire, good practices, game prep, etc etc is irrelevant. The fact that this team has been a dumpster fire the last 2 months on game day is the only thing of relevance.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:15 am
That’s good news. If Bowles is depending on the play of his players to keep his job, he’s done.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:17 am
NO OLD COACHES.
Especially no former Bucs coaches. This team needs new blood and a fresh perspective from the outside looking in. Get a young offensive coach thats trending up. Try something new! No journeyman coaches or QBs.
Everything about this team is boring and stale. No excitement, no energy. Mike Evans is the only star on the team. This team needs a young dynamic playmaker with a coach that can raise the energy of the team.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:20 am
What the final product on game day has been is terrible defense, bad coaching decisions, underwhelming offense, no pass rush, poor special teams and most importantly losing
December 24th, 2025 at 8:20 am
Kubiak is on the way or trade a pick to Vikings for KOC, trade a pick to browns for Stefanski,,, or get Diabol,,,we need offense ,,, get Glenn as DC when he gets canned
December 24th, 2025 at 8:21 am
They should save the paying fans who go to the games at Ray Jay. Spend a fortune on tix and buy 10 dollar hot dogs and beers and jerseys and hats.. They are the hard core Buc Fans. I am just a fan on the run who get radio access a couple tv games and JBF.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:22 am
Wait. Antoine Winfield Jr. is still on this team? I haven’t seen him in weeks! Huh…
December 24th, 2025 at 8:25 am
they better lol…
or they’ll have Greg Schanio 2.0 very soon as GMC suggested lol
GO BUCS!!!
December 24th, 2025 at 8:31 am
Grew up in a pro athlete entitled environment, made that one big play on National TV against Tyreek Hill and as been coasting ever since…. Sure he has made plays and done his job but he has stopped proving himself each and every play.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:32 am
Todd Bowles: The Grinch Who Stole The Bucs 2025 Season!
December 24th, 2025 at 8:38 am
I’m pretty sure he’s admitting to not giving his best effort, BUT now he will.
As for Toad Bowels the two things the Glazers understand is embarrassing empty seats at the stadium and the $$$ that can cost them. Thanks for the years of mediocrity and good bye Todd.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:45 am
You might be playing for your job Winfield. Glazers might decide you aren’t worth the money and trade you. There is a lot of delusion and arrogance going on in Tampa right now. This is what happens when you keep winning the division even though you go nowhere in the playoffs.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:48 am
The young gun coaches from successful coaching trees is where its at folks. No old coaches or retreats. Get rid of the whole staff.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:50 am
We have a high octane offense with four pro bowlers and come out with the same personality of the head coach, closed off n dead. With this same offense, Sean Payton who’s one of the older coaches in the nfl contrary to Bowles, would light a fire under this same offense. If Bowles was a good coach he would feature the no huddle offense with this team. When we go no huddle we are unstoppable. But as conservative as he has been, he has a fixed mindset because he’s too stubborn for growth. I’m playing the iconic Sam Cook’s song “A change gon come”.
December 24th, 2025 at 8:53 am
Santa – PLEASE bring the Bucs a NEW coaching staff.
December 24th, 2025 at 9:07 am
All I want for Christmas is a new coaching staff. And several new players on defense. AWJ needs to stfu and play better.
December 24th, 2025 at 9:12 am
Licht needs to go too
December 24th, 2025 at 9:16 am
Usually when I hear players say we are playing for the coach’s job usually means the coach is already fired and ownership has a list of candidates lined up