How Safe Is Josh Grizzard?
January 2nd, 2026
Should Josh Grizzard start watching his back?
If the Bucs lose tomorrow, the immediate future of Todd Bowles, his staff and several players is very much up in the air.
“This Joe” finally watched Episodes 3 and 4 of “Raise the Flags” and a couple of things jumped out.
* The idea that some folks have that Malcolm Glazer called every shot the Bucs made from the day he first purchased the Bucs until he became too ill to run the day-to-day operations of the Bucs is at best misguided and at worst naïve.
* The notion some folks have that Team Glazer doesn’t really care about the team and that winning isn’t a priority, well, those same folks are sadly mistaken.
* When expectations with the Bucs are not met, especially high expectations, someone will walk the plank as a result.
Now “this Joe” believes Bowles likely is coaching for his job tomorrow. Even if the Bucs make the playoffs, “this Joe” isn’t 100 percent sure Bowles will be forced to pay the price of such a monumental collapse.
(“Should” and “will” are two very different things. And please remember, Joe’s last name is not “Glazer.”)
In Episode 3 of “Raise the Flags,” Joe was struck by a comment from Bucs’ co-chairman Bryan Glazer. He spoke about Sam Wyche crowing in 1995 that the Bucs were “5-dash-2.” Glazer said, “And then the season turned to crap.” The Bucs finished 7-9. Glazer added, “At the end of the year, we had to fire Sam Wyche.”
Well, the Bucs this season started 6-dash-2 and the season has turned to crap and, at best, the Bucs will finish 8-9, perhaps 7-10. Joe isn’t sure the Bucs had as high of expectations 30 years ago as they did entering this season.
Again, it is clear from the phenomenal documentary of the history of the Bucs that since Team Glazer became stewards of the franchise, when high expectations are not met, someone has their head lopped off.
Over the holidays, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler noted that if the Bucs miss the playoffs after starting 6-2, “someone will have to pay.” The speculation centered around Bowles. However, Fowler added, could it be Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard instead of Bowles as the sacrificial lamb.
Apparently, chatter behind the scenes among NFL team shot-callers is looking at Grizzard as the man who may sleep with the fishes.
There is talk in some league circles about the future of Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. The offense has tanked of late, and Baker Mayfield has regressed in the second half of the season. Some level of change is needed after this year’s late-season collapse, which is at least somewhat injury-driven. The Bucs are playing with third-string offensive guards, and the running game hasn’t been quite the same. Grizzard is well respected and helped former coordinator Liam Coen with game-planning last season, but the Bucs’ offense can’t stop the slide.
Well, whoever it was that believed the Bucs could get by with “third-string guards” should have some ‘splainin’ to do for that. Why was a move not made at the trade deadline to bolster the injured offensive line?
It’s difficult for Joe to believe a decent second-string guard on the final year of his contract couldn’t have been rented out. That he would have cost so many coveted third-day draft picks that his ransom was unbearable.
One key to all of this is how badly Baker Mayfield’s injuries hurt the offense. Was he injured so badly that he couldn’t throw — is that why the past six weeks Grizzard transitioned the Bucs into a pee wee football passing attack?
And if Mayfield was hurt that badly that he couldn’t throw or at least throw accurately, then why was he even on the field? Very important games the Bucs needed to win to secure the NFC South were lost by one score because Mayfield was throwing fourth-quarter picks.
Did someone with the Bucs decide the team was better off sacrificing wins just so Mayfield could protect his tough guy image and stay on the field? Does the team not trust Teddy Bridgewater? And if not, then why is Bridgewater eating up a roster spot?
Seems as if Team Glazer will have to find answers to a lot of questions in the next few days if they haven’t found the answers (and solutions) already.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:20 am
We need to bring back Bruce Arians to coach the team and maybe groom a head coach replacement.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:29 am
Grizzard was supposed to provide continuity. Instead it looks like he has struggled to call the right plays after the scripted plays that they use as was illustrated in Miami when the O went stagnant after the first drive. Other teams seem to figure out what he is calling and counter it but like Todd Bowles on D, Grizzard fails to adjust on O. Maybe he is over his head though the injuries were a mitigating factor. But injuries happen in football (see the Niners), so that lack of adjusting could get him launched. If guys like Rick Stroud are right (he is a Bowles’ apologist), Bowles could survive and fire a lot of coaches, like Grizzard as conditions for not getting canned. A new HC will probably not want Grizz either, I wonder if Grizz has reserved his U-Haul yet.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:40 am
Considering that literally every single player has regressed this season, the entire coaching staff should be let go. This isn’t working anymore.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:52 am
All I keep hearing is “how much the Glazers ‘like’ and ‘respect’ bowles.” Well guys and gal, you’re not paying a 63 year old millions to date your daughter, right? Everyone wants to like and respect the people they work with, so I’m not saying it shouldn’t be considered. But it CAN’T be the top consideration! The top consideration is: can they get the job done? And unless you consider winning the worst division in the league (by a long shot) on the last game of the season, getting bounced wildcard weekend (in embarrassing fashion), and ending up with the 19th pick in perpetuity “getting the job done,” bowles HAS TO GO!
On a side note, again not the most important thing, pretty sure you don’t end up owning 2 pro teams by not caring about money. And if the Glazers think the money is gonna keep flowing next year when 90+% of the fan base (I’ve seen this number on THREE big Bucs content creator polls now) wants him (and his WHOLE staff) gone, they need to go back to business school.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:59 am
I hope he has inspired change.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:07 am
Comander … ‘We need to bring back Bruce Arians to coach the team and maybe groom a head coach replacement.’
