NFL Loves Coach Firing Culture
January 5th, 2026
Joe realizes NFL teams probably don’t like it when media talks and writes about their coaches having shaky job security.
That’s why teams don’t go there on their official websites and team media.
However, the NFL profits on the whole hot-seat culture that lasts a solid month or more. It’s big business, and a big part of the NFL calendar. The NFL loves it!
It’s fun. And the NFL needs a lot of peripheral fun to sustain its intrigue year-round because most teams only play 20 games a year, including preseason.
All major media shows and websites in partnership with the NFL have been running with hot-seat chatter for weeks. And it’s not just them, it’s nearly the entire media machine that helps fuel the NFL’s status as the most popular sport in the country by 100 miles.
Watch the new and fantastic Raise The Flags documentary chronicling 50 years of Bucs history on Amazon Prime — produced by the Buccaneers — and you’ll see how coaching changes and the drama leading up to them are huge parts of team lore. It’s all part of the show.
Change is exciting, often necessary, and represents an organziation’s commitment to winning and symbolizes hope.
Yeah, it means people lose their jobs, which were temporary to begin with. That’s a downside. But some fired are very wealthy and won’t be hurting because of it.
Joe wonders if one reason the Bucs have yet to issue a formal statement that Todd Bowles is returning for the 2026 season is because the team likes the intrigue and attention the unknown brings. Joe would get that, if that’s the case.
For those who enjoy the drama, the NFL has an official “coaching, GM tracker.” It references firings, retentions, “parting ways” and interviews.
The Bucs don’t have a listing, despite multiple NFL insiders for league-partner media last weekend suggesting Todd Bowles is not a 100 percent lock to be Tampa Bay head coach in 2026.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
Nothing more American than immediate gratification
January 5th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
The Glaziers are probably waiting until after the exit interviews to see what the players think about bowls and how many of them want him replaced
January 5th, 2026 at 1:33 pm
Get on with it already
January 5th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Maybe they’re not going to fire him
Have you genius thought of that?
January 5th, 2026 at 1:35 pm
Looks like we are keeping dumpster fire for another year.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Glazers are obviously holding their cards close to the vest. They can still fire Bowles after the Press Conf.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
I think they’re likely talking about “retirement” right now
January 5th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
I don’t see anyway that he would hire a DC unless the DC ran his defense and called it his way
January 5th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
lol fans wishing bad on a team just so a coach can get fired has to be the most pathetic thing in sports! And the Bucs fans are kings at destroying something instead of building. I’m praying don’t make the same mistake they did with Tony dungy, Doug Williams.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
*Glazers
January 5th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
IS TODD BOWLES FIRED YET?
WHY TF NOT?
January 5th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
I hope Liam Coen vs Dave Caneles in the Super Bowl with a live feed of Todd Bowles on his couch.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
They will keep Bowzo to break the NFL glass ceiling. Obviously Glazers care less about winning.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
Still waiting for that Day After Presser!!!
January 5th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
I’d be OK with this IF the Glazers insist on getting new DC, OC, AND ST. If players like him – especially Evans, Godwin, and Vea- then that matters a lot.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
I’m going to get more satisfaction out of watching NBC you loser fans head explode when Bowles is coach next year than I will any coaching change this year
January 5th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
Maybe talking about new coordinators if they keep him. Take defensive coordinator duties from him.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
I doubt the Glazers are in the Jerry Jones business of creating intrigue for the sake of creating intrigue
Well, you would know.–Joe
January 5th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
Manchester United sacked Reuben Amorin this morning
And the news were out within an hiur
January 5th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
The only thing I know is …
1. Coaches need to coach it better and players need to play it better.
2. The coaches coached all they could. The player need to want to win.
3. Tell Wirfs to root for the Saints.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
@Dewey – I think the fact that Cohen and Canales are successful is directly tied to Bowles. His ‘coaching tree’ is already doing better than some of the other whiz kids.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
I got excited for a minute thinking we finally fired Bowles. Then reality set in that we will have to watch him ruin this team all next year. Watching a defensive end run 40 yards down field trying to cover a RB or Watching the defense give up a 3rd and 28. We will get to watch blocked kicks and watch Bowles turtle and punt from the opponents 40 yard line. So much excitement awaits the 2026 season!!!!
