The Time Sunday When Todd Bowles Got Heated
December 4th, 2025
Sharp words for his defense.
One reason Todd Bowles hasn’t won over a segment of the Bucs’ fanbase — and short of a Super Bowl, likely never will — is these fans want cartoon characters on the sidelines (think Chucky).
The same fans, Joe sort of understands, want a coach to care as much for the Bucs as they do. These same people see Bowles’ stoic (public) demeanor — he’s not a stoic man — as representing indifference, as if Bowles is punching a timeclock and can’t wait to get home.
Joe has been fortunate enough to get to see and chat with Bowles behind the scenes a few times and he can be a borderline gregarious man with an awesome sense of humor. Joe tells this to some people and they are flabbergasted by the description.
The Sage of Tampa Bay sports, JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman, often gets this side of Bowles to escape when Bowles appears on Ira’s podcast. Jenna Laine of ESPN has been known to get Bowles to open up (publicly) from time to time as has Father Dungy.
Joe has heard of Bowles unloading on players, though not often. Joe saw this in a training camp practice this past summer. Joe didn’t hear Bowles, but man, did the place get quiet when Bowles had the Bucs circle around him and Joe saw players’ faces when they returned to practice.
This TikTok video found its way to Joe’s “For You” feed earlier this week. No specific description is provided by the username “realr1ccherm” other than, “When You About To Blow a 17-3 Lead In The 4th Vs a 3-8 Team.”
The nine-second video shows Bowles from behind on the field. The defense is gathered around him and they all have an “OMG” look on their faces. Bowles is very animated, maybe more than Joe has ever seen.
It’s clear Bowles is heated. Joe learned from two defensive players after the win over the Cardinals that Bowles read his defense the riot act just before they took the field and got a four-and-out to send the Bucs’ offense into victory formation.
Since the TikTok user references the fourth quarter of the Cardinals game, Joe is going to connect the dots.
Regardless, the video demonstrates Bowles is not always the wooden figure he portrays often in public settings. Joe thinks Bowles just chooses not go after his players in front of others and prefers doing that, if needed, to happen behind closed doors or in a closed practice as not to show up players.
So for those who want their head coach to get “fired up,” here you go.
December 4th, 2025 at 4:14 am
Would you rather have Todd Bowles and the Bucs being an above average team or would you rather go back to the days of Ray Perkins burning all of his players out ?
Never forget that fan is short for fanatic.
December 4th, 2025 at 4:26 am
What Bowles did is not being emotional, animated, or a cartoon. What Bowles did is actually coaching. That’s what fans want to see. Standing stoic, arms folded while your defense is being abused is not what fans want to see. We want to see more of what Bowles did Sunday, COACH! It’s not always about Xs, and Os. Sometimes it’s about making sure your players heads are in the game. If that means a sideline scolding, than that’s what the fans want to see.
December 4th, 2025 at 5:03 am
I’ve been on Bowles side for years. My father, quite the opposite. We’ve never had a pass rush since he’s been a head coach. I think if we had an inkling of a pass rush you would see how good his defensive scheme is. With that said, I have been a little more skeptical of Bowles this year. Playoffs are nice but we shouldn’t be one and done almost every year.
December 4th, 2025 at 6:18 am
Lol lawrence we havent had a pass rush since monte kiffin… not just “since bowles got here”… part of the problem is the bucs have not been able to draft a pass rusher
December 4th, 2025 at 6:23 am
Before that 4th down stop in the 4th quarter, certain players looked like they were not giving 100% and it is refreshing to hear that Bowles will raise his voice. However, why did it take so long and why are the players allowing other teams back into games? So is it Bowles scheme, the fact that some of his players loaf, perhaps because they do not like Bowles’ scheme which involves so many players like the OLB and DL playing back in coverage, the fact the scheme is too complex or the lack of talent by the players or a combo of all the above…. It is week 14 of the season and the D looks worse than it did in the first 4 games. Perhaps instead of yelling, if Bowles benched a loafer, that might resonate.