BA has already groomed TWO HC replacements; they’re named Todd Bowles & Byron Leftwich. Do you really want to bring him back to shoot for a trifecta?
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:15 am
Well if we are counting there have been three collapse’s. It’s happened every year only this time we didn’t snap out of it. Three times isn’t a coincidence it’s a pattern of poor coaching.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:15 am
Sure, Mayfield has had a rough 2nd half of the season behind 3rd string guards and Wirfs missing multiple games, but the offense wasn’t on the field for 3rd and 28 or 4th and 13, weren’t the ones giving up multiple 50+ yard touchdowns in the same game, and haven’t given up almost 300+ yards of passing on a regular basis. Fire Grizzard if it makes you feel better, but the horrendous defense and the “genius” DC are the real issue that needs to be addressed.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:33 am
If the Bucs would have had a quality backup, they would have rested Baker, but the don’t and didn’t! No, the “leadership” was not protecting Baker’s tuff guy persona, perhaps it was a money issue? New contract was under review, success for Baker and the team, big payday for him but a total collapse of both, no big payday and team moves on keeping current head coach and finding a “quality replacement for Baker! It’s not personal, it’s business!
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:34 am
BOWLES Has to go,
FIRE THE
D
E
I
HIRE
GRIZZ is gone too
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:36 am
Well, Joe, you rightly bring up the undeniable fact this offense stinks. You won’t get an argument from me. At the start of this year, though, we played with a banged up offensive line also. And with guys shuffled like a deck of cards. Still…just good enough to squeak out quite a few wins.
You leave out the defense has also gone straight down the Todd Bowl too. Same story. At first they played just barely well enough to win. They too have circled the Todd Bowl and are well on their way out to sea. Firing Jizzie Grizzie won’t help the defense…much.
You also left out “special” teams. Blocked kicks. Blocked punts. Regular 40+ yard kickoff returns. No firings? Instead we just kick it through the end zone every time. Maybe Todd feels sorry for the guy because he can’t say “Do you want fries with that” in English so he might not be able to find a more appropriate job to match his skill level.
Fire ’em all and let the job market sort them out.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:41 am
And their little dog too
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:41 am
If the Glazers fire Todd, seems like a foregone conclusion that all of his coaching staff will leave with him. The incoming HC always gets to pick his staff. If not, he’d be a fool for taking the job.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:46 am
Football is fun. Our team seems to have lost their way. Nobody seems to be having any fun. 3 days after Christmas my wife and I got out of the car with breakfast casseroles and a few dozen donuts at my son’s house. Three of my sons were in the backyard playing football and 2 of my grandsons were playing catch with their own football. The three boys, aged 37 to 40, were running routes. One QB, one receiver, and one defensive back. All three work out and still play hard and fast. They were loud and competitive but man they were having fun. I joined the grandsons since I was closer to their speed. We were throwing and then those kids were punting. I got to field a few punts. Man, it was fun. But it’s more than fun. It’s traditional and runs deep. Millions and millions of folks just like us around this great country. Football and baseball have been bonding families since before we were born. To see our team then makes me feel sad. Somehow this team which always seemed to be having fun has been playing football without the joy, the passion for the game. How did that happen? Sure, Baker couldn’t scramble for 4 or 5 weeks and his arm strength was compromised. That’s no excuse. But there’s no excuse to have lost the joy of playing football, the fun that is the game. Something happened to this team that caused that. It’s more than Bowles, or Grizzard, or Baker. I have no idea what kind of changes will happen this offseason. All I want to see is these guys having fun this last game. I’ve seen this team play for each other and for the love of the game. But it’s been awhile. And I miss it. Please guys, one more game. Go out there and have some good fun.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:55 am
Not really Defense Rules, the incoming coach could choose to retain key coaches like Gruden chose to keep Monte and a lot of the defensive staff on board. In this team’s case I would guess that OL coach Kevin Carberry might be retained if he is still under contract after this season given his work in 2024 OL. Coen sure wanted to sign him this past spring. Of course, 2025 happened and now Carberry’s star is not so bright but is that due to injuries or Grizzard and are the injuries due to the training camp regiment or poor strength and conditioning?????? Lots of questions for sure but I will be interested to see where Carberry ends up if/when Bowles and Grizz get launched.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:59 am
The Bucs had a great defense under Dungy, went to the playoffs, and they fired him. That had to be harder than firing Bowles who’s defense is a big part of the problem. Bowles won’t be coaching for his job Saturday. The Glazers won’t fire him over one game. Bowles has been coaching for his job the last 16 games. He will have a losing record for the second time in 4 years. That’s not winning. The arrow isn’t even pointing up. We asked Atlanta, N.O., and Carolina for their lunch money, instead they punched us in the nose, and rubbed dirt in our face. We are nothing in our own division. I think we’re in shock to how really bad we are. The time to rebuild was when Brady left. Way past due. This bringing it back has run it’s course. Time for maior change.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:03 am
DR didn’t say a new coach had to fire everybody. They just usually do. Kiffen being a good example of that. All three phases of our team stink. Even the trainers are questionable. A new coach probably wouldn’t even keep the waterboys
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:06 am
After watching the Raise the Flags docuseries, it’s amazing the parallels between past periods in the Bucs’ 50-year history and this year’s team. The 2011 season with Josh Freeman under center springs to mind. If past is any prelude to the future, the Glazers are likely to fire Bowles no matter how much they love the man. They loved Tony Dungy and he was fired, even after several years of good teams. But they love the Bucs more than they love any person, and they want the team to win. No way they will abide by this year’s total collapse.
