Bruce Arians Endorses Todd Bowles, Staff Changes
January 12th, 2026
The Bucs’ former head coach also talked Baker Mayfield.
The Todd Bowles flag flies high at Bucco Bruce Arians’ homes.
The Bucs’ Super Bowl-winning head coach says Team Glazer made the right call approving Year 5 of the Todd Bowles regime.
Tampa Bay collapsed terribly after a 6-2 record, and did it against good and bad teams.
Arians endorsed Bowles heartily during his recent sitdown with Yahoo! Sports.
“Totally,” Arians replied when asked if the Bucs made the right call retaining Bowles.
“They went through a very, very injury-riddled season. And they did a hell of a job in September winning those close games without Tristan Wirfs, Baker Mayfield basically winning them all. Down the stretch he got beat up a little bit. The defensive guys got beat up a little bit. You know, to be in it to the last moment, they were against Carolina. … They blew a couple of games there late in the year that I thought they should have won. And I think that’s the ones that are haunting all of us. But Todd’s the right guy for the job and I think he’s going to make some staff changes, and rightfully so.”
Arians went on to say Mayfield is a coach’s dream-type of quarterback — a veteran with experience and total confidence and hunger.
“As long as they don’t have too many scars on them,” Arians said of wanting a veteran QB. “You know, some guys can’t ever get over that failure; other guys can’t wait. I look at Baker Mayfield. It’s like, ‘Man, he couldn’t wait to prove everybody wrong.’ And he’s still trying to prove everybody wrong. I love that chip on his shoulder.”
Later in his sitdown, Arians seemed to imply the Bucs’ edge rush and O-line injuries doomed the team: “You’re as good as your offfensive and defensive lines.”
Joe found it very intriguing to hear Arians say Bucs staff changes were justified but not Bowles’ seat.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
I’m so shocked a friend is going to bat for a friend no freaking way lol
January 12th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
49ers have the most injuries in the last 2 seasons. The Lions last year had 14 starters on IR. Not an excuse.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
This from the same guy who endorsed Sand(Left)Wich?
January 12th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
Articles like this will keep fueling the Bowles outrage. I know it will for me.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:42 pm
derp……really? are you positive?
January 12th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Yes, Baker is still trying to prove people wrong.
That’s because everyone has been right about him.
He’s a short, under average armed QB, with no ability to win under pressure.
The results are in and they are not good. He’s 2-3 in the playoffs.
And he’s missed the playoffs 4 times out of 7 full years as the starter.
As far as Bowles is concerned, that’s just hot air from BA.
It will be the same response every year as long as Bowles is around.
Nothing is ever his fault. It’s the players or the other coaches fault.
Bowles is above the law.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
I’m in TOTAL Agreement with Bruce,
We’re going to take the NFL by storm in 2026
January 12th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
Bowles is awful and should be fired. The overwhelming majority of the fans know it.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
Sure…and that other president was as “sharp as a tack”!
January 12th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
I am sure most of us have had enough of Arians. His part-part-time involvement with the team isn’t helping. I’m convinced that he’s the reason that Bowles still has a job, for some reason the Glazers listen to him.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Excuses. I see where Bowles learned (from who) on how to accept accountability. Really starting to lose respect for BA. Then again, he’s just sticking up for his buddy because 90% of us FANS WANT HIM and this REGIME GONE.
I agree with BucU – it’s articles like this that fire me up. Its now all a PR game and I will not fall for it. The spin machine is cranking. Can’t wait for the Kay Adams article tomorrow.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Everyone should check out the article about Ben Johnson and his feelings towards the Packers, it’s at Pro football talk. That is what we need in Tampa. He gets it! That was the best thing about Gruden, he wasn’t just. Pro football coach. He was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football coach!! He knew the past, and wanted to change the future. Todd is just there.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
Bruce is a Toilet Bowles fan… shocker.
BA – great coach, lousy judge of coaching talent. He’s still beating the drum Byron Leftwich.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
Perhaps the Glazers should listen to Bill Parcels. Parcels believes there are no such things as “consultants.” You are either all in or not. BA is NOT all in.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
He put us in this position….
