If The Bucs Retain Todd Bowles…
January 3rd, 2026
Free agent DC.
Joe is damn tired of watching a lousy, soft defense week in and week out where it appears edge rushers stop in their tracks once past the line of scrimmage. It’s as if they know they’ll be fined for sacking the quarterback and instead prefer to play horseshoes and hand grenades football when a pass rusher gets close to the quarterback for those all-meaningful pressures.
Joe has no idea if Team Glazer will make a coaching move related to Bucs coach Todd Bowles in the next few days. “This Joe” isn’t 100 percent sure Bowles is toast and gave up trying to predict what Team Glazer will do long ago.
(Once again, the words “should” and “will” are two very different things.)
As Jeremy Fowler of BSPN typed recently, if the Bucs lose today and miss the playoffs, someone will have to pay. So let Joe get this out there: If Team Glazer retains Bowles, the man (perhaps more than one man) who pays is Bowles through losing control of his defense.
Team Glazer should tell Bowles, “Todd, we like you. You had bad luck with injuries on offense. But we’re bringing in someone to run the defense for you.”
That someone to run the defense should be one of two guys who might become free agents next week.
The first man Joe would choose to run the Bucs defense is Brian Flores. The man just had a top-five defense in Minnesota and wherever he has been he has had a defense that gets after people.
The other is a guy that Dirk Koetter should have hired in 2016 when he was first named Bucs head coach. He instead selected Mike Smith (yikes!). That is Jim Schwartz.
Rumors are flying that Cleveland will part ways with Kevin Stefanski. That likely means Schwartz, the Browns’ defensive coordinator, will be looking for work. Well, Joe knows a place that could use him.
And if Team Glazer decides to move on from Bowles and hire an offensive guy, they should still lock up either Flores or Schwartz.
It’s time to bring defense back to Tampa Bay.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:46 am
Would take flores as head coach too. I know we all want offense but if there is any defensive coach out there that we could hire him or Saleh would be great additions. Defense would atleast be top tier with one of them at the helm. Win or lose Bowles must go. The mid-season (this year entire half season) slide is inexcusable and if we didnt play in the nfc south Bowles would of already been gone. Lets stop.parading 3 straight division titles around like they actually mean something. Two out four seasons losing record.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:48 am
QB play is slowly improving in our division. Bowles has been sooooo lucky with crap ones during his head coaching reign, year after year we rely on our awful division foes to lose, and then squeak in the playoffs. Are the Glazers really happy with this level of mediocrity????????
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:53 am
Either one both have proven their worth. WE NEED NEW BLOOD!!! GO BUCS!!!
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:53 am
Switch back to the 4’3!!!
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:54 am
Either of these 2 guys would be welcome. Always wanted Schwartz here.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:55 am
7-10 is coming.
Easy money for players and coaches ends tonight.
Bucs fans deserve a better experience from their hard earned money.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:58 am
100% chance Bowles stays. Glazers only care about money. And Todd will make only one coordinator change. The Special Teams coach will be the victim. That’s it. Bowles doubles down on his “proven” defensive scheme.
Carolina wins in DOMINATING fashion today. Carolina 31 Yucks 13.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:59 am
Maduro on Sunday
Bowels on Monday
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:02 am
A head coach that quits on his players will have players who quit on him.
Obviously looking at their paychecks every week does not inspire them to work hard. They are ok with stealing money from the Glazers and Bucs fans. SMH
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:02 am
Team Glazer should tell Bowles, “Todd, we like you. You had bad luck with injuries on offense. But we’re bringing in someone to run the defense for you.”
Disagree with that statement.
Team Glazer should tell Bowles, “Todd, we like you. We are sick and tired of watching your non pass rushing, non tackling, non covering and non communicating defense year after year after year. You’re out. We have a parting gift for you.”
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:03 am
Flores should be the HC.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:05 am
Todd must go or the fans will!!!!!
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:07 am
I was excited at the beginning of the season. Now I am jaded, like most of the fans here. Would it matter who is the new DC if the so-so HC still has his hands on the wheel?
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:08 am
Bucs have barely lost every one of the last 4 games. I expect them to win this one.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:10 am
I don’t know where this narrative of the glazers being cheap comes from. Outside of the period of time during the housing crisis and the purchase of Man u, where they were cheap, at no other time of their ownership Have they been cheap. This has been proven over and over again in very obvious ways. And one of the ways has been eating coaching salaries when they make a change. Every owner in the NFL is filthy Rich. And they all care about money more than most of us. And if that’s truly the case, it’s actually more of a reason to move on From Todd.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:10 am
Let’s get back to a HC, OC and DC.
Enough with wearing 2 hats
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:19 am
I wonder how Flores feels about Baker?
In Miami, he wanted to draft Herbert, not Tua. Perhaps he doesn’t like small QBs?
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:21 am
Not against Flores being HC. A lot of times when you step away from a job for a while it gives you a good perspective of what you would do differently if given another opportunity.
