Rondé Barber: Todd Bowles’ Seat Is Not Hot
December 24th, 2025
Team Glazer members.
This sure is a fat lump of coal in the stocking of most serious Bucs fans.
Joe hates sharing this news and destroying people’s holiday season, but Bucs insider/employee/pal of Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht said today on his streaming WFLA show that Todd Bowles is not in significant danger of losing his job as Buccaneers head coach.
Barber did not appear to be impaired.
“Look, no, we’re not in the market [for a new head coach,]” Barber said. “We’ve won three straight division titles. I get the feeling that change is not coming. Change is coming for a lot of teams, but I don’t think it’s [coming for Tampa Bay]. I’d say his seat is probably a little uncomfortable, but it ain’t hot.”
Barber went on to say he’s not overly impressed with the young offensive minds being talked about as future head coaches, including Seattle playcaller Klint Kubiak, who has a heck of a pedigree. Barber says nobody out there now has shown he’s the next Liam Coen.
“Careful what you wish for is all I’m saying with these young guys that seem hot,” Barber said.
Asked to state his level of confidence that Todd Bowles returns as head coach next year, Barber replied as follows:
“Pretty high. Pretty high. I’ll leave it at that,” Barber said. “I could be deadass wrong, but it’s pretty high. Who are you going to get?”
Barber had plenty of other thoughts about why the Bucs shouldn’t change coaches. Joe thought it was telling that never once in his four minutes of chatter on the subject did Barber say Bowles is a good head coach and/or that the thought of change is preposterous on merit.
That reminded Joe of Baker Mayfield twice being asked about fans wanting Bowles gone and Mayfield, too, never responded by saying Bowles is a good coach.
Shouldn’t that be the first and easy response when anyone is asked about a coach they want to keep?
Barber acknowledged that Team Glazer has not called him to advise him that Bowles will be fired.
How down are Bucs fans on the current team? Joe will defer to Monday’s flash poll. Most fans don’t want the team to make the playoffs.
Ira Kaufman Talks Sloppy Bucs, Todd Bowles Survival Meter III, Locker Room Thoughs, And More
December 24th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
Picture tells you all you need to know. DUH!!!
December 24th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
[Not only is that charge not fair, it’s inaccurate — Joe] And yes this team should not be the playoffs. There is so much dead wood on this team you would run out of gas for chain saw cutting it.
December 24th, 2025 at 2:38 pm
They gotta spin this debacle somehow. Have players associated with the team say everything is fine with the leadership during a 1-7 slide after the bye.
Tell me, how do division titles help teams go deep in the playoffs? Last time the Bucs won the chip they didnt win the division. Smh…but do you really expect Ronde to say anything other than this?
December 24th, 2025 at 2:38 pm
“ Who are you gonna get?”
A ham sandwich would be more motivational
December 24th, 2025 at 2:39 pm
Crazy “fans” don’t want the Bucs to make the playoffs. Absurd.
December 24th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
Only way it wouldn’t be hot is if he’s gonna be gone or unless he’s staying already. I don’t know if everyone can deal with this the inconsistency anymore though.
December 24th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
Kubiak is just a name, he’s been with 5 teams since 2021 and is just 38 year old. Only reason that name rings any bells is because of his dad Gary who was a hell of an offensive mind in his own right. Pedigree? Or his dad stepping down as Vikings OC and Klint getting that job soon after, that’s how he got his start as an OC in the NFL.
I’d say go after Kingsbury, but doubt he wants to work with Baker because of their history.
Chip Kelly for OC ’26
December 24th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
“Careful what you wish for is all I’m saying with these young guys that seem hot,”
So let’s stay with a coach that obviously isn’t the answer? 🙄 it would be the biggest kick to the groin to many buccaneer fans if the Glazers decide to keep Todd. Good grief, thanks for ruining my Christmas haha
December 24th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
Barber
Who are you going to get?”
*****************************************************8
That’s my greatest concern. There’s nobody available worth replacing him with.
Had the Glazers made the decision after he gave up with time on the clock in the playoff loss to the lions a couple of years ago, we would have had a good shot at Harbaugh (Chargers).
I don’t see anyone even close to that now.
December 24th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
Hopefully what that means is that HE DOES NOT HAVE A SEAT!
🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
December 24th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
I’ve been a fan since the beginning. If Toilet Bowles returns I’m not wasting $ on Sunday Ticket. Let’s lose out. Get the best pick and schedule next year. Plus a competent coach
December 24th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Somebody should put an airbag on Todd’s office chair & then when he sits down in it he’ll fly up in the air then.
December 24th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
The Glazers are not going to fire Bowles, Jason Licht will have to fire him. And Licht job is on the line, as much as Bowles job. The Glazers should do as the NBA Denver Nuggets owner did. He fired their Championship winning HC and GM a few days before the playoffs.
The Glazers need to do exactly what the Nuggets did
Fire Licht and Bowles, their time is up
December 24th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Did Ronde really say
There is not that next Liam Cohen ….