January 12th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
What Arians leaves out is that most of those injuries were on the offensive side of the ball yet it was our defense and special teams that were the biggest liabilities and defensively, we had very few injuries. The failure on that side rests solely on Bowles yet somehow he escapes any sort of accountability.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
Lately every time he has something to say about TB I value his opinion less and less. He should sit this one out or TB will drag him down like everyone else.
BA knows he’s not that good of a coach at this point. Loyalty isn’t always a good thing.
January 12th, 2026 at 3:56 pm
Bruce Arians has 2 Super Bowl wins as a OC
He has another Super Bowl victory as a HC
But we, or the Glazers shouldn’t listen to him
We should listen to these Armchair Analysts on JBF
😂😂🤣🤣😭😭😭😭
January 12th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
AlstottNumber1 your bias is showing. Saying Baker has a below average arm is laughable and removes any shred of legitimacy you may have had. He has one of the longest pass attempts air yards in recorded NFL history and is literally considered to fire bullets, sometimes being criticised for having too much heat behind his throws.
You, sir, are a joke
January 12th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Senior advisor advising that his guy is “the right guy”…what could go wrong?
FIRE EVERYONE ONE OF THESE LOSERS IN THE FRONT OFFICE
PLEASE, ANYONE take grandpa’s keys away from him. Good lord, this franchise sucks. Why is he still in an advisory role? He has biases.
Jason Licht is a first class LOSER. Until the media gets some balls, we are screwed. This site controls the narrative. Jason Licht is a LOSER.
93-104 in 12 seasons is TRASH level GM. A loser. We are losers until the cancer is cut out.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
Where Lefty? BA is a disaster. Total Brady Jealousy. Get him out!
January 12th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
the truth is an excellent head coach vastly improves a team, even in year one…
give them decent talent, ready to blossom…and boom they’re off to the races…
think new england, jacksonville, chicago etc
January 12th, 2026 at 4:04 pm
Ariens…The Thing that would not leave.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
a good DC or OC who is better fitted in that role, can navigate the HC position because he knows the ropes…
but it leads to mediocrity…
digest that…
nice and simple
January 12th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
even coach knows he’s actually better as a DC….that’s why he can’t let it go…
January 12th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
he’s literally admitting he is a DC by his actions…
#ActionsSpeakLouderThanWords
January 12th, 2026 at 4:08 pm
Tired of Drunk Uncle.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
whoever thinks Baker doesn’t have a good arm is delusional
January 12th, 2026 at 4:11 pm
Bruce, go home to Georgia and drink heavily, constantly. You’re obviously not helping Jason, or Tood, or the Glazers, or Baker, or anyone. Thanks for the Super Bowl. And the turd you left us with when you abruptly retired.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:12 pm
Lakeland Says:
“I’m in TOTAL Agreement with Bruce,
We’re going to take the NFL by storm in 2026”
Yes and Braswell is going to shock the world.
Lakeland must really be Bud Licht.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:12 pm
Fans are experts at only one thing: Opinions. This is an opinion board that relishes GROUP THINK. Nobody here gets paid for their opinion, only Joe and he wears two hats. Let’s see if Mauch comes back and Bredeson and we are finally out of CAP Hell. Should be an interesting off season.
There are no all-world teams in the NFL. The salary cap and injuries are a great equalizer. New England was last in their Division last year. San Francisco was last in their division last year. Chicago was last in their division last year.
Green Bay loses early in the playoffs practically every year. Buffalo usually loses the AFC Championship game and they keep bringing back the same coach every year. Detroit was supposed to be all-world this year. Philly was number one see last year and they are out. KC was number one seed last year and they are out. Do you get the picture? The NFL Brass makes sure everyone has a chance.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
I think Bruce Arians needs to lay off the Buccaneer KOOL-AID® for awhile and then quit for good!!!