December 4th, 2025 at 6:40 am
“””Would you rather have Todd Bowles and the Bucs being an above average team or would you rather go back to the days of Ray Perkins burning all of his players out ?”””
Oh what a crock of $hyt. That’s such a pathetic lazy argument.
December 4th, 2025 at 6:44 am
That’s actually all of the problem. Established pass rushers with elite athleticism disappear immediately in the draft. Just like left tackles.
December 4th, 2025 at 7:33 am
Agreed FMD and start with zyon
December 4th, 2025 at 7:51 am
“BucU Says:
December 4th, 2025 at 6:40 am
“””Would you rather have Todd Bowles and the Bucs being an above average team or would you rather go back to the days of Ray Perkins burning all of his players out ?”””
Oh what a crock of $hyt. That’s such a pathetic lazy argument.”
Bingo.
Anyone who thinks this way – settling for mediocrity because “I remember worse” – is a fool. Get over your “Lost Decade or creamsicle era PTSD”. Mediocrity is ok if you’re trending up. That’s not what’s happening here.
December 4th, 2025 at 8:00 am
Stormy ,..let the season end and see where we are at before calling the season mediocrity ..You obviously were not around for the bad times I can always tell who was and who was not…8-9 and being home for the playoffs is mediocrity.
December 4th, 2025 at 8:00 am
Being stoic on the sidelines worked for Landry and the Bear….
December 4th, 2025 at 8:02 am
Who cares? Every coach in the NFL gets heated. The fact that we’re making a big deal of him getting a little animated is precisely why he sucks as a head coach.
December 4th, 2025 at 8:08 am
I don’t care how the head acts or doesn’t act on the sideline. I would just like Bowles to have his defense slow down offenses and not make our offense to have to score 30 to win a game. Please hire a defensive coordinator next year so you can just be the head coach. I think you would be great.
December 4th, 2025 at 8:29 am
Bowles in game message to fire up the team – “we need to coach better and you folks need to play better” Gee!!!!
December 4th, 2025 at 8:31 am
“Fans want cartoon characters on the sidelines.”
As if we don’t have one now…
December 4th, 2025 at 8:33 am
Tons of coaches. Chuck Noll, Bill Walsh, Paul Brown.
To quote Bum Phillips, “Coachin’ ain’t hollering.’”
December 4th, 2025 at 8:37 am
The intensity game is measured differently, the chucky/gordon ramsey type of screamers/intimidators eventually get tuned out and lose their teams, would i like to see more fire and passion from the leadership, absolutely
December 4th, 2025 at 8:44 am
You are so wrong, we dont like him because his defense sucks and he is wasting this team’s best players. But you keep kissing his ass for another interview
December 4th, 2025 at 8:49 am
Fire Todd
December 4th, 2025 at 8:52 am
these clowns are never happy lol
great job bowles!!!!
GO BUCS!!!
December 4th, 2025 at 8:57 am
What know-nothing fans don’t realize is that coaches that get animated and scream a lot quickly get tuned out by players. Greg Schiano was incredibly animated and easy to upset…. the players had tuned him out by year 2. Players don’t play harder because they don’t want the coach to yell at them… this isn’t pee wee football. And they don’t play harder because of a great pep talk, this isn’t Hollywood. Players play hard because they want to win and not let the others down around them. That comes down to drafting passionate players and having coaches and teammates that hold others accountable. That’s it.
December 4th, 2025 at 10:26 am
While that doesn’t change my opinion on Bowles it is nice to know he gets on his players during a game and didn’t wait until the game was over. That obviously was a critical juncture in the game and they really made a couple of good plays on that final Cardinals possession. Maybe he should do that more often. Whatever he said to them had an impact.
December 4th, 2025 at 11:00 am
Terrific videos! Thanks for sharing, Joe.
December 4th, 2025 at 11:09 am
That don’t bother me one bit.