Another thing that jumps out from the docuseries is how many coaches and players have passed through the Bucs organization and gone on to have great careers.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:08 am
PS. The Glazers will look like total hipocrites if they don’t fire Bowles!
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:12 am
Fred McNeil … ‘At the start of this year, though, we played with a banged up offensive line also.’
Admittedly we started off like gang-busters, but that 6-2 start could’ve just as easily been a 2-6 start if not for Baker leading FOUR 4th qtr comebacks (actually last MINUTE wins against the Falcons, Texans, Jets & Seahawks).
Baker performed MUCH better in the wins than he has in the losses. Example: in our 7 wins, he’s completed 140 of 207 passes (67.6%) for 1596 yds (average of 228 YPG), throwing 11 TDs against ZERO INTs (Bucs’ offense also fumbled ONCE in those 7 wins). Baker’s also taken 13 sacks in those 7 wins.
But in our 9 losses, the figures change considerably. He’s completed 187 of 314 passes (59.6%) for 1894 yds (average of 210 YPG), throwing 14 TDs against TEN INTs (Bucs’ offense also fumbled FOUR times in those 9 losses). Baker’s also taken 21 sacks in those 9 losses.
Baker Mayfield truly has been a Jekyll & Hyde this season. How much of that is due to his still playing while being injured versus how much should fall on our OLine problems, our new OC issues & our loss of various ‘weapons’ this season is anyone’s guess.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:18 am
Bowles sucks, his defenses have ALWAYS SUCKED(CHECK HIS ACTUAL TRACK RECORD NOT THE WHAT THE MEDIA SICKAFANTS SAY ABOUT HIM). With the jets…..garbage with the dolphins….garbage with the bucs…… HIS WORSE DEFENSE YET A TOTAL DUMPSTER FIRE! I WILL NOT GO TO ANOTHER GAME AS LONG AS BOWLES IS COACHING IN TAMPA PERIOD! ITS LIKE WATCHING A LIFELESS MUPPET BABY ON THE SIDELINES!
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:18 am
“Very important games the Bucs needed to win to secure the NFC South were lost by one score because Mayfield was throwing fourth-quarter picks.
Did someone with the Bucs decide the team was better off sacrificing wins just so Mayfield could protect his tough guy image and stay on the field? Does the team not trust Teddy Bridgewater? And if not, then why is Bridgewater eating up a roster spot?”
This Joe is asking some important questions. It all boils down to Bowles leadership and horrific personnel decisions. Keep in mind Bowles once had AW at nickel, even though he played safety in college. When they finally moved him to his natural position, he became an all-pro.
Whoever the new coach is, he will want his own roster since his career is at stake. Expect a lot of starters on both sides of the ball to not be here next season.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:21 am
FortMyersDave … You’re right that the new coach might choose to keep some of the current coaching staff. But it seems that most (like BA when he arrived) tend to want to bring in their own guys.
In the case of Tony Dungy, Chucky would’ve been a fool to fire Monte Kiffen. The defense was the heartbeat of the Bucs, and Monte knew how to run it better than anyone on earth. If Chucky had been able to do for the offense what Monte continually did with the defense, we’d probably have won several more Super Bowls.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:21 am
Maybe they should have let him call plays from the booth which was his comfort zone
It’s all such a sheet show that it’s impossible to separate the good from the bad.
We don’t know if he has had pressure from Bowels formulating the game plan
Too make things worse,I just realized that today is Friday, I thought it would all be over by 7 PM tonight…. Grrr … the torment continues
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:33 am
@itzok, you must have lost your job. LMAO! Maybe you weren’t good enough, just like you boy baker!!! LMAO!!!!
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:40 am
I don’t believe in scapegoating the bottom of the totem pole
It starts at the TOP, and it ends at the TOP
Blame Ownership and the PATHETIC Front Office for this mess
These Gullible Bucs fans can’t see the Forest for the Trees
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:42 am
SB~LV. Hahaha. Losing track of the day of the week. Shlt happens.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:48 am
How can you possibly hold Josh Grizzard accountable for anything?
He didn’t hire Todd Bowles, he didn’t put this roster together
He don’t make any personnel decisions
He didn’t sign Baker Mayfield as a free agent
Blame the people actually in charge
The Glazers and Jason Licht
They are responsible for this Crap show
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:50 am
Todd’s 3-4 defense should be put away like the throwback uniforms. and maybe not even then. Thinking back to when it was effective, we had 3 good safeties who were cross trained to play at slot, safety or even as a hybrid linebacker. But we also had very good edge rushers to harass the QB like they did with Mahomes in the
Super Bowl. Todd has been slow to recognize he doesn’t have the personnel for a 3-4
defense.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:56 am
This year’s Bucs team started 5 dash 2 as well……Fire Bowles.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:59 am
I also think Todd is meddling in the offense. I agree too that if Baker is that hurt he shouldn’t be out there, but Bridgewater couldn’t win you a marbles game and that’s a huge problem too. Trask had to be better than that guy. Right?
