Bruce Arians Thinks Todd Bowles Survives As Bucs Coach
December 30th, 2025
Has good vibes for old friend.
Make that two Bucs insiders/employees that don’t seem to believe Todd Bowles will be the ex-Bucs head coach next month.
Former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians said today on the “Pat McAfee Show” that he thinks Bowles is safe. Arians is an analyst for McAfee this football season and appears live from McAfee’s Indianapolis studio, seen on BSPN.
Pat McAfee: What happened in Tampa you think?
Bucco Bruce Arians: Your guess is as good as mine. All of a sudden, we can’t make a play to win a game. And we got veterans busting coverage and giving up 80-yard touchdowns in critical moments. Baker [Mayfield], I don’t think is totally healthy. And all of a sudden, the interceptions are back. So, those things lead to really bad play. But I don’t think they’ll make a change.
Last week, Bucs insider and a member of AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s kitchen cabinet, Hall of Fame corner Rondé Barber, got on his WFLA.com streaming show and boldly said that Bowles was not on the hot seat.
Arians still collects a check from Team Glazer as he is Licht’s senior advisor. Notice he said he thinks Bowles survives. Would Team Glazer let middle-level staffers know what their plans are regarding Bowles before the season is over? Joe has doubts.
Joe does know that this century, when the Bucs have collapsed after a strong start, the head coach never survived the carnage.
"I don't think the Buccaneers or Falcons are gonna make a coaching change..
I hope that the Colts don't make a change because I think they're close" ~ @BruceArians #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/SSaEUKHYUJ
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 30, 2025
December 30th, 2025 at 9:31 pm
I want every mention of Arians removed from Bucs history. This man is a saboteur.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:34 pm
I think Ronde Barber gets information from Bruce Arians
Bruce and Ronde father was teammates and roommates at Virginia Tech in 1974
December 30th, 2025 at 9:35 pm
Arians is more concerned about his legacy than the future of the Bucs.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:37 pm
Based on the Doc. The Glazers will clean house.
Their franchise is going the wrong way fast.
Injuries don’t excuse the sheer apathy on this team. When the players quit on the coach and no longer respect leadership, time for a change
December 30th, 2025 at 9:42 pm
I don’t believe the players have quit
They are always in every game until Baker screws it up
It’s not like they are getting blown out every game
There’s a few Loafers on the team, missing their assignments
But overall, they haven’t quit on the HC
December 30th, 2025 at 9:44 pm
The other major factor is $$$$$
An empty stadium does not look good on TV, nor on the bottom line.
They do not want a return of the Yucs. Todd is a guaranteed skidmark on the franchise.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:45 pm
Ask the Man U faithful how they feel about the ownership under the Glazer reign, no real surprises here.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:45 pm
If Glazers don’t fire Bowles then they don’t a sh!t about their fans or this franchise. Recent history or not, if they choose to keep this god awful coaching staff then we deserve another lost decade.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:46 pm
Baker is not the reason. Proof is in his first two and a half years here. He was phenomenal.
Bowles + Grizzard = a terribly predictable team.
Give Baker a quality HC and OC and he will be fine.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:46 pm
I’d pay money to hear speak BA candidly about Grizzard and our offense this season. Probably spills his whiskey watching the horizontal pass game and lack of productivity
December 30th, 2025 at 9:47 pm
Of course Arian’s is going to say that. If Bowles gets fired it makes Arian’s look like an idiot for forcing him down the Glazer’s throats as his replacement. This whole damn thing is Bruce’s fault. We all knew this would happen. Todd is a losing head coach and always has been. He survived as long as he did because of talented players and 2 good OCs (Canales and Cohen) and playing in the worst division in the NFL.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:48 pm
Arians is on the way out with Bowles. He just likes to hear himself talk.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:48 pm
GET OUT!!!!
December 30th, 2025 at 9:50 pm
Must be nice collecting a fat check and having no idea what’s going on in said place of employment.
