No More Mr. Nice Guy For YaYa Diaby
January 5th, 2026
Vows to be vocal.
Now you may ask where was this from Bucs edge rusher YaYa Diaby a few weeks ago?
Well, some people have epiphanies early and some late. But it seems missing out on the playoffs for the first time in his career has sparked something inside the pride of Louisville. YaYa Diaby spoke with Evan Closky of WTSP-TV Channel 10 today as the Bucs cleaned out their lockers.
It’s a sad day.
It not only marks the end of the season, but some of those Bucs players will walk out the double-doors of the locker room, never to be seen again.
YaYa isn’t going anywhere. He has another year left on his contract and nearly matched his personal record for sacks, finishing with seven this season.
For an edge rusher on a defense that doesn’t embrace sacks from the edge (unless it’s a safety), and might even frown on sacks from the edge, seven sacks isn’t shabby.
YaYa took the time to defend Bucs coach Todd Bowles. But it seems not preparing for a playoff game for the first time in his career has sparked a change in YaYa. When the team returns for OTAs in April, YaYa vowed that his voice will be heard.
He said he’s going to start calling out guys who loaf. If teammates are irked by that, YaYa said, tough s(p)it.
“If it takes guys being more vocal like myself — I’ve been the guy who leads by example,” YaYa said. “But that’s over now.
“I’m going to talk and I’m going to tell guys how it is. If they like it, they like it. And if they don’t? I don’t really care.”
The Bucs needed more of that attitude. And of the guys suspected of dogging it on the Bucs and Bowles this past season, especially since the bye, YaYa was certainly not one of them. His heart was in the right place.
Can’t say that about some of his teammates.
YaYa Diaby is ready to take that next step, in terms of a leadership position.
Was not pointing fingers at Bowles. Said days of 'leading by example' are over.
"I'm going to talk and tell guys how it is. If they like it, they like it. If they don't, I don't really care." pic.twitter.com/93eSaejldR
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) January 5, 2026
January 5th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
Talk is cheap
SHOW ME
UNLEASH THE FURY!!!
January 5th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
He can be one of the major pieces moving forward in a retooled defense. I think our new coach should try and run a 4-3, move YaYa to RDE and give us a better chance of fixing the mess at linebacker (3 positions to fix with LVD retiring).
January 5th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Well that sounds great…don’t tell us…show us what you’re about and get this ship back on track in 2026!
January 5th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Yeah right
January 5th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Doesn’t matter, he could talk until he loses his voice, if Tood Bweols is still dual hatting two full time jobs he’s incompetent at, it won’t make any difference.
January 5th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Its just all talk
January 5th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
GRUDEN for HC……NOW it is our only hope.
January 5th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
Falcons already requested to interview Klint Kubiak.
January 5th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
no need to talk about it just do it and meanwhile tell everyone in OBP that Todd Bowles has lost the lockeroom
January 5th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
Too late season is over
January 5th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
4-3 defenses are outdated and not good enough against the pass. All the top defenses run 3-4 sometimes mixing in 4-3 on certain downs and distances. See for yourself in the defensive rankings.
January 5th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
“It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine”
😜
January 5th, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Accountability? On this Bucs team??? I’ll believe it when I see it.
January 5th, 2026 at 3:00 pm
I’m from Missouri…..Show Me!!! Another Licht failure!!!! Should have had this attitude, a long time ago…….
January 5th, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Gruden is even more outdated than the 4-3. He’d probably come in trying to run a west coast no shotgun offense again and get CREAMED.
January 5th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
Our nice guy edge rushers. Might be a spot for a fierce female.
January 5th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
GRUDEN for a year to transition
January 5th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
But can he play corner? That’s what Bowles wants to know.
January 5th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
Are you serious??? He sounds scared, and He’s talking to the media!
January 5th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
Where are all these alleged loafing teammates?
January 5th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
SP Matt …. So you want BOWZO baaaack….HAHAHA
January 5th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
Rod it is can SHE play corner….:)
January 5th, 2026 at 3:06 pm
“It’s not you, it’s me” – George Costanza
If the players that underachieved love a coach that allowed them to underachieve, then you fire the coach and bring in a guy that will teach them to play to their potential and beyond.
Is 8-9 and no playoffs really good enough for the Glazers to continue down this path?
I thought we were a SB contender in 2025???
What lie will they sell us next? Yellow snow is lemon flavored?
January 5th, 2026 at 3:08 pm
Maybe JPP rubbed off on him? That would be cool.
OREGON VS IU MATTERS TO THE BUCS
If you watch the game, it’s fun to know some people to watch. The Bucs scouts are watching Oregon players. These 3 Ducks have been routinely linked to the Bucs in the draft:
DT – A’Mauri Washington – 6’3 330 – Monster DT, instant Hall replacement (he’s a FA), and eventual VV replacement
DE – Matayo Uiagalelei – 6’5, 272 – Biggest plays in biggest moments. He and Yaya would be solid.
TE – Jamari Johnson – 6’5, 270 – Great great hands, fast, huge body. Runs over DBs. Blocks. Automatic 3rd down conversion.
All three would be instant upgrades. Check out the game and watch some potential 2026 Bucs.