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:05 am
The glazers know the answers, its their team.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:08 am
‘The notion some folks have that Team Glazer doesn’t really care about the team and that winning isn’t a priority, well, those same folks are sadly mistaken.’
Those words WILL ring hollow and ALL hype if Bowels is retained…
Absolutely pathetic and the ‘buddy system’ is the ONLY reason he keeps his job….
NO WAY any respectable, winning organization keeps a guy whose produce this poorly on the field …
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:12 am
Bucs need to address the backup QB position in the offseason. Trask was not a competent backup and Bridgewater is a washed up, jelly armed, career backup who did nothing but collect a pay check this year.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:14 am
Bring in Mike McCarthy
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:31 am
Farewell game for Josh and bowles
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:34 am
Bob in Valrico … ‘Todd’s 3-4 defense should be put away like the throwback uniforms. Todd has been slow to recognize he doesn’t have the personnel for a 3-4 defense.’
You nailed it Bob; Bucs don’t have the personnel to run a 3-4 defense.
Looking at the top defenses in the NFL this year, 7 of the Top-10 defenses run a 3-4. Of the next 10 though, it’s evenly split … 6 run the 4-3 and 5 run the 3-4. And of the last 12 NFL teams, 5 run the 3-4 and 7 run the 4-3. So overall that’s 17 teams using the 3-4 and 15 teams using the 4-3. Fairly evenly split.
One weird thing I noticed is that in the NFC South, ALL 4 teams currently use the 3-4. In the NFC North, ALL but 1 use the 4-3 (so did we when we were members of the NFC North).
Your point about having the right personnel is the key IMO (plus good coaching of course). It all starts with the pass rush, and having the ‘beef’ to keep pressure on opposing QBs. The Bucs don’t, and we’ve paid for it. You give any NFL QB time to throw, and he’ll pick you apart.
Todd’s biggest problem though has been his inability to limit Red Zone incursions to FGs as opposed to allowing TDs. When he took over as HC in 2022, our Red Zone TD % Allowed was 62.5% … our defense ranked #13 (allowed 358 pts) & we finished 8-9.
Did a lot better in 2023; our Red Zone TD% Allowed plummeted to 42.6% … our defense ranked #7 (allowed 325 pts) and we finished 9-8 even though our offense ranked #20.
Then the slide started in 2024; our Red Zone TD% Allowed rose to 54.4% … our defense ranking fell to #16 (allowed 385 pts) but we finished 10-7 because our offense ranked #4.
Our defensive slide worsened this year; our Red Zone TD% Allowed skyrocketed to 68.3% … our defense ranking has fallen further to #23 (allowed 397 pts in 16 games) and we’re sitting at 7-9 because BOTH our defense AND offense have disappeared.
The slide isn’t just ONE year, and this coaching staff has no answers. Time for a change.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:38 am
Nobody trusts Teddy.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:43 am
Kenton, nicely written about the holiday tradition of tossing the pigskin around! Fun!
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:44 am
It doesn’t take a football genius to see that this team is very poorly coached.
If the Bucs don’t make the playoffs then the Glazers need to clean house.
And lets also not forget Jason Licht’s culpability in this mess either.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:45 am
@Outrigger! Agreed. You and I are one of the few that realized that Trask wasn’t that good. He had ample time to prove himself. As far as Baker is concerned, many want to flush him out into Tampa Bay, he proved himself to be a franchise QB when he had a quality OC last year in Coen. Grizzard is over his skis clearly, in fact I consider him Byron Leftwich 2.0 with all the runs up the middle with no results. Bowles needs to be canned also. Team has become him, no fire and no passion. When you stand at podium and admit you have to kick touch backs because your coverage sucks and yet do nothing about it. McVay fired his ST coach after they lost to Seahawks couple weeks back.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:49 am
Grizzard should have never been given the position of OC. He can’t deviate from his scripted plays and it shows later in games. Seriously, how can a guy who has never called a game in his life at any level be promoted to OC of any NFL team. It’s the pinnacle of stupidity and arrogance for Licht and Bowles to promote this guy. I can’t believe the Glazers will be able to trust Licht after this season. Grizzard needs to go.
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:27 am
These Glazers just recently gave Bowles a contract extension…WHY?? That decision in itself does not strike confidence in where we go from here….
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:28 am
How safe? That shouldn’t even be a discussion. Just about every player if not all has appeared to regress! There should be no way he or Bowles is safe!
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:45 am
Gone gone daddy gone. Alex Van Pelt is your new head coach and he will call the plays. Currently learning under,Mcvey. Alex was,Bakers OC for four year a and was in Tampa for a season. He will hire his former colleague from Cleveland as DC.
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:47 am
Maybe its me but I dont think Grizzard is responsible for the pathetic play of the defense and special teams.
It’ll be hard to justify firing one coordinator without firing all of them, including the one that is also the head coach.
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:47 am
It’s not just the offense that has sucked. The defense and special teams have both underachieved as well. Bowles is responsible for the entire team, especially the defense, and I’ve never seen a team collapse as a whole as we’ve seen this year with this team. Tackling has been poor. Receivers are wide open because our defenders are out of position and look lost out there. This should not be happening with a coach who has been here this long. His responsibility – time to clean house!
January 2nd, 2026 at 9:55 am
Grizzard sucks as OC.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED A NEW OC. 💯
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:03 am
When Mayfield was in Cleveland he played hurt and both he and Cleveland were decimated.