That implies that OBP was left holding the bag !
This conversation was happening this time last year!
🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
December 24th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
of course lol
December 24th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
News Flash his seat’s not hot because he is retiring!!! Wake up folks!
December 24th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Mike Evans would have to say I’m not playing next to a defense like this for the glazers to figure it out. they’d still let him walk and risk losing even more games to keep Bowles
December 24th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
I think im just gonna walk away from this team if he’s back…..i’ll check in now and then to laugh, but i have better things to do than follow a turd going down the toilet.
December 24th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
I love Ronde… But that’s ridiculous from one side to the other. First of all the fanbase screaming for blood has definitely not gone unnoticed. Secondly, they invested a lot of effort in the 50th anniversary. As far as the candidates? Did anyone in the league other than Jacksonville think Liam Coen was going to take them this far, this fast? No. Mike Vrabel had a 54% win/loss with the Titans and look at what is happening there. There are more but… whats the point. You don’t know. Sometimes the message goes stale. You have to wonder about Mike Tomlin.
December 24th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
Careful what you wish for? Wtf this team is losing to the worst teams in the league which happen to be in their own division becareful what you wish for as if we are not at the bottom haven’t won a game in the month of December be quiet rande just be quiet.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
They understand the following: losing your guards is huge. Lack of pass rush puts secondary under duress. Linebacking core needs overhaul. Malcontents will be shown the door. Positives: oc has year under belt. Receiving core will be healthy. Guards will be healthy . Licht will address pass rush ( bengals edge star?) David walker healthy. I would offer a caveat. Make salah an offer…stud defensive mind. He could lure a few defense free agents.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
The dreaded vote of confidence, definitely means he’s on the hot seat.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:05 pm
Retire, get fired, get down sized, whatever. Another year of Bowles will lead to a pile of empty seats at RJ stadium. I think the Glaziers know this and certainly don’t want lower revenue and to look like fools – which they absolutely will. Keeping Bowles is the wrong answer. I could handle a new coach, some player changes and some growing pains for a year. Can not handle another year of middle of the road Bowles.
Win out, win a playoff game and maybe, maybe Bowles keeps his job. Otherwise – what is the point?
December 24th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
Ronde – is the arrow pointing up? Go ask the Glaziers which way it’s pointing then get back to us.
9-7 and a playoff win or heads should roll. Period end of story.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
Seriously.
Anyone is better than Todd.
Jason wants to keep Todd so he can protect is own rear
December 24th, 2025 at 3:11 pm
lol….
December 24th, 2025 at 3:11 pm
Oh and Todd is not going to retire unless that is his only option,
Dude is getting paid to be terrible, easiest job in the NFL.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
I don’t believe the Bucs can get a decent coach, with Licht as the GM.
Coen accepted the Jags job, after they fired the GM
I don’t believe Coen would have accepted the Bucs job, with Licht as GM
December 24th, 2025 at 3:16 pm
I mean, do you want them to lie to you? Bowles is a mediocre coach who can’t get out of his own way. He’s a “defensive mastermind”, who doesn’t prioritize an edge rush, and has a terrible defense… What exactly would be considered “good”? That he hired a great offensive coordinator last year? Okay…
December 24th, 2025 at 3:18 pm
Team Glazer has won two Lombardi Trophies since 2002 and I have zero doubt they want to win another. Only two teams in the NFL (Chiefs & Patriots) have won more than two since then. I trust that they’ll do what is needed to address the issues on the team.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Might be time for me to start turning my attention to the north (Jags)! At least they try and make moves to improve their team! Bucs seam to be content with mediocrity! Besides, they are closer geographically to me anyway. I was born and raised in Tampa and have been a HUGH fan since their inception…just getting tired of the same old same old!
December 24th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
If he’s back next season me and thousands of fans just like me won’t be…that’s not a threat that’s s promise and I don’t give 2 craps what he does the rest of this season.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:35 pm
So barely .500 is going to be the standard?
Got it.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Ronde is just another Glazer shill.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:40 pm
America spends zillions of dollars on football each year, from grade school to the pros… and this is the best available? There should be a plethora of solid coaches and players waiting in line to be hired. No one decent to replace Bowles? No one great to back up Baker. Embarrassing.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
Fire all the coaches and move the team to a new city in a different state 👍🏼
December 24th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
If I were the Glazers, with billions at risk, I’d be evaluating this coaching staff REAL HARD. Maybe though Ronde is looking at this from a different perspective than us ‘fans’.
I look at this coaching staff & have come to the conclusion that the OC needs to be replaced. Learning on-the-job is one thing, but what I’ve seen lately is a very young, inexperienced coordinator who seemingly has no answers for the really critical times in games when winning or losing is really at stake.
The DC needs to be replaced. This Bucs’ defense is in freefall, and getting worse not just every year, but every game.
And the S/Ts coach needs to be replaced. It’s gotten so bad that the Bucs now kick it into the end zone and give opposing teams an excellent starting position at the 35 yard line. All it takes is about them gaining about 30 yards, possibly less, to get a FG.