This front office is loyal and generous to a fault to all its coaches, players and staff. Everyone except the actual fans.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:51 pm
Baker knows he must get 40 a game to have a shot at the win. That is unsustainable in the NFL. He is trying to be the hero instead of being a leader.
Lamar Jackson is an equivalent.
I am not 100% in Baker’s corner, he has deserved some blame, but he has done so much good and single handily won this games earlier in the season.
Let’s see what he can do with another HC/OC before making him walk the plank.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:51 pm
How can Bowles be safe? more than half the team has quit on him and this franchise.
December 30th, 2025 at 9:52 pm
If the Glazers hire a Consulting firm
Then there will be a huge shakeup at One Buc Place
Including Bruce Almighty
December 30th, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Well this just proves that, like Bowles, Arians tunes out the outside noise.
The fans have overwhelmingly spoken. If the Glazers try to call the fan bases bluff and bring back Todd… everyone promise me you won’t visit the websites or turn on the Bucs on tv or buy tickets.
The fans don’t always know what is best of course… but in this case it’s obvious. Defensive HC presiding over a bottom 5 pass D in a passing league for the 4th straight year! What are we doing here?
December 30th, 2025 at 9:56 pm
Arians has muddied up his own legacy by appointing Bowles the head coach. Now he is trying to influence the Glazers through his commentary here. Not that any one here gives a ff, I am no longer a Bucs fan if Bowles remains in 2026. I would be thinking quite a few of us feel this way. Nothing to look forward too and nothing to hope for with this team with this coach.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:07 pm
Bowles signed a 3yr extension I think some of you forget that part we are stuck with him until something better comes along 3 peat the division has a bad year due to aging players and mistakes on the field and health oh yeah a rookie play caller formula for disaster…
December 30th, 2025 at 10:10 pm
Can’t wait to get Cody mauch back dude can really block didn’t appreciate him much before the injury but he is a piece of our line that makes sense his back ups are trash like bagged up and tied trash
December 30th, 2025 at 10:10 pm
Malcolm Glazer fired Dungy and Gruden
Now it’s a family affair, not one ruler, we don’t know how they think
December 30th, 2025 at 10:10 pm
“The fans have overwhelmingly spoken. If the Glazers try to call the fan bases bluff and bring back Todd… everyone promise me you won’t visit the websites or turn on the Bucs on tv or buy tickets.“
Cancel the Bucs? Nah, I lived through Trent Dilfer, The Bert Emanuel rule game, the back-end of the Gruden era(big Chris Hovan fan at the time) and the lost decade. This is a popcorn fart in comparison. All our problems are correctable, the rub is how does ownership, football ops, coaches, and players collectively go about bouncing back.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:11 pm
I know what baker can do with a guy who knows offense. Coen had this offense in the top 3 last year & now he’s got the jags beating top teams in dec. I don’t see any heart or fight in this team on top of them being badly coached . Just look at how bad this special teams unit has been other than our kicker . They get worse . Just look how bad this defense is . Been getting worse for 3 years in a row . This rookie OC is a joke and is in way over his head . The players themselves can’t be a unit and work well together. Mostly on defense. Toilet todd has got to go !
December 30th, 2025 at 10:12 pm
Wrong again Bruce
December 30th, 2025 at 10:12 pm
Our o-line health overall cost us the season point fingers there before you start anywhere people it ruined our run game and our pass game be blessed we didn’t get blown out a ton because without semi decent coaching it should have happened several times over
December 30th, 2025 at 10:16 pm
the glazers have enough they can wipe their butt with that extension
December 30th, 2025 at 10:18 pm
@warrenbrookslynch people are way too spoil at the moment they act like we didn’t go thru the lost decade and dungy great defense with a putrid offense outside of Dunn and alstott…let’s not forget the jameis years where we was in every game and the defense crumbled worst under defensive mind coaches Ala lovie Smith so change doesn’t always bring results people begging for belichick or Matt Patricia lol I like my football exciting those 2 are boring personalities and Patricia lost his job to Dan Campbell lol
December 30th, 2025 at 10:23 pm
It’s not as bad as it seems
We lost 4 straight games by a total of 11 points
I sure have seen a whole, whole lot worse
December 30th, 2025 at 10:24 pm
That’s his dude, of course he going to politic this thing.