Fast forward to today we’re witnessing the same scenario being played out again.
If Bowles is retained in 2026 it’s disavow again. Don’t repeat past failure. Bowles is old school and the league moving on.
Time for the Glazers to do the same.
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:04 am
Bowles needs a scapegoat, so absolutely Grizz should watch his back. We’ll find out after Grizz is gone that Bowles was handcuffing his playcalling the entire time. Like run 30 times no matter what in Carolina. So stupid.
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:11 am
Just because you have a degree from a prestigious school doesn’t mean you have common sense.
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:23 am
You know who else helped with game planning before calling plays, Byron Leftwich. If the offense scores 60 tomorrow I would still fire him!!
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:47 am
Griz jad a terrible year and is in over his head. Bowles in also in over his head and he has obviously lost the team already. By not firing the special teams coach early in the year, perhaps one to rwo games in, Bowles likely lost the team then. They all need a leader and unfortunately Bowles isn’t the answer. If we’re lucky John Harbaugh will get fired and we can het him
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:48 am
He’s the least safe person on the staff.
If Bowles stays he’s going to be part of the staff overhaul. If he goes he’ll be replaced. You can be sure that Saturday will be the last game in his position assuming we lose or the saints lose.
The entire staff should be gone but the OC will def not return
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:51 am
Hurt Baker > healthy Bridgewater > anything Trask.
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:00 am
Apparently Fowler and his inner league circles haven’t watched our stellar defense
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:03 am
After tomorrow , the entire coaching staff needs to go along with Licht. We need a new HC that is going to look at every single position. No more stupid Licht draft picks that arestarting if they can’t perform. Grizzard is an idiot. Even us fans look at some of the plays he calls that we know won’t work and generally don’t especially in the red zone. I’d take Gruden in a minute as the new OC, not that it will happen.
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:08 am
Should the Bucs find a way to not make the playoffs & end the season with another losing record….Change has to be made & it’s hard to just point a finger at Grizzard when Bowles’ Charmin DEF has been a MAJOR MAJOR factor in the Bucs regression & post Bye-Week collapse.
The Glazers should clean house.
I would love to see 1st Bucs interview be Robert Saleh – 49ers DC
Give the man a legit QB to go with his successful DEF background & he would fix the Bucs quickly! (Jets D was not the problem…Jets QB play killed him.)
Then my host of wish-list B options would be:
Kliff Kingsbury – Commanders OC
Joe Brady – Bills OC
Kevin Patullo – Eagles OC ( a USF alum with Tampa area familiarity)
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:09 am
All those questions you asked run through the G.M. not the head coach. Maybe Licht would like to step up to the mic and provide some answers.
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:12 am
Grizzard certainly needs to go, but firing just him still won’t fix this pathetic defense. Tony Dungy is more likeable and had a better record than Bowles, and the Glazers still fired him. Bowles must be flushed!
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:22 am
The Gizzard is like a deer in the headlights of an 18 wheeler, right before getting splattered all over the road. Full housecleaning necessary.
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:26 am
Well I see AI Troll Bot munch.txt isn’t here yet. Must be still cleaning up the beach bar New Years mess…
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:27 am
Next week’s reply sections are gonna be HILARIOUS if comments by TKras and Ronde (no “H” in there, folks) and GMC and reports like Fowler’s, Rappoport’s, and this week’s USA Today column (that ranked the coaching hot seats and didn’t even mention Bowles’ name) are all prepping a soft landing for him keeping his job. Pitchforks and torches everywhere! LOL
All the fans are screaming “CLEAN HOUSE”, but nobody that gets paid to report/speculate on this stuff (to my knowledge) is indicating that it’s likely.
Once again, excellent job by the Glazers to prevent leaks and keep everybody wondering.
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:47 am
“Staff overhaul” is ridiculous and no one with an ounce of pride is going to accept that. It’s a silly notion.
He put the staff together and retained it.
The problem is him and the fraud that is the GM.
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:49 am
BucNBeers
Correct. See: Shay D Vance, or whatever he’s calling himself these days.
January 2nd, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Baker fans stop it. You realize that Bowles keeps coaches he should fire but think they let Trask go because he’s no good??? The one time he was forced/ allowed to go because Baker couldn’t against the Eagles at their 1 yard line he threw a perfect pass in the corner of the endzone and Chris Godwin bobble handed it and dropped it. Had he caught it Trask would still have been let go because he threatened Baker even more. Bowles doesn’t have the team in mind instead only cars about his own career. He wanted Baker to save his job after giving zTom Brady his ONLY losing season in his ENTIRE professional career. Trask had no chance at winning because Bowles maniacally egotistical cares only about his career and agendas. He is definitely the worst coach in our history
January 2nd, 2026 at 12:04 pm
Can see which Joe posted this article 😄
January 2nd, 2026 at 12:17 pm
Bolwes out , Grizz out ,, Special teams coach out,,
Let new coach Lafluer , Kubiak ,Diabol or trade for Stefanski/KOC,, I’d say you have to go offensive mind ,, if you go D (Rams DC/Salah/Florres) you would have to bring in a real OC,, like Dolphins HC ,, he ain’t much to look at but he got TUA to the pro bowl!!!
January 2nd, 2026 at 12:34 pm
Dude!? That inspire change hoodie says it all. Change What? You gotta be smart to win in this league.