The midseason collapses do
The soft a$$ defense does
The turtle play when up does
Getting out coached constantly does
Being 15 games under 500 as a HC does.
Not promoting coen does
Always dropping rushers in coverage does
Don’t care if he stands there or does backflips good coach is a good coach and it absolutely matters in football. He’s not a good HC
December 4th, 2025 at 11:25 am
I am the first to admit, I’m tired of not seeing any fire from the Defensive Coordinator. The correlation is, his team has no fire as well. I’m not looking for him to be a screamer constantly or contorting his face. I’m looking for him to fire up his team and correct mistakes. We have ONE video of him doing that, great! And for the love of all things living, please stop allowing your team to get to sleep when they have a two possession lead!
#noconfidence
December 4th, 2025 at 11:29 am
That IS NOT the coaches voice. That’s the guy who sent you the video, Obviously.
I’m sure others on the feed surmised that already but just in case….
However, I feel like screaming at the lazy son of a guns to. I can’t get my voice to that pitch but I think it would be pretty cool if it were a thing where they had to line up and listen to what 10/20 fans had to say about their performances TO THEIR FACES!
I don’t have a fear of that and am serious as the grave. Seems another Way to get through to them how we All feel about blessing OR waisting our time. Perhaps they’d take it Much More Seriously than they Obviously do…
As I recall, THEY ARE CONFUSED as to what a good job IS! Their words continue to ring in my ears from Joe’s interview in the locker room after we JUST HAD 44 BIG ONES dropped on us…! Do you remember?
(A small bit from one of the locker room leaders via a Massive 44pt Beat Down)
Joe asks how the player felt after the Embarrassing loss…
“I think we did a great job”……………………………………………………
December 4th, 2025 at 11:29 am
I am confused as to why Zyon McCollum is still playing 100% of snaps. He was targeted in pass coverage, and he was responsible for that disgusting missed tackle that led to a key first down on one of Arizona’s second half scoring drives where he failed to wrap up and just bounced off the WR. Give Vildor some reps at his position and make him earn his spot back. At the end of the day, he is gonna have to make some plays to keep from getting picked on. Right now, he is playing so tentatively trying not to get beat, he is an easy target. Vildor has shown better ball skills this year with an INT in the regular season and a good preseason.
December 4th, 2025 at 11:34 am
I have been a Bucs fan since before the 1st game at the Old Sombrero. This crap about, “we got it good now because we used to suck” is pathetic and ordering on PTSD. You can’t change history, so we will always, “used to suck”. I for one will not cheer for squeaking out a playoff berth in a crap division, in the final game and then losing in the 1st round of the playoffs Bowles is very mediocre. Basically, he’s a C student.
December 4th, 2025 at 11:52 am
StormyInFl Says; under Bowles the team has increased wins each year and have a great chance to do the same this year. As fans I feel like a lot on here don’t know how to support and criticize without going nuclear. The players aren’t quiting and the staff is definitely coaching them up. You can’t expect to win every game by a blowout, what team is? Everyone knew that those previous 3 games were going to be the toughest part of our schedule and the remaining games are supposed to have us going into the playoffs hot. Over half the franchises would love to have the current team/success that the Bucs have.
December 4th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
He should’ve done that after the first series of the Rams game.
December 4th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
If that what it takes Todd? Then jump in some A..!
December 4th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
The Cowboys bolstered their DLine by trading a 1st round pick and a 2nd round pick…it’s paying off after 2 -3 games, but if the Cowboys make the playoffs and get bounced early, was it worth it?
If they go deep in playoffs, it was worth it.
Same goes for Packers and their trade for Parsons
December 4th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Joe,
You’ve got it wrong. It’s not a matter of Todd Bowles not expressing his frustration or anger with his team. It’s his problem-solving that’s the problem. You can yell all you want at your team, it’s not guaranteed to get a response. However, if you bench poor performers, such as Logan Hall, Sirvocvea Dennis, Zion McCallum, etc., and replace them with Greg Gaines, Deion Jones, and Jacob Parrish You’re much more likely to get a better result. People miraculously play better when they find out that their jobs are gone. When are we gonna see that from the coach?