Who hired them all? The HC, and if ALL of your key coaches are under-performing, and you’re apparently doing nothing about it, then maybe YOU should be fired along with them.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
JBF asks “shouldn’t that be the 1st response”
No, unless someone ask the question what kind of Coach is TBowles? Otherwise they’re answering the question that’s asked.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
“Barber says nobody out there now has shown he’s the next Liam Coen.”
I’m sorry, but there is better than Coen available. The Offensive Coordinator of the Chiefs (Nagy) for one.
Teams take out OCs all the time. It’s about time we do the same.
So Barber is likely wrong.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
Gruden
December 24th, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Won three straight division titles with a .500 record in the worst division in the league. Get out of here with this nonsense. My the standards are low for this guy.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Mikeinlutz Says:
“There is so much dead wood on this team you would run out of gas for chain saw cutting it.”
That’s is a total crock. We have a lot of great talent on this team. The issue is the coaching.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
ElioT Says
“So barely .500 is going to be the standard?
Got it.”
Just over it. Or .500 exactly if they lose the next 2 games.
Baker has a better record. Licht has a great record.
(going by the last 5 years)
December 24th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
JohnQCitizen Says:
“Gruden”
Spoken like a fan who wasn’t here last time he was head coach.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
Whatevs Says
“Jason wants to keep Todd so he can protect is own rear”
You are always so full of it. You might think that, but I’d guess Jason wants to win. Period. If the Glazers tell him they want a change and they want someone with a very high chance of success no matter the price…he’ll get someone.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
DR
Bowles is practicing for his new job in the UFL. They start on the 30 line.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Fans on the run. But he is right. The hot seat should be the Glazers.
And the first fan said to the second one there I hope you’re having fun
Fans on the run.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:06 pm
A lot of players on the defense need to either be demoted or cut. The Bucs really need to clean house, both coaches and players on the D. Licht has drafted some pretty poor players on the D that should not be starting. I got a kick out seeing SVD’s interview yesterday, what a joke. Seems the Bucs are hyping all of Licht’s draft mistakes. But the fans that watch the games know the truth. BTW, keeping Bowles is just stupid, the guy is a clown show. Gruden would do a much better job.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:06 pm
Made a guess a few days back that I thought that Bowles might likely retire at the end of the Bucs season. Hodad, I think it was, made the point that Bowles has big dollars left on his contract and would stick around to collect through 2028. Good Point. No doubt. Makes sense. That could serve to keep him hanging around.
But..I made the guess (prediction?) and I’m going stick with it. I only hope it’s not just wishful thinking on my part. Maybe it’s finally hit home with him that he’s just not capable of winning in this league and the money alone would not be worth the embarrassment.
The Glazers are on the clock.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:07 pm
Grover… and another song.
On, no one knows what goes on behind closed doors.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
*Oh*
December 24th, 2025 at 4:13 pm
Been a Fan since 1976 and no matter who the Coach is I will still be a fan. Fan means Fanatic.. Bucs are like Family may not always like what family does but always there.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:17 pm
Fire Todd….. tired of the up and down Seasons every year because of this guy
December 24th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
Fire Todd
December 24th, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Why did my comment just deleted lol? I didn’t say anything bad
December 24th, 2025 at 4:40 pm
Ronde was a great player for the Bucs. Todd has been a mediocre coach for the Bucs. Todd has reached his ceiling as a head coach. So-So regular season and one game in the playoffs and out. That’s it. If the owners are satisfied, that’s on them. the fans are not satisfied. They want a coach that cane go further with his players progressing during the season and not Todd regressing. The fans will accept a new coach growing into the job. The fans won’t accept another Todd mid-season swoon. I think Ronde is wrong to think there’s no better alternative to Todd. No one on Todd’s staff will get another job after this year. On another subject: Todd and Jason have kept Bullock on the team after the head butt. Says a lot about them doesn’t it… no accountability.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
nothing but gas coming from one buc place the last couple of days while they circle the wagons trying to sell some tickets.
up next TJ rives with 10 reasons why todd bowles is a top 10 coach
December 24th, 2025 at 4:52 pm
If this season doesn’t epitomize a massive dumpster fire on all levels then I’m not sure what would qualify for Ronde
December 24th, 2025 at 4:53 pm
Bummer
December 24th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
Okay, I guess you can’t post You Tube links here even if clean
Okay, I will try this
Is Barber sure or just ‘pretty’ sure?
Like # 9 in Thunderball in the big meeting?
Or Mustafa in Austin Powers?
December 24th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
Agreed Jimmy, BucsHQ is a gas plant emitting the world’s biggest farts and gaslighting fans that their S**t doesn’t stink. Bowles and Licht need to go.
December 24th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
@DR – you nailed. The coaching in all 3 phases of the game has been sub par this year, and ESPECIALLY so in the back half of the season, when teams should be playing their best football.
Instead, we’ve been playing our worst.