January 2nd, 2026 at 12:36 pm
Demote/Fire Grizz and bring in Chip Kelly.
We need experience in the OC office, somebody that has a plan B or C for when things go left. Someone with a reputation/identity and doesn’t need to learn on the job how to do the actual job.
January 2nd, 2026 at 12:47 pm
strike 10 your out
January 2nd, 2026 at 12:49 pm
trask would have been better than bridgewater for a bridge never got a chance
January 2nd, 2026 at 12:58 pm
multiple heads will roll off the wet ship deck, under a gloomy and ominous sky, on black monday
January 2nd, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Is it 8pm yet, saturday the 3rd?
January 2nd, 2026 at 1:45 pm
Fire every coach on the staff! Win or lose……
January 2nd, 2026 at 1:53 pm
Arians had all minority coaches under him and he won a Super Bowl with them! Stop using the horrible r@cist phrase D EI hire. It’s pathetic.
January 2nd, 2026 at 2:21 pm
Whole coaching staff needs to go. It sucks for the guy because he only got a year but everything about the team got worse this year.
January 2nd, 2026 at 2:37 pm
Grizzard has given up numerous TD opportunities by stubbornly trying to ram the ball behind a sub-par offensive line. He has a QB who had 40 TD passes last year yet would rather run the ball near the goal line. Roll Baker out and give him multiple receivers in the end zone to choose from. But it obviously doesn’t all fall on Grizzard. I don’t think another NFL team has been so devasted by injuries right from the beginning of the year.
January 2nd, 2026 at 2:42 pm
StPeteMatt: THANK YOU!!
January 2nd, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Only one game to go. Then Bowles will be gone. That change will truly be inspiring.
January 2nd, 2026 at 2:54 pm
Baker is the bridge QB. Let’s be real, he ain’t a long term franchise solution.
January 2nd, 2026 at 2:56 pm
Speaking of Inspire Change, I wish the NFL would stop with putting messages on the back of helmets, the charity shoes, the stupid sweatsuits with messages, the pink sweat shirts, etc. Just play football and skip all of the messaging. Its really old. It sure as sh!t isn’t inspiring.
January 2nd, 2026 at 3:12 pm
CLEAN HOUSE FROM Jason Licht on down to the training staff.
We need new blood everywhere. OBP needs an enema
January 2nd, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Grizzard wasnt here last year when the Bucs had a mid season slide. While I think Grizzard should go as well, Bowles is the commin link between mediocre seasons. He just doesnt have what it takes. That extra effort to motivate on game day and during the week, the accountability that is required to hokd players responsible. The ability to get his team ready to play in primetime, the ability to confuse and take advantage of young or backup QBs, this is all on Bowles. Sprinkle in some grizzard and player issues, but that is all a trickle down from the top. A good HC would have fixed their special teams weeks ago. A good head coach wouldnt need a special assistant to learn to game manage. A good HC wouldn’t allow a 7 game slide, speaking the same phrase over and over again at the podium, need to coach is better, need to execute ir better. Go watch a clip of Vrabel, Dan Campbell, Sean Peyton, Mike Tomlin. Those guys DO NOT allow mediocracy. Dan Campbell lost 2 coodrinators and is still winning in the toughest division in football despite no playoffs.
January 2nd, 2026 at 3:40 pm
“ Seems as if Team Glazer will have to find answers to a lot of questions in the next few days if they haven’t found the answers (and solutions) already.”
And, THAT is why you have to clean house and just start over fresh. They’re ALL just going to be ‘pointing fingers’ at EACH OTHER. I mean, what are you going to do… JUST FIRE BOWLES!? Then, the next year it’s just more of the same… So, then you FIRE JL!? And, you bring-in a NEW GM already having a NEW HC going into only his 2ND-SEASON!? When that NEW GM would more than likely, much prefer hiring and having HIS OWN guy in place as HC!? No. That would make NO SENSE, whatsoever. So, what then… FIRE GRIZZ!? Make HIM the scapegoat and KEEP BOTH Lickt and Bowles!? I don’t think so. The Fans would completely lose it and GO NUTTS. It’s been 12-YEARS… 92-104. It’s time for a complete reboot. Too many comfortably fat and content individuals, giving this entire franchise a BIG STINK. Time to move ‘em out and start-over. The franchise is in desperate need of fresh new eyes, and a modern day touch, from TOP to BOTTOM. And, NOW is THE TIME. Especially, while in this current NFC South Division. There is ZERO benefit in waiting around, and waiting for the rest of the division to get a leg UP. Gotta do it NOW. Just rip the bandaid OFF and move FORWARD. Need a new GM and HC to come in and entirely change the CULTURE. This ‘old-way’ is VERY stale, and is just NOT going to work. NO ONE has any faith or trust in JL, for good reason. NOBODY’S buying HIS SHEET any longer. It’s DONE and it’s TIME. You have to stop living in the past. It’s overdue and has to be DID.
January 2nd, 2026 at 3:43 pm
Joe says; Now “this Joe” believes Bowles likely is coaching for his job tomorrow. Even if the Bucs make the playoffs, “this Joe” isn’t 100 percent sure Bowles will be forced to pay the price of such a monumental collapse.
(“Should” and “will” are two very different things. And please remember, Joe’s last name is not “Glazer.”)
^^^^^^
I completely agree Joe. I think the owners have ridden into a box canyon and are surrounded. I think the owners are faced with choices they do not like. I think their options are few and none are favorable.