Todd Bowles defense was atrocious all year
And quite frankly, they were lucky to beat the Jets early in the season
I can accept that Bowles is still Head Coach, but don’t say he did a helluva job!!! SMH
If I had it my way, I would have made Bowles walk home after the Falcons and Dolphins game!!! He is not a good head coach!
January 12th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
Baker is NOT the problem. BA is right about the offense in that injuries derailed this season. But there is no excuse for the defense or [AWFUL] special teams.
Bad coaching + bad players + bad scheme = THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A HEAD COACHING CHANGE.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Ugo says:
“He has one of the longest pass attempts air yards in recorded NFL history and is literally considered to fire bullets”
When was this air pass? Certainly not in the Superbowl.
Baker is not the guy to lead us back to the SB.
Plain and simple. My credibility is firmly intact.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Bye, BA, thanks but you can go too.
@Lakeland is a clown One Buc insider
January 12th, 2026 at 4:23 pm
Arians has no credibility when it comes to guys he hires. Loyal to a fault.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:23 pm
FBA and his boy TB
January 12th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Arians is loyal to his buddies not Buc fans. Leftwich was absolute trash as an OC, where’s he even employed these days? Bowles is a step up from Leftwich but he’s a 9-8/8-9 coach….nothing special and certainly no defensive wizard. I’ve lost respect for Arians since he bailed on the Bucs and forced his buddies on to the team. Time to move on from all of them.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
I think Arians has destroyed his reputation for being a straight shooter with his “Todd Bowles and Leftwich are great” BS. We watch the games. There’s nothing great about their coaching abilities. All 3 should be unemployed, IMHO.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
If Arians had his way, Leftwich would still be the OC. 🙄
January 12th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
Here a shill….there a shill….everywhere a shill.
There’s a reason shills are necessary.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
At this point I dont give a crap what BA thinks. My eyes tell me that coaching staff is garbage juice!
January 12th, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Harbaugh to ATL would in injury after the insult of losing Coen. At least Coen isn’t in our division.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:40 pm
He is an IDIOT!!! Why do they even keep his drunk @ss around?
January 12th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Is Bruce also endorsing bringing back Leftwich as OC?
Get outta here!
January 12th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
“Sal Volatile Says:
January 12th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
Here a shill….there a shill….everywhere a shill.
There’s a reason shills are necessary.”
Well said, Sal.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
YEAH WE KNOW!
January 12th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
BA , I’m afraid, has turned into a doddering old fool.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
Of course he endorses he’s the one that introduced this nightmare
January 12th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
Please sell the team Glazer family!
I have NO IDEA why they continue with the Bad advice!
January 12th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
Honestly if La Fleur is released hire ASAP as the inevitable new HC
January 12th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Canales and Coen demonstrate that coaching can make a difference. Still waiting for some coaching in Tampa. Was foolish to extend TB at the end of 2024.
January 12th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
Read IRA’s latest article.
He is spot on.
Bowles can’t (or won’t)make mid season adjustments.
Special teams was atrocious and the only adjustment was to kick it into the endzone towards the end of the season.
There were some games in which it looked like most guys would rather be on the golf course.
Tackling was non-existent and the middle of the field was open all year.
This is all on the head coach. And he’s just not good. Middle of the road, ok maybe….
January 12th, 2026 at 5:02 pm
BA left us with him -so of course he’s not going to Admit his mistake
January 12th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
bwahhh…HYaa Haa haa haa… Arians for the loss….He Asshole.
January 12th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
I will forever be grateful for Bruce and what he did for the team. However, with that said, it’s time for Bruce to go enjoy being retired.
January 12th, 2026 at 5:08 pm
Whoop Whoop There it is….Bwaaaahahaha. DEown wirth the BUCS
January 12th, 2026 at 5:08 pm
Coen did the same thing this year he did last year….out in the first game!!!
Before the year began, Vegas odds posited what were essentially six Super Bowl co-favorites: in alphabetical order, the Bills, Chiefs, Eagles, Lions, Packers and Ravens. Three of the six did not make the playoffs. The Packers and Eagles are out already. Thus, only one of the projected top six teams has made it past wild card weekend, the Bills and they had the easiest schedule of them all. Two of the teams still remaining finished last in their division last year.
