Sean McDermott (Or Jim Schwartz) And The Bucs
January 28th, 2026
Bucs reached out.
Joe had a wild-arsed dream this morning (no, you animals, Joe dreams of football).
Reading how Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, one of the NFL’s best defensive minds, stomped out of Browns headquarters this morning upon learning former Bucs offensive coordinator Todd Monken was named the new Browns head coach, Joe flirted with the idea that, “Hey, maybe the Bucs could bring in Schwartz and have him take over the Bucs’ defense?”
Nah, Bucs coach Todd Bowles has already stated through text messages with some reporters that he’s still calling the shots on the Bucs’ defense. So bringing Schwartz in to run the defense is just a pipedream. Not gonna happen, no matter how much Joe wants it to happen.
A short time later, Joe learns via Greg Auman of FOX Sports that the Bucs reached out to recently fired Bills coach Sean McDermott to see if he was interested in joining the Bucs staff in an unspecified capacity.
As rumors have been floated days ago across #NFLMedia, it is believed McDermott wants to take a year off. Joe can’t blame him.
But if the Bucs were interested in McDermott, why then wouldn’t they be interested in Schwartz? So as far as Joe is concerned, the door to this possibility is open, though perhaps the Bucs are hoping McDermott has a change of heart?
Is McDermott another Vic Fangio or Schwartz? Joe would say no. Hey, 13 seconds can haunt a man. But 13 seconds will haunt no one more than McDermott.
In the 2021 AFC divisional round game, Buffalo led the Chiefs by three points with 13 seconds left for Kansas City to score. Really good defensive coordinators don’t lose that game.
The Chiefs won in overtime.
And the reason McDermott is no longer in Buffalo isn’t because his defense has turned into the 1975 Steelers.
So McDermott isn’t great. But Joe is willing to lay cash McDermott (or Schwartz) cares about an edge rush.
January 28th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Fire Todd now and hire him !!!!!!!!!
January 28th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Both of those guys (Schwartz or Mcdermott) would be potential HC candidates for us after the season and i doubt Toilet Bowles is gonna bring in his potential replacement Glazers are fine with status quo and apparently are on track for the #1 pick in 2027. We have cheap owners also so alot going against the concept of winning here but you know they will keep raising those prices and being the cowards that they are …couldnt even come out and say Bowles was their coach for 2026 just ignorant all around
January 28th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Can’t believe that Licht didn’t make it a condition of Bowles continued HC tenure to hire a DC? If not, the defense wil be hopelessly screwed up for yet another year. Really like Todd B. , but he has a glaring weakness—incompetency.
January 28th, 2026 at 2:52 pm
Well hopefully he gets some faster linebackers who can cover if he wants to continue this same scheme that’s seems to be struggling for some years now.
January 28th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
gotta agree with @ gipper
Glazers shouldve told bowles to hire a DC or kiss the sideline goodbye!!!
bowles defense wont get any better….neither will baker…
GO BUCS!!!!
January 28th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
If Jason were to make that a condition there is zero point in keeping Todd. Todd will be the DC so you can stop wishing for another one cuz when they decided to keep Todd that ship sailed.
January 28th, 2026 at 3:05 pm
Either one of these guys would be a huge upgrade at DC. My faith in the 2026 Bucs would be restored if Bowles hung up one of his hats.
January 28th, 2026 at 3:07 pm
Schwartz yes; McDermott, no! He has a top 3 QB but loses games he was supposed to win, see Atlanta!
January 28th, 2026 at 3:08 pm
Ain’t happening…Dream on
January 28th, 2026 at 3:08 pm
Baring some playoff wins, this should be the last year for Bowles, Baker, and Licht. Missing the playoffs or one and done should absolutely not be acceptable.
January 28th, 2026 at 3:12 pm
As far as the D personnel goes, I’m disappointed to see that all the big names I’ve seen are projected to go top 10 and Bucs won’t have a chance.
Reese
Styles
Bain… looking like pipe dreams.
Cashius Howell (edge) was mocked to the Bucs. There were a bunch of OL prospects and a couple CBs and WRs in the mix top 15.
Tough to justify drafting an OL in the first round even though that would potentially solve the depth issue or partially solve it.
Tough to justify WR unless Evans leaves and even then we got 3 solid WRs already.
Might have to be a trade up year if want an impact front 7 guy. I did see the report that said Howell is basically an improved version of Nic Scourton and he looked pretty good for the Panthers.
January 28th, 2026 at 3:13 pm
no we do not need a mcdermott…………at all
January 28th, 2026 at 3:17 pm
I wouldn’t be getting after McDermott for losing in Buffalo. Aside from Allen and a great OL… what were they working with? Aging defense, washed Joey Bosa, stud DT was hurt, 1st round CB was hurt.
James Cook is fine but mostly a product of that OL and Allen being a threat imo.
Their best WR was a slot guy in Shakir.