January 2nd, 2026 at 3:59 pm
@ Stpetematt Says: “Arians had all minority coaches under him and he won a Super Bowl with them! Stop using the horrible r@cist phrase D EI hire. It’s pathetic.”
You are right! D EI by its literal DEFINITION, is r@cist. But, you are wrong about the Bucs and Arians. They literally, went around to EVERY major media outlet that they could FIND, from ESPN to Good Morning America, and to anyone and everyone else, who would listen. While, PROMOTING, bragging, and ‘patting themselves on the back’ about handing over the job to a… What was it again, A. Black. Man. That, THEY were just soooo virtuous and BETTER THAN everyone else, because it was THEY who set the “Black Man” up with putting HIM in a great situation, & etc. THEY DID THAT THEMSELVES. NO ONE ELSE. They never EVEN ‘interviewed’ anyone ELSE. It’s what they WANTED TO DO. So, it was absolutely a D EI hire. So, at that point, it didn’t matter whether HE was ‘qualified’ for the job or NOT. They DID THAT. They SAID IT. So, how bout moving forward (in everything), we just HIRE the best ‘right’ PERSON for the JOB. 💯
January 2nd, 2026 at 4:16 pm
“Arians had all minority coaches under him and he won a Super Bowl with them! Stop using the horrible r@cist phrase D EI hire. It’s pathetic”
Seriously
January 2nd, 2026 at 4:18 pm
Watch this Cinci Bearcats game today….lets scout some prospects….i know navy has a rb, forgot his name, but he’s hard to tackle.
January 2nd, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Can we d ei the crimerates in this country since we’re going there?
January 2nd, 2026 at 4:31 pm
I firmly believe what I read in a comment earlier today.
If Bowles coached the Patriots this year they would be 2-15
If Vrabel coached the Bucs this year they would be 15-2
Same if Liam was HIRED and Bowlzo FIRED and they had swapped in offseason.
#FirethecannonsthenfireBOLWZO!
January 2nd, 2026 at 4:33 pm
Oh, and Bakers made of glass check his resume. We wont be winning any superbowls with him playing hurt all the time.
January 2nd, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Safe because the Glazers are happy with the income from the NFL overall. The middle of the road with Bowzo is fine with them. Only the fans are suckers….lapping it up.
January 2nd, 2026 at 4:39 pm
Maybe Musk will buy out the Glazers.
January 2nd, 2026 at 4:42 pm
@ Defense Rules Says:
Comander … ‘We need to bring back Bruce Arians to coach the team and maybe groom a head coach replacement.’
“BA has already groomed TWO HC replacements; they’re named Todd Bowles & Byron Leftwich. Do you really want to bring him back to shoot for a trifecta?”
Exactly what I was thinking… ABSURD. It’s like, some of these people just spout off ‘empty’ BS from the top of their heads, and without even THINKING. And, is that really even a ‘serious’ thought or solution, to begin with… Yeah, bring back the 70 something year-old BA and let him groom someone. Geez.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:21 pm
Ive come to realize the people on this site that were praising bowles for picking grizzard early in the season are the same ones that are attacking baker now. those fans conveniently forgot how well baker did with coen and arent putting 2 and 2 together that coen is doing the same for trevor lawrence. all 3 phases of the game are bad . thats the head coach. dont forget they wanted to cut the punter for blocked punts despite not having any of his punts blocked last season in denver. its coaching folks wake up bowles backers you are looking and sounding just as bad as the trask supporters.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:26 pm
Oh No!
What if we discover that Bowzo is a good coach but the players that Licht picked are bums? This team is not too good.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:33 pm
Yeah, it’s another ‘typical season’ for Baker. It’s who he is! It’s who he’s been since Day-1. He caught lightning in a bottle, while at Oklahoma and with Cohen. They were the perfect offenses for A LOT of QB’s. With that said, I expect the ‘law of averages’ to come into play tomorrow, with Baker having a nice game leading to a Bucs WIN. He is not the ‘greatest’ QB you could have, and he’s not the very worst. He’s just aight! He can be competent at times, and lead your team and a group of guys! Other times, it can be a definite struggle. It just is what it is. It’s a very LARGLE ‘sample-size’ by now! What’s it been 8-9 YEARS, in the LEAGUE.
I’ve been very ‘fair’ concerning Baker. I have ‘eyes’ and have watched A LOT of football. So, I already KNOW ‘who and what’ HE IS. He is a very inconsistent, constantly hurt and banged-up, ‘middle-of-the-road’ Starting NFL QB. Nothing more, nor anything less. I was never an outright HATER, or “Trask-Lover.” I was never a DELUSIONAL “Baker-Boi,” who just flat-out REFUSED to place ANY blame onto Baker whatsoever, no matter WHAT. Also, I never viewed BAKER as a future NFL HOF Quarterback. The crazy thing being, THEY ALL STILL DO. Seriously, they think HE’s THE ‘GREATEST’ EVER to play the game… EVEN, bringing up comparisons with Tom Brady, Mahomes, and Josh Allen, & etc. Lmao. When, it is all just soooo ABSURD.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:39 pm
My perception was that the Bucs turned into a dink and dunk offense due to the woes at offensive guard, that they game planned to get the ball out as quickly as possible. At the beginning of the season, Baker was airing it out but attrition at the guard position has snowballed as the season progressed, which called for the new game plan.