I like how the fans are on what Bruce said on the show and all the sudden Joe’s right about it.🤣🤣🤣 watching the SC game Lincoln dies have he qb get under center.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:26 pm
People forgot when we use to Trott out Vincent Jackson with tiquan underwood and Preston Parker lol
December 30th, 2025 at 10:26 pm
They are friends for life and Arians would be on the outs with the team if he said otherwise. They should both be gone ASAP.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:30 pm
Whatever happened to Elijah Klein? You can’t tell me he’s any worse than Michael Jordan or Feeney.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:30 pm
This is click bait. Bowles is gone. Arians wants to by the “successful coach” we remember as long as he can. He was the same guy that was livid when we got rid of leftwhich when he wanted him. He has not say nor knowledge. Glazers keep it close to the best. He’s gone.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:31 pm
If you guys would ever see Klein in the locker room, you’d know why.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:33 pm
Well, i guess I’ll take a year off because i cant stand watching him anymore or his scheme…ive done it before with my college team….about 4 years before they got rid of that idiot.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:35 pm
So your saying Joe that Klein was another “bust” pick by Licht
December 30th, 2025 at 10:38 pm
We as fans can not see what’s going on internally. I am sure the Glazers have a plan in place especially after the Bucs have lost 6 out of 7. If Bowles stay I am sure most of the defensive staff will be let go and definitely ST and CB coaches. Maybe DL also. Ever since Bowles has been DC or HC his defensive back field has been mediocre and now I am hearing it was the same thing in New York.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:39 pm
Typing to fast on the last text. Proof read Mr Green 🤣🤣🤣👏🏾👏🏾🤙🏾
I like Kliff for the gig, college head coach,Pro head coach. we have the
Offensive personnel. I do like how in shotgun Riley has a two backs backfield.
Imagine👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 White should go to the Chiefs if they don’t draft the Notre Dame Rb.
It’s going to be a fun off season after Black Monday. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾
December 30th, 2025 at 10:39 pm
Bucco Bruce dropping truth bombs on McAfee—vintage Arians, calling out vet busts and Baker’s battle scars like only the Super Bowl whisperer caN. Cute stat, but I’m no sacrificial lamb—three South titles deep, extension-locked, and one Panthers W from playoffs. BA brought the pirate ship; I’m steering it home. Haters, enjoy the show—Bowles survives, thrives, and toasts with Bucco. No vacancy here till ‘28.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:42 pm
“Whatever happened to Elijah Klein?”
“If you guys would ever see Klein in the locker room, you’d know why.”
What in the bleep bleep is that. Well 🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️ amazing
December 30th, 2025 at 10:45 pm
I have a bad feeling that they are going to fire the OC and ST coaches hire new ones along with a DC and and leave this pathetic coach in charge to manage this sinking team. When they suck again next year they finally fire him and we once again get to start from scratch.
Why for the love God won’t they just look at his history as a very bad head coach and can him now
December 30th, 2025 at 10:49 pm
LOL Given how much Arians likes his Crown, he’d be awfully triggered.
Not sure Joe has ever heard or read the word “bust” used for a sixth-round pick. LOL
What Joe is saying is Klein looks more like a bouncer at Ferg’s than an NFL guard. Clearwater Central Catholic likely has a guard or two just as big as Klein.
December 30th, 2025 at 10:51 pm
Get rid of the D-E-I hire. I’d take Bruce back as head coach but bowles must go
December 30th, 2025 at 10:52 pm
A candidate I wouldn’t mind would be Brian Flores from Minnesota I like his defensive scheme or Jim Schwartz would love to pry Steve spagnolo from the chiefs
December 30th, 2025 at 10:54 pm
And you know he’ll be the one pushing for it. In most other organizations, this conversation wouldn’t even being had. Could you imagine Jeffrey Laurie, or Howie Roseman letting this pathetic display go on? Yeah, me either.