January 12th, 2026 at 5:09 pm
All around the league fans whose team either failed to make the playoffs or have lost in the first round are voicing disappointment, demeaning words and hate! Most of those team’s fans want their teams to be competitive and win in 2026, except those of the Bucs! To rid the team of management, coaches and players, most fans would rather see the Bucs lose every game than win and be competitive! From a fan from far away, the handful of games I have attended, Buc fans were out numbered by the visitors! Maybe next season when the fair weather fans stay home, I can get better seats!
January 12th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
Done…Down with the Bucs! Hate that POS
January 12th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
Drunk Uncle Bruce strikes again trying to cover for his boy Todd.
January 12th, 2026 at 5:19 pm
How can 3 straight years of mid season swoons be ignored? That same question was raised by you Joe, I believe on this here corner of the inter webs. And an appropriate question. Answer is DING DING DING DING DING. A TOTAL collapse. There is enough blame to go around OBP and I believe you have to start with JL, even though he has been really good but just digging your heels in like a stubborn mule, reminds me of Nero when Rome was burning all around him. Same for Bowles. Lack of players, injuries CERTAINLY played a part, failure to launch, etc. I will say this again: The Bucs know that the irritation of this season will pass but I sure hope the fans don’t forget. Rooting for the Bucs is a given, most of here are doing that but treating us like fools I take exception to. More behind the scenes than we know? Probably. But there’s an old southern saying: Don’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining
January 12th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Bruce just trying to keep his friend employed. This is the same guy that thought Leftwhich was the best offensive coordinator and he has been out the league since being fired.
January 12th, 2026 at 5:38 pm
“Do not believe your lying eyes.
Love,
Bruce”
January 12th, 2026 at 5:42 pm
Just more useless dribble. I’m surprised they haven’t hired someone to wipe Todd’s a$$.
January 12th, 2026 at 5:44 pm
Hello!!
This is the same Bruce who called Leftwich an offensive genius?
Please. Enough.
Dont give any more advise to the Glazers
January 12th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
Bowles picked those fired guys.
And Arians endorsement doesn’t pay for my tickets. So his endorsement will have to pay for someone else’s. This isn’t new news. Bowles should have been fired three years ago.
January 12th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
It’s going to be comical watching jbf trying to cover their a$$ when this all inevitably fails like a house of cards in the fall. The Superbowl window slammed shut and no amount of white wash is going to hide that fact
January 12th, 2026 at 5:50 pm
Can someone, other than a Baker fan apologist or a talking head, please provide me with a list of Baker’s injuries?
If any of us wrap our car around a tree we don’t see a Bucs fan or Bruce Arians, we see a doctor.
The season is over — nothing to hide. We all hear about Baker’s ‘secret’ injuries, so how about getting a quote from a medical professional telling us what these injuries were and why said injuries hampered Baker’s performance?
Seems like a non bias, logical question.
January 12th, 2026 at 5:56 pm
One more thing, well a few things
Who is this other ‘Lefty’? LOL
Also, Jonathon Gannon has three interviews, one for HC
McDaniel has a bunch of interviews
Have not heard anything about Raheem Morris, but I have sent riders out across the Country to speed any word!!!
Lastly, the Buccaneers are going to be like Jerry Maguire here all these peeps available and then no one is left except Todd Bowles!
If the Bucs want someone, they better be ready to pay top dollar and then get the personnel to get the job done on the field !!!
January 12th, 2026 at 6:05 pm
BA is cool. Guess what? He’s allowed to express his opinion just like all of you. You’re just mad his opinion matters more and gets published.
I’m not going to make a prediction for next season at this point.
Anything can happen. Bowles is a good head coach. It’s the rest I couldn’t care less about. Get a good, qualified DC, OC and STC…and we’ll see. Make Bowles ONLY be head coach.
Then see where the chips fall.
It’s not like any of us have a choice in the team. We can make being a fan miserable for everyone else…of we can wait and see.