December 4th, 2025 at 2:02 pm
Dan Campbell doesn’t yell or jump up and down but he supports and motivates. His Defensive Coordinator is the same way. You have heard repeatedly they players lover playing for Dan Campbell. They want to win FOR Dan Campbell. You don’t see the Lions jumping out to a lead and then going to sleep. They’re also a team decimated by injuries, do we hear or see anything about them loafing?
December 4th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Dan Campbell and the Lions wont make the playoffs!!!!!…we cares about them…
they are, who we thought they were!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
December 4th, 2025 at 3:21 pm
Now that all our superstars are back (Kancey too hopefully) let’s see what the elite version of this team looks like. I doubt we are 1 and done in the playoffs either.
December 4th, 2025 at 3:43 pm
@813…..
Seriously dude? You’re calling people names again… That’s pretty funny because YOU were THAT same Clown just last week! Jumping up and down and demanding BETTER!
You named the Offense AND the Defense and yet here you are calling people names…
SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME!
Well Well…. And “THAT” makes YOU A HYPOCRITICAL CLOWN!
December 4th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
The Bucs fans want results. Last Sunday they got a W. Why did it taek Bowles 55 minutes into the game to read his D the riot act? Perhaps a bit sooner would have made this win more palitable! He got results!! I hope he remember that that’s what it took to make it happen! 5 more games to go! We need results!
Bowles, do what needs to be done at the earliest most point of the game. Please!
December 4th, 2025 at 5:56 pm
The look on the boys faces 😂
Obviously the team still respects coach. Also obviously they are trying to get better. Haters gonna hate and “fans” are going to continue to look at a complex operation thru simplistic eyes 🤷🏼.
Let’s go Bucs 💪🏼🏈
December 4th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
Maybe he should try doing this every week. Preferably at the beginning of the game…
December 4th, 2025 at 8:15 pm
I for one like how he goes about business. I’ve worked for both types of guys 1 like Bowles where he’s calm cool and collective. Just consistent and I’ve worked for a guy who cusses you out in front of everyone for a mistake. I will respect you more for pulling me aside and having a hard conversation with me about being better vs publicly humiliating me in front of everyone. Everyone responds differently
December 4th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
Where did Joe type that was Bowles’ voice?
December 4th, 2025 at 9:19 pm
If Joe’s wrong, then all the comments on this here site with people b!tching almost daily for years that Bowles’ isn’t doing jumping jacks on the sideline or acting like the Tasmanian Devil or the fans that tell Joe to his face that’s the biggest thing they have against Bowles are all just a dream Joe had then.
Not saying some fans don’t like his coaching and his results (that’s very fair). But easily the common denominator from the anti-Bowles crowd that Joe reads and hears people are griping about his public image.
December 5th, 2025 at 1:32 am
Well, you didn’t mention it wasn’t. Then again it was for general info. I didn’t actually think that you personally thought that it was his voice.
And if it was…. it would be No wonder they’ve been tuning him out!
December 5th, 2025 at 1:33 am
No wonder “why”…. it’s late
December 5th, 2025 at 1:40 am
Hold on… Public image? Who gives a brown stain about that? The “complaints” there Joe, is about FAR MORE than his public image.
I can’t believe you’re even serious. I don’t have to guess that this stands apart from others. We ALL wish his only problem was public image. I’m fairly CERTAIN the Outrage isn’t about that. Come On man….
December 5th, 2025 at 1:46 am
“Haters are gonna hate” and “Pollyanna’s are gonna Polly Waddle Doodle all day”
December 5th, 2025 at 4:57 am
Stoic as a slab of granite.
Jumping up and down like a village idiot.
It makes no difference.
Just get the job done.
Therein lies the problem.