December 30th, 2025 at 11:05 pm
Super convincing take by Bruce.
December 30th, 2025 at 11:08 pm
Bruce Almighty has pull at One Buc Place
I always listen to what he has to say
December 30th, 2025 at 11:13 pm
Glazer Family wouldn’t be able to sell Season Passes if this coaching staff returns next year. Hell, no one in 2012 would’ve purchased season tickets if the party man Raheem Morris and friends stuck around due to the 10 game losing streak in 2011.
December 30th, 2025 at 11:16 pm
Klein was a sixth round reach from Utep. In his few snaps this year, he was dumptrucked. Baker was tasting his shampoo …
December 30th, 2025 at 11:17 pm
They let Liam Coen steal Robert Hainsey from them
After they spent a 3rd on him, and cross- trained him
December 30th, 2025 at 11:19 pm
Lakeland
All due respect, but you’re back and forth more than a pickle ball.
December 30th, 2025 at 11:20 pm
won’t count against the cap and he’s paid less than 1/2 the team !! Your Fired !!
December 30th, 2025 at 11:30 pm
Jmarkbic,
Yeah l know 😂😂
December 30th, 2025 at 11:31 pm
Just waiting til next week to see what direction the team is going. The Glazers always have something up their sleeve. The Bucs have won 2 Super Bowls under the Glazers One way or another the Glazers WILL make some significant changes this offseason
December 30th, 2025 at 11:35 pm
We need some Bucs fans to wear paper bags over their heads at the game this Sunday. Just like in the Creamsicle days… It will be a full circle moment for our 50th Anniversary
December 30th, 2025 at 11:37 pm
Well then your eyes don’t work very well, because the defense hasn’t shown up in about 8 weeks.
Or maybe you’re part of the Jameis homer crew that still wants him and his 30 INTs back?
December 30th, 2025 at 11:42 pm
He should help his old buddy out by riding around on his golf cart and actually get on people’s asses and Start calling players out when they blow assignments… accountability
December 30th, 2025 at 11:46 pm
I never seen a team quit that lost 4 straight games by 11 points
Like l said, a few Loafers are not getting it done
But they haven’t quit
December 30th, 2025 at 11:55 pm
The defense gave up 20 points after the offense turned the ball over 3 times. That’s not my definition of quit.
December 31st, 2025 at 12:01 am
IF true, that would make the documentary a load of BS!
Not surprising from the lackluster ownership!
December 31st, 2025 at 12:14 am
I don’t know how as a HC you can start blaming all of the players publically and then come back and regroup them next year. He sounded an awful lot to me like a guy who knows he’s likely gone
December 31st, 2025 at 12:27 am
Are we gonna let coach Bowels bring us down
Oh no lets go !
We are all excited, don’t know why
Maybe its because Todd is gonna fry
And when he do
What’s it all for
You better fire him now before Blazers come knocking @ your door.
Are we gonna let coach Bowels let us down
Oh no lets go
Lets go crazy
Todd gonna make everything sprite
Will make everything go wrong
Hang tough Buc fans
New Coach is coming
He’s coming
Coming
TAKE TODD AWAY……….
December 31st, 2025 at 12:29 am
Gotta appreciate a Prince fan
December 31st, 2025 at 12:39 am
Some idiot wrote:
“Baker knows he needs to score 40”
Do you even watch the goddamn games?!
They last 4 games, he needed 25 against the Saints, 24 against the Panthers, had the ball and the lead against Atl when he threw a horrible pick, needed 21 against Miami, had the ball against the Panthers and need 3 pts and threw a pick, and threw horrible pick against Miami.
You Baker fanboys sound ridiculous trying to defend his horrible play in December.
December 31st, 2025 at 12:44 am
Arians should be part on the post season purge. Frankly, I would include Licht as well.