January 12th, 2026 at 6:08 pm
ok arians whatever you say
January 12th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
Love AriANS. bUT he is endorsing a straight up Loser in Bowles.
January 12th, 2026 at 6:22 pm
Bruce is full of sh!t.
January 12th, 2026 at 6:29 pm
Its the only branch he has left on his coaching tree legacy. What else is he going to say?
Ill give Bowles this, he might be the most consistent head coach in the NFL. Start out strong every season, then fall apart and pray a miracle happens to pull the team out of the funk. Its like clock work.
January 12th, 2026 at 6:40 pm
Arians is loyal almost to a fault. While admirable it can be a two edge sword. Bowles defense was lights out for Mahomes Super Bowl lost. He’s a proven DC with the right talent. Finding edge rushers has been his kritonite..
Licht and Bowles need to keep swinging for the fences. Eventually it will happen Let’s pray it happens in 2026.
January 12th, 2026 at 6:45 pm
I’m beginning to not like that man.
January 12th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
Under average armed quarterback? Mayfield?!? Mayfield has an absolute cannon for an arm. He throws the football about the furthest in the entire NFL. What a ludicrous thing to say! If anything, he over-powers a lot of his short and medium passes. He has tons of arm, and a lot to spare. Anybody saying he’s below average armed isn’t watching the same QB I am, and has no awareness of football whatsoever.
January 12th, 2026 at 6:48 pm
So as long as we get good coaches at OC, DC, and ST and can just keep Bowles as far away as possible from everything else, then the team will succeed. And if not when everything goes to hell, TB can just blame them. Got it. No wonder he hates the fans. He’s a good head coach. Must be nice.
January 12th, 2026 at 6:49 pm
I see reports here and there about interviewing Offensive Coordinators, what about Defensive Coordinators? Or are they going to continue to allow Bowles to fail at both jobs?
January 12th, 2026 at 6:53 pm
“The idea of the Buccaneers being in inevitable “cap hell” has largely been described by the team’s general manager, Jason Licht, and many analysts as a myth or a managed situation. The team intentionally utilized aggressive cap management strategies, like void years and contract restructures, to keep a Super Bowl-winning core roster intact, understanding that future adjustments would be necessary. ”
MYTH! Fake news! Perpetuated by Licht. FAKE NEWS!
“Todd Bowles is a good head coach.” – Bonzai
Overall record? “Todd Bowles has a career NFL head coaching record of 62-77 (.446), including 35-33 (.515) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022-2025), where he led them to three straight NFC South titles and playoff berths, and 24-40 (.375) with the New York Jets (2015-2018)”
Good God you people’s bar is so low…losers…most of you…losers…smdh
January 12th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
JoeBucsFans Com,
The home of the Greatest Armchair Analysts in America
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
January 12th, 2026 at 7:07 pm
Now, lack of starting caliber guards hurt his ability to step into his passes on almost every play, so he floated some. Baker Mayfield has a helluva great arm otherwise. Bowles is a good coach and we’ll see a lot more success out of him if we draft about 5 front 7 players in this draft and grab a backup guard in about the 4th round. We should consider moving Winfield to linebacker too. He has a powerful enough build to play it and it would enhance our coverage if we drafted a safety with speed and coverage chops in the 3rd-4th round to be able to move him up. 3rd-4th is early enough to get some of the best safeties and guards in the entire draft.
January 12th, 2026 at 7:19 pm
Amazing The backing for this guy
Where was this backing for Super Bowl winning coach Gruden after one mediocre season?????
Truth :::Bowles has not shown ONE excellent season
Bowles best season was one win in playoffs HIS BEST
BARELY OVER .500 As a coach
But still people back him
January 12th, 2026 at 7:27 pm
Of course he does, he dumped Bowles on us. Now Bowles is failing to take any responsibility by dumping all the coaches but remaining.
It’s a pathetic move. Absolutely ridiculous.
If they don’t have a new DC with 100% control over the defense, it’s irrelevant. It completely wasted the year coming up. Watch the stadium empty.