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 5:40 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 7:08 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.