January 5th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
At the VERY least, ST coordinator needs to be canned. I will actually boycott games if they keep him.
Grizzard, you’re a nice guy, but God dang, pal. It wasn’t jiving.
Todd…I mean how do you tell fans he’s coming back and fans are excited? He is the defensive “guru.” What’s his defense like? Let’s take a look:
1–No pass rush in general. Specifically, no edge rush. Not able to draft/develop edge rushers. Disagree? Prove me wrong.
2–They can’t cover ANYONE over the middle of the field. Disagree? Prove me wrong.
3–Corners give soft coverage and are not “sticky” other than Parish and Dean, but Dean is never healthy. Disagree? Prove me wrong.
4–They made otherwise pedestrian players look like All Pros on a WEEKLY basis. Disagree? Prove me wrong.
5–They have a solid run defense… But who cares when you get lit up constantly in the passing game. Disagree? Prove me wrong.
Bowles has got to go. I’m sorry, but he has to. I’m not hating, I’m just giving facts.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
Yes awful quiet!!. They have known about this situation for awhile and they did play Sat. My guess they have talked to most. I am leaning that they are keeping him, which is fine by me given there are conditions that ST coaches are relieved along with other coaches on both sides of the ball and new players brought in on defense. I think they need to target a player or 2 in free agency on defense because they have missed the boat on that side of the ball in multiple drafts.
However with that said the Owners waited on Gruden and maybe doing that here.
Yes doing due diligence
January 5th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
These LOSERS that were praying for the Bucs to miss the playoffs
They are some of the worst MENTAL cases on Earth
These ignorant fools are not REAL Bucs fans
January 5th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
Yeah, no coach firing going on here. Just seen article saying Bowles likely to stay with team citing past success and contract situation.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
If the Glazers dont fire this career underachiever, then all the bullsht about high standards and dedication to winning is meaningless.
How can they expect fans to pay top dollar for a historically sub par product?
January 5th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
The Bucs cannot win a night game under Bowles … the Super Bowl is at night;
Good teams often play and win at night.
The Buc’s Edges cover WRs more and more under Bowles … Edge is for Sacks;
Myles didnt cover Jamar Chase routinely yesterday.
Our Defensive scheme sucks, and any problem players aren’t scared of Bowles.
The lackluster lack of effort no passion nonchalant out of touch tone has got to go.
ST, OC, DC …. all got to go.
The Bucs will be no better without necessary changes.
The Calvary came back for this staff and they couldn’t win.
We need a new HC
January 5th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
3rd and 28!
January 5th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
Cardinals just fired Gannon. What the heck are the Glazers waiting for????!!!
January 5th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
I can hear Bowles already.
“We just gotta coach it betta, scheme it betta, play it betta”
He’s a master at double speak and word salads.
This must get the Glazers all moist and bothered.
They LOVE their coach Todd Bowles. He’s the best!
January 5th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
Come on. He should have got the boot after the Commanders game.
He’s had four years. He’s had talent around him. He’s had experience. He’s had a previous HC gig and was awful. He was given this job. He did not earn it.
He will never coach a team to 11 wins, never. If so, he would have done it. Ask yourself, if he gets fired, does he get another HC job? DC job? Highly doubt the HC gig, doubt the DC gig unless the buddy system kicks in.
He’s part of the stale, boring, conservative Bucs.
Show some leadership and move on. We need a new vision.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
We were actually a 4 win team….Baker’s scrambling won us some games with one minute left…
January 5th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
If the Glasers don’t fire TB, sell the team
January 5th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
lit his throat already
January 5th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
Let me tell you what paying season ticket holders don’t love: mediocrity.
We are paying for better than this current nonsense, do better Glaziers.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:57 pm
I’m leaning to them giving Bowles another year but Licht will be tied to him and a flop season means both are gone while a winning one keeps them around.
January 5th, 2026 at 1:59 pm
Go ahead Glazers…..Make my day.
January 5th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
I don’t think there is a chance Bowles does not get fired. The only question is how long will they wait?
I suspect the Glazers already have Jason Licht exploring options…testing the waters. Most candidates won’t commit until the vacancy exists, but they can at least gauge interest.