December 31st, 2025 at 1:37 am
Arians has a lot of clout at One Buc.
He will do anything he can to help his best buddy Bowles keep his job
December 31st, 2025 at 2:52 am
Hopefully it was just Arians drunkenness that makes him think the Bucs won’t make a change….THE BUCS NEED A NEW HEAD COACH FOR 2026.
December 31st, 2025 at 2:55 am
Erik with Pilot and Driver™ Says:
“paper bags… It will be a full circle moment for our 50th Anniversary.”
.
.
LOL
December 31st, 2025 at 3:34 am
Hopefully that is BAs way of saying something nice about his friend. Honestly I don’t know how Bowels stays. He should retire either way. How is this fun for him? He NEVER looks excited so why does he do it. Go raise good young men at church. This is a business and the fans KNOW what is happening. The Glazers have a business because of us. The 2 times we have win a SB, it was with an offensive mind as HC. That isn’t going to change the way the NFL works right now.
They should already be beating the bushes IMO. Continuing to HOPE this season turns around is fruitless. We don’t even control our own destiny now.
Im sorry but it’s a joke watching them play. They could beat the Panthers by 30 and it won’t matter. I really hope the Bucs get last in the NFCS. Maybe the Glazers can’t ignore that. IMO they aren’t cut out for NFL ownership and are too nice.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:42 am
Fully respect BA, nevertheless he is close to Todd. So he has some skin in the game. My humble opinion; the Glazers could most likely surprise us and it could be something big again that none of us were thinking. They may already have a plan and possibly Jason and BA are not in on that conversation. And maybe because BA, Jason, and others will not be part of their next season plan either.
The Glazers will not be able to band-aid this with interim’s and other low performing coaches coming in, especially if we lose on Saturday. They care about the fans and if they aren’t feeling a good fan vibe they will make real big changes.
I don’t agree with a lot of what the Glazers do and where they may spend their monies elsewhere. It’s their money though. However, they are better owners then what there was and are elsewhere. And going back to their dad’s legacy, they seem to really care. They want the Brady effect feeling again. And so do we.
December 31st, 2025 at 5:33 am
“Or maybe you’re part of the Jameis homer crew that still wants him and his 30 INTs back?“
Funny take.
2019 Bucs scored 458 total points averaging 28.6 ppg in 16 games
That offense 8 games of scoring at least 28 points
That offense had a QB had 4 games throwing <200 yds passing
That QB threw 30 TDs in 16 games
2025 Bucs have scored 364 total points 22.7 ppg in 16 games
This offense has 5 games of scoring at least 28 points
This offense has a QB that’s had 8 games with <200 yds passing
This QB might not even make 30 TDs in 17 games
That’s with the 23 INT difference. Winston also threw for 1700 more yards than Mayfield has at this point and was on a team that had as many wins as we do now lol
Not all QBs are created equally and simply playing the same position doesn’t mean they’re all capable of the same things.
December 31st, 2025 at 6:07 am
He’s being paid as an advisor, but when asked what’s wrong with the Bucs your guess is as good as mine? That’s funny. Bruce knows what’s wrong with the Bucs it’s his boy Todd Bowles.
December 31st, 2025 at 6:08 am
If true the fans on the run will stampede
December 31st, 2025 at 6:21 am
The hammers will fall soon. The Bucs need a total clean out. They need to send Dean packing too. Imagine him being too injured to play in the last game. He’ll probably watch it from the Bahamas.
December 31st, 2025 at 6:38 am
Dean needs to get his bad next year from another team. Why suit up risk injury, or putting bad tape out there. Besides the Bucs made him give part of his bag back, than they gave that bag to Zyon, who’s worse than Dean. Soon the fans will get there bags. Unfortunatly there will be no money in the fans bag instead it’s to be put over your head should you decide to go to a game again.
December 31st, 2025 at 7:06 am
Terrible record against teams with a winning record. Playoff record sucks out loud. Record when playing games on the national stage blows. Overall coaching record is pathetic. Ineptitude in every aspect. He Gone. The ship be sinking and the sky is the limit.