#ScoDucks
January 5th, 2026 at 3:09 pm
There isn’t any coach out there available that I’d want coaching this team more. I’d like to see Bowles get a DC and new STC. Maybe a new OC, but injuries severely limited types of plays we could use. With our guards out those wonderful counter runs were no longer available. For instance…
January 5th, 2026 at 3:10 pm
They weren’t in the locker room today when it was open to media, Joe can tell you that! 🙂
January 5th, 2026 at 3:11 pm
No team predominately runs a 3-4/4-3 anymore. Keep seeing that said here and wonder how much football y’all watch because that 3rd CB is more valuable than a 3rd/4th LBer.
It’s all hybridized and idk how much Buc football you guys watch, but we actually have 4-man alignments in a lot of our sub-packages. “Switching” from a 3-4 to a 4-3 isn’t the significant/drastic change people think it is, not in 2025 maybe like 30 years ago. When’s the last time you heard of a strong/weak side LB? Or any LB position being referred to as such?
January 5th, 2026 at 3:13 pm
“ GRUDEN for a year to transition”
Quitting cigarettes to smoke crack is crazy
January 5th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
OBP CANNOT EVEN START A SCHEDULED PRESS CONFERENCE ON TIME
January 5th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
yes it would be nice if yaya had more of a “F that” attitude…
be a dude with a tude
January 5th, 2026 at 3:16 pm
let’s get some attitude on this defense for next year…!
be the dude with a tude
January 5th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
Sounds like JPP might have had a talk with Yaya about how to become a leader. Little too late this year, but hope it carries on to next year
January 5th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
Hmm guy in a contract year wows to be more impactful. Color me shocked. How are those AWJ and Zyon contracts looking.
January 5th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
The ok saying “ better to attract with honey instead of vinegar “ explains coach bowles. This locker room needed vinegar , which isn’t Todd’s style.
January 5th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
In at least half the games NoNo Disappeary played I wasn’t even sure he was still on the roster.
January 5th, 2026 at 3:37 pm
I’m not gaga over Yaya! Where was this “leadership” at the beginning of the season?
January 5th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
hell ya. someone needed to say it. now just keep your word. ur the vet now. take control.
January 5th, 2026 at 3:56 pm
Maybe JPP had an influence on him.
January 5th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
We need to do whatever we can to move up and draft David Bailey from texas tech. He’s the next great pass rusher in the nfl.
January 5th, 2026 at 4:11 pm
Blah, blah, blah! Walk the walk instead of talk the talk. He’s not a difference maker, just a JAG.
January 5th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
If Yaya could just stop missing his tackles he would be a monster. He often gets penetration in the backfield only to whiff on his tackle/would-be sack
January 5th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
What are you gonna do bull rush your teammates to death? Go get some pass rush moves before thinking you can call guys out. JTS was the same guy for 5 years so don’t be that guy just go work on your craft that’s who you get a voice, that one pass rush move you have won’t earn you money
January 5th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
YadaYadaya shut the hell up and show us. This dude is a glorified CFL superstar
January 5th, 2026 at 5:53 pm
Yaya was a bright spot down the stretch; we have our #2 Edge
January 5th, 2026 at 6:51 pm
Props to him for this and also openly criticizing all the “walk-through” practices. Good on him.
January 5th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
ARE YOU KIDDING???? GRUDEN? HE”LL MORTGAGE THE FARM TO WIN A SUPER BOWL, THEN RAPIDLY WEAR ⁷OUT HIS WELCOME,
January 5th, 2026 at 7:39 pm
That ship sailed
January 5th, 2026 at 7:52 pm
John Harbaugh.
January 5th, 2026 at 8:37 pm
StPeteMatt
Clearly Bowles 3-4 sucks against the pass, so much for that theory.
Give me a 4-3 any day.
January 5th, 2026 at 9:24 pm
The time has come to prepare for the future. A HC can either have his units play with enthusiasm along with having the mental edge to win battles vs their opponents.
The Bucs were simply outplayed by lesser opponents when everything was on the line: a high seed playoff and lots of extra profits for ownership. They failed miserably. There is only one boss on an NFL team, the head coach. It is his job to win games. What happened to the Bucs in 2025 is unacceptable and in the business of professional football it falls on the head coach.
It is expected that teams perform. The 2025 Bucs didn’t perform or compete after their bye. As painful as the season was, keeping this band together isn’t working. The changes have to be made to keep the team relevant. If not they are irrelevant and the region will tune out and find other things to do with their Sunday afternoons. Owners don’t want to lose fans.
January 6th, 2026 at 1:28 am
What I don’t like about this is this: IF he intends to be calling other players out he had best have HIS game top notch AND he needs to hold a position of respect. Right now I just don’t see it in this guy. Who is going to listen and follow this guy when he is no better then anyone else on that squad? Tell me I am wrong.
January 6th, 2026 at 3:35 am
now were getting word on the other site that Bowles had more walk throughs this year, especially in the last half of the season, when they had all the mental errors. YiaYia went on record saying this. they weren’t prepared.
January 6th, 2026 at 11:59 am
I want to know who the loafers are.