January 5th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
I believe the decision to keep Bowles has already been made and they are slow walking the announcement because they know its highly unpopular with the fan base..
January 5th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
Waiting for after “exit interviews to see how many players want to see TB replaced?” None of the non defenders want to see Todd go. He is the guy who says McCollum gets bored with playing on his $20mii/year deal. Bucs defense may not be the worst ever in the NFL but it seems close. Can’t imagine how TB can be back and probably neither can he.
January 5th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
No playoffs for the Bucs next season with Bowlo. Time for him to go now. Bucs need to rebuild with new offensive head coach. Bucs owners need to listen to the fans and fire Bowlo now.
January 5th, 2026 at 2:15 pm
Bowles ain’t going nowhere!!!
Mediocre rules!
January 5th, 2026 at 2:15 pm
😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣
January 5th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
Gullible Bucs fans
😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
January 5th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
If they keep Bowles, please make him a true CEO HC. No more running the defense. Find a quality DC and let him manage the D, not Bowles. Bowles just needs to mentor at this point in his career. I’m on the fence with the O. Lots of injuries on that side of the ball this year, so its hard to come down on the OC. Minimize the injuries and I think the O would have been in the top 10. The injury bug hit this team hard this year. Also, stop relying only on high quality starters. Players get hurt, so have a plan. Roster development and conditioning is on JL. Bowles doesn’t own these areas. He just tells JL what players he needs to execute plays and win games. Both O and D are ranked 20 and 21 this year. That does not win championships.
January 5th, 2026 at 2:20 pm
Just speculating, but just maybe Todd is going to retire. And maybe just maybe it was planned during the bye. We also do not know what is in his and Jason’s extended contracts.
I think the Glazers really like Todd and they have learned a lot from coming in about being NFL owners. It isn’t easy. If they continue with Todd, maybe he would hire a solid DC and a new OC and a new Special Teams coach.
In the end, if he leaves everyone will be brought in by the new coach. We really need younger, aggressive, and progressive in the times. Not a Bill Belichick, not anyone over 55 in order to be relatable to the players, rookies, draft…
January 5th, 2026 at 2:36 pm
all I know is I will not be excited or care about the Bucs as much if this ownership doesn’t as Spike once said “do The Right Thing” here and can Bowles. I can’t take watching his defense anymore. Not good for my Mental Health. lol
January 5th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
when is this so called press conference like coaches are a president or a senator
its 2:40 bud wants to know why nothing has happened
January 5th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
Easiest thing to do would be to let Todd retire rather than be fired it would allow him to see face but would still allow the organization to move on.
0 perhaps that’s what his address will be at 3:30
If for some reason the organization wants to give him a hall pass because of all the injuries changes this year to the coordinator on offense, then at the very least he should step down from the play calling rule hire a defensive coordinator and new special teams coach and allow the coordinator to work independently with him being more of an overseer and a leader of men the way Mike Tomlin is.
January 5th, 2026 at 3:11 pm
If Bowles is still here today I’ll see yall in 2027!
January 5th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
@Lastbeing
Right with ya.
January 5th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
Does ownership believe that Bowles will get the Bucs back to being legit contenders? Especially with Evans and David in their sunset years as players?
Coaches, players, even Execs have a prime. Looks to me like Bowles is past his as a head coach.
I don’t mind a rebuild, if mgmt has a good plan. I don’t believe Bowles can neither lead a contender, or develop talent at this point.
I’m all for keeping Licht. All GMs whiff on players, but Licht also finds real talent. If he is fighting for Bowles to stay however, Licht should be on the hot seat next season. I don’t see us doing better than an early playoff exit with Bowles.
January 5th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
Kingsbury?
January 5th, 2026 at 7:05 pm
They are looking behind door number 2. Why fire him before they have a replacement that sounds better? They are very smart people.
January 5th, 2026 at 10:59 pm
It’s their (Glazer’s) team, so if they want to keep Todd so be it. It’ll likely be a poke in the eye for them if Cohen and the Jags (or Canales, but I think the Panthers are one and done) hoist the Lombardi this year. Imagine the blow to the ego knowing they had a young up and coming offensive minded coach in house and failed to do whatever was necessary to keep him in Tampa (even if it meant promoting him to HC and giving Todd a few million good reasons to retire early). Khan 1, Glazers 0