December 31st, 2025 at 8:15 am
Please don’t let the only big news on Black Monday be that the Bucs fired the ST Coordinator.
December 31st, 2025 at 8:21 am
This is the new version of the old Vote of Confidence from ownership. They want Bowles and the team focused on trying to win 1 game. That used to be known as the “Dreaded Vote of Confidence”. Come Monday we should know, hopefully.
December 31st, 2025 at 8:23 am
And he thought Leftwich was a HC candidate too
No offense BA just sayin
December 31st, 2025 at 8:48 am
The GOAT gave Bruce Arians his platform. No Tom Brady at QB = No Ring of Honor for Bruce. Bruce anointed Todd Bowles. The GOAT + HC Todd Bowles = 8-9 and a first round loss. Stop it, Bruce. Your conflict of interest has co-opted your objectivity. Not to mention who pays your checks.
On a separate subject… Let’s be careful when comparing Jameis Winston’s stats to Baker Mayfield (or anybody else). At least 50% of Winston’s passing yardage and his TD passes came in 2nd half garbage time after his 1st half turnovers had left the Bucs in a deep hole at halftime.
December 31st, 2025 at 9:16 am
That last 8-9 season with the GOAT was such a waste of his final year. I can’t believe Glazerd promoted Bowles to HC after the GOAT and Co came back to tie the playoff game only to lose because of Bowles defensive scheme. You could see the Bowles effect as the season wore on. Even Brady couldn’t do anything about it as Bowles would take the ball out of his hands to punt.
December 31st, 2025 at 9:30 am
“At least 50% of Winston’s passing yardage and his TD passes came in 2nd half garbage time after his 1st half turnovers had left the Bucs in a deep hole at halftime.“
Even if that were the case in some games, doesn’t invalidate the production.
That team was more explosive, generated more points, and had much better WR production that this year team through the same amount of games. Plenty of differences, capability of the QBs of that team and this years team is a big part of it. 30 picks sucked, doing that as a top 5 offense makes it even crazier
December 31st, 2025 at 9:44 am
Fire Todd
December 31st, 2025 at 9:50 am
HeyJude
I think you’ve got it right.
December 31st, 2025 at 10:21 am
Well I am sure the Glazers will feel it in ticket sales next year if a change isn’t made. I will be 1 of thousands that will NOT go!!!
December 31st, 2025 at 10:21 am
Jon Gruden HC 2026 with Rod Marinelli as DC, Keep Tom Moore on staff as an offensive assistant.
December 31st, 2025 at 10:22 am
Joe’s, what the hell happened to Luke Haggard and why have the Bucs not reinserted him back at RG ???
He was starting to play decent before the injury.
I’m sure he’s healed now and for some reason they keep going with mullet Feeney when he’s awful!!!
Haggard is a big boy and he was settling in nicely…
Another crapshow of the Bucs coaching…
December 31st, 2025 at 10:47 am
Bruce, us fans sincerely appreciate you being a major component to our 2nd super bowl championship. But please just enjoy your retirement and cocktails. Stevie Wonder and Mr. Magoo can clearly see Todd’s gotta go!!
December 31st, 2025 at 11:43 am
Bobby Says:
December 31st, 2025 at 10:21 am
Jon Gruden HC 2026 with Rod Marinelli as DC, Keep Tom Moore on staff as an offensive assistant.
Mariinelli is 76yrs old man. Let him enjoy his retirement.
December 31st, 2025 at 4:22 pm
@Warren Brooks Lynch – all those yards and points are meaningless when you also throw 30 interceptions, including SEVEN pick-6s, the most in NFL history.
You Jamies truthers sure are a strange bunch…
December 31st, 2025 at 4:40 pm
FIRE THIS GEEZER!!!!!
This guys is ripping off the Glazers.
If Bowles stays than he stays. It’s another scam.
FIRE THESE DINOSAURS!!!
Joe’s…what the F…these guys are done. The game has passed them by.