No doubt the equally inefficient run game can be, in part, blamed on a non-existent inner core of the offensive line.
Maybe this anemic offense is really just a Band Aid due to neither Grizzard nor Bowles being able to solve the turnstile in the middle.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:47 pm
@ Oxycondomns – I didn’t even see your comment before posting my last one, but I just say that the “Baker-Bois” have been 100OX-WORSE than the “Trask-Lovers.” LoL I mean, there were only like what maybe, FOUR “Trask-Lovers!? Hahah. That, NO ONE ever really took seriously, and knew that they were mostly JUST a ‘handful’ of Gator-Fans!!!! The most ‘insure’ EVER too, are the Baker-Bois. Lmao And, it’s just not even CLOSE. I mean, they are STILLLLLL ‘fighting the fight’ EVEN AFTER Trask was CUT, & etc. It is SO pathetic. Just Miserable. it’s really sooooo freaking embarrassing.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:56 pm
Grover ,
Only if he can get a government handout of taxpayers dollars.
Thats how he rolls.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:05 pm
Dan Orlovsky is an interesting candidate for an OC position if he was looking (and I get the feeling he is). Guy seems well versed in all of the modern NFL schemes and strategies – knows what works and what doesn’t and why.
If we make a change @ OC it needs to be for someone innovative, not just another McVay assistant.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:17 pm
If Bowles is back, then Grizz is safe.
But speaking of Grizz, I will point out all offseason I was asking why they’d make any changes to the Coen offense – that there was only one way to go, and that was down. All the talk about deep shots was dumb, Baker is not a good deep ball thrower – and while people think we’re not throwing deep, that is wrong, we’re throwing deep more so than any of Baker’s previous years. Coen saw early last year that Baker was missing wide open throws, and that mixed with the injury to Luke that had Sucke starting, made Coen go to a quick passing game offense, and that’s when things really took off. I still have no idea how Wiz Kid could watch what happened last year, and say, screw that, throw all the motion, 2-back sets, misdirection stuff out the window and instead try to emulated the 2022 Leftwich offense, but that’s what this mess looks like, which consists of run up the middle on 1st, with a 2nd down screen.
BUT, with that said, I do, at times, see signs for hope. I thought Grizz called a very good game vs the Falcons, and the Bucs should have put up a lot more points, except Baker was terrible and was missing guys all night. But the actual play calling in that game was creative, they did use some motion, they weren’t being ultra predictable. But I think after Baker lost the game in the 4th quarter, Bowles told Grizz to run the ball – which we saw at Carolina. Of course even then, the Bucs did run the ball great, but in the end Baker also lost that game. Last game I don’t know what the plan was, but I do know the Bucs have no chance to win in the playoffs, if they make the playoffs, unless Baker gets on track – and I think they were trying to get him to heat up – and he responded with one of his worst games as a Buc.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:51 pm
[Doffs cap]
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Nope I believe you are wrong there Rod. If Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers beat the Stinking Panthers and somehow retains his job. Grizz is gone in 2026. Grizz has failed in his play calling, especially after the loss to the Lions, when our weakness was exposed, which is where everything began to gradually fall apart.
Later in the season, Grizz could not handle the sudden surge of talent after Godwin, Evans, and J Mac returned. I was worried that all the offensive talent would be overwhelming and obviously it was. I mean the play calling has been horrendous, like high school football play calling.
So in my opinion Josh Grizzard is going down the road in 2026 !!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Panthers
January 2nd, 2026 at 10:55 pm
Disgusting the racial slurs allowed on this website
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:21 pm
Bartow Buc – I think Grizz is just doing what Bowles tells him to do. In particular that Carolina game was 100% Todd Bowles telling Grizz to take the ball out of Baker’s hands, and to run the ball. I mean Bowles told the Fox half-time reporter when asked if they were running it too much, Bowles said no, that tells you everything in my opinion.
To be sure, I don’t think Grizz overall is doing a good job by any means, and I’ve been very concerned about him the moment I heard ‘insiders’ claim he’s a wiz kid, and that was followed up by saying he wants to change the offense. If he was that smart, why would he change anything? But, with that said, Coen did run a very complex blocking scheme, with the lineman doing a lot of pulls from the opposite side of the field, and if you have constant injuries, even if it’s just one guy, if they’re not confident in that backup lineman to know what they’re doing, that would really limit things. That doesn’t explain the lack of motion, but if you’ve lost guys, different guys, all year, I can see the complete lack of consistency wrecking game plans if the backups don’t know what they’re doing or just aren’t that good / athletic.
January 2nd, 2026 at 11:25 pm
MelvinJunior – No man, Baker is injured. When he’s healthy again, you’ll see, he’s the league MVP, best looking QB too, and the hottest wife. Plus he’s a great actor, I love his commercials, I have them on a non-stop loop, 24/7, to make sure he gets all those extra views because I want him to know how much he’s loved. You just wait until next year, Baker will win the SB, and he will do it all by himself – but gosh darnit, the injuries, they just hold him back. That and everyone being jealous of him and wanting him to fail. If the team didn’t plot against him, he’d be undefeated this year, but they want him to lose to make him look bad because they’re jealous. Frankly he’s too good for this team and it’s only a matter of time before he takes his talents to a place that loves him as much as he deserves.
January 3rd, 2026 at 3:50 pm
Not at all safe!