Saleh may be a similar type candidate.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:33 am
Niether Bowzo nor these players have top notch talent.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:36 am
The ignorance of some people is absolutely astounding. On more than one occasion, the Glazers have paid coaches for a few years after they were fired. Why would they do that if all they cared about is money? Wouldn’t it be a lot cheaper to keep the coach until the contract is up instead of paint two coaches? Oh wait! Sorry. I was applying logic. People who can’t interpret events that they actually see, won’t understand logic.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:39 am
After that bizarre crap in Miami I don’t want Flores anywhere NEAR this franchise
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:40 am
Think Bowles would take on a DC? I would think he would be to proud to do so but that would be a good option. Grizzard? Who knows. Does he get a pass for the injuries? Last few games he did have an offense and did nothing with it.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:42 am
Trade a 4th for Stefanski/Schwartz ,, or hire Flores /M McDaniel,,, obviously Lafluer if the packers are dumb enough to let him go
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:51 am
WillieG the Glazers have better odds of having a better coach to create more wins in the next 3 years than with Bowles. The sales of merchandise and season ticket holders will stabilize at minimum. Fans will buy again since they have new hope.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:51 am
Schwartz! I totally agree. He has developed some really good defenses, particularly his SB winning defense while with the Eagles.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:03 am
guys run around a field playing a kid game making obscene amounts of money.the” team” quit caring in late oct looking foward to 4 months of offseason 4 months to play golf exotic vacations looking to upgrade there yachts or property by collecting their paychecks while most of us have to work 6- 7 days a week 3rd an 28 with their pride and season on the line coach not smart lost control no heart pride last 3 months hmm beyond a dumpster fire and all they do is point fingers and bitch f in atlanta could win the division bye
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:12 am
I like Schwartz, but the ONLY way he comes to Tampa is either as HC, or as Def coordinator for our next HC. He’s a traditional 4-3 scheme, and his defense has been anchored these past several seasons by man beast Garrett.
Flores would make more sense. He’s 3-4 def guy. Current pieces on this roster fit the scheme better.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:56 am
Would love to have Flores or Schwartz in charge of the D. If either one of them was in charge of it right now, we are probably resting some starters tomorrow at 1 pm.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:59 am
Kubiak & Flores co-HCs. McCarthy or Bellicheat GM. This dream bubble sequence lives in my head until it pops.
Bowles can assume BA’s roll and golf cart. Or just go back to being BA’s caddie
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:16 am
Bowles goes.
There’s no sane scenario where he stays. Look at what this team has become under him.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:39 am
Steven007 Says:
I don’t know where this narrative of the glazers being cheap comes from.
—————————————————————————————–
It comes from a part of Jeff’s anatomy where the sun doesn’t shine.
The Glazers are guilty of hiring some bad coaches over the decades, but the claim that they are cheap and all they care about is money is one of the most ignorant things ever claimed in this comments section.
There is a lot of evidence to debunk that claim. A recent example is their intent to make Coen the highest-paid OC in the NFL a year ago. Some people, though, don’t let the truth get in the way of spinning a narrative that is intentionally inflammatory (as well as false). That’s how trolls operate.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:52 am
Same here Joe after the 21 season Bucs defense has just kept rolling down hill. Bowles does have to take responsibility cause it’s his defense but let me be clear all this defense needs is a few nasties up front. Look how this defense preformed with suh , a healthy JPP , Shaq and vea. JOE you and I have bin hammering that this team gets a legit edge rusher if they could add that and most likely need a few ILB LVD is not up there anymore and SVD is terrible at coverage then this defense can be back to what won us a SB. His scheme isn’t out dated it’s not a bad scheme but with out the heavy hitters up front it doesn’t work. If they won’t fix the trenches and edge rush then definitely change coaches but even the next coach will need it. I’m tired of not having a dominant defense line. For example last years oline was dominant and look how well the Bucs did. This year it’s crap and look at the numbers on offense. Proof. Fix the trenches jason
January 3rd, 2026 at 11:12 am
Schwartz if he comes available. He’s fiery and his defenses get after it.
January 3rd, 2026 at 11:20 am
‘96
Well said. It applies to a lot more than Bucs football these days.. unfortunately.
January 3rd, 2026 at 12:48 pm
@Jmarkbuc,
Yeah, unfortunately, that is true. 🤔
January 3rd, 2026 at 1:41 pm
If either of these 2 become available, I imagine a lot of teams will be calling for their service.
Why would they pick the Bucs? This defense is devoid of talent, and they’d know they’d have Bowles constantly looking over their shoulder. They wouldn’t have complete autonomy of this defense with Todd in the building.
January 3rd, 2026 at 2:03 pm
HeartyDickerson Says:
If either of these 2 become available, I imagine a lot of teams will be calling for their service.
Why would they pick the Bucs? This defense is devoid of talent, and they’d know they’d have Bowles constantly looking over their shoulder. They wouldn’t have complete autonomy of this defense with Todd in the building.
————————————————————————————-
Why would they pick the Bucs?
Their offense has LOTS of talent. One of the best o-lines in the NFL when healthy. And one of the best WR groups in the NFL. They just mostly need a backup QB and a TE.
On the defensive side, they obviously do need lots of help, but they’re not devoid of talent. And they do have Kancey & Walker coming back next season (if they can stay healthy). Licht will have to be more active in free agency during the off-season to help the defense, and with the improving salary cap situation, he should have the ability to do so.
If our offense gets healthier, they should have the ability to score 30 points per game. All we need is an average defense, and this will be a team no one wants to play. (they obviously have to be more physical as well!).
I could see a great coordinator wanting to come here. It may take a couple of years to get to where the talent needs to be, but I’m confident the situation will get fixed.
And yes, they would have an agreement in place before coming here that they had complete autonomy over the defense. Otherwise, they wouldn’t come.
January 3rd, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Then the Glazers really are stupid. Dude should be gone. Sure it’s not all on him it’s on all of them but alot of it is on him.