McDermott would do more with the Bucs roster than Bowles has, no doubt in my mind. Not easy for anyone without major front 7 upgrades but gotta assume those are coming.
January 28th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
Go get him! What an enormous upgrade at the head coaching position that would be.
January 28th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
Allowing Bowles to continue as DC is a travesty. Everything about this franchise defies explanation. I guess 3rd and 28 must be deemed acceptable by Licht and the Manchester Glazers.
January 28th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
So noe this site is reduced to reporting on dreams ????
SMH
January 28th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
Its all good….we cant get too good right now…need that top 5 pick next year!
Well, unless….one of those? HC in waiting? but nah it wont happen yet….Glazers in charge….
January 28th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
Can we just skip 2026 and get to 2027
>New GM, HC, OC, DC
>New QB
>High Picks in a Good Draft
>Tons of Cap
So excited!
January 28th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
This season will be in The Bowles Zone….similar to the Twilight Zone. The Manchester Buccaneers are here. This team is going to suck.
January 28th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
The Bowzo Bat Signal is up over Ray Jay. Unlike the Brady Bat Signal this one ia a warning….stay away from ray jay.
January 28th, 2026 at 4:11 pm
If Schwartz left the Browns because DC wasn’t good enough for him, why would he agree to be some assistant under clueless, dead man walking Bowles?
I’d take either he or McDermott over Todd in a heartbeat. But the Glazers went the half-measure route, which will inevitably fail. Everyone in the world sees it except these incompetent leprechauns.
January 28th, 2026 at 4:19 pm
Thank you, JOEBUCSFAN!!!! Now you are talking and cooking with gas!!!
Much appreciated!!!
Lefty R!!!
January 28th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Definition of insanity… What have we changed going into 2026-27?
New OC – ok, maybe offense puts up more points?
New Def position coaches – ok, maybe some better plays on defense?
SAME HC – Overall, we will likely have a very similar team record and end up in about the same spot as we have been in over his tenure.. Strange decisions leading to inadvertent injuries and mind-boggling ways to lose games, maybe start off the season with a few wins as other teams are still trying to figure things out, a mid-season losing slump and lack of communication or need to coach it better, and then a frustrating scramble at the end to try and win a soft division with no real hope of getting very far beyond that…
Never forget 3rd & 28!
January 28th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
As Joe has stated many times. The Bucs DC is Todd Bowles.
There’s no point in even entertaining such a move.
It proves a couple things about the Glazers current mind set.
They can’t think Bowles is capable of being just a HC.
And they must really like Swiss cheese on their burgers.
#NoPlayoffs 3rd and 28
January 28th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
Hey 813bucboi you might want to ease up on Coach Bowles
He’s a human being after all
lol
January 28th, 2026 at 4:26 pm
Bring in Buddy Ryan for all I care…a fresh, extra set of eyes is needed. Bowles & Licht have gotten too complacent following the Brady Era while relying way too much on Baker following that. This defense has made Kirk Cousins another huge payday…following the one after the You Like That ( Lovie )?’! Capital Collapse as it’s known by the heady Joes’.
January 28th, 2026 at 5:04 pm
3rd and 28…
Stafford to Kupp for the win
Not getting off the field one time against the Commanders
The statue (Kirk Cousin) scorching bucs D 3 consecutive times.
No pass rush.
Swiss cheese soft coverage.
Can’t tackle.
A defense in regression for consecutive years.
Overpaid 2nd contracts to players who get bored.
A defense who quits on their teammates, coaches.
I can go on and on and on.
I keep dreaming the Glazers will wake the F^&* up to the nightmare that is the Bucs defense.
January 28th, 2026 at 5:06 pm
Keep McDerrmott on speed dial. Maybe he takes some time off and he’s ready to go for 2027. Nobody really knows how 2026 will go. Hoping for the best but can’t shake the bad vibes that TB may not be able to fix his house.
January 28th, 2026 at 5:19 pm
I am waiting before I call Bowles defense a total wash for the 026 season. Bowles is the head dog and the DC so he is somewhat responsible for the defensive play. Nevertheless, Bowles call the defensive plays, the position coaches should be doing the developing of the player. That’s just my opinion. Defensive back field is where we’ve had the most problems the past couple of years. Those where the coaches who were just fired so I am gonna take a wait and see
January 28th, 2026 at 5:21 pm
To put things in perspective look at the Texans. They built a team through the draft on defense. Their offense stinks. Certainly their D was healthy all year too. The Bucs built offense first. As with both teams the BPA lead to that, except when Houston drafted Anderson they immediately traded back into the fray to draft another top tier guy, can’t remember who? Was it Stroud? But the Texans need some offense to go with that great D, Bucs are reverse. Not that I am a fan of keeping TB this year because of the collapse, but this is the same Todd Bowles whose defense was alive in 2020. Same guy. I think if he has better players the outcome would certainly be different. I would hope so.
January 28th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
Todd is so weak and sensitive that he won’t bring anyone who would eventually replace him.
January 28th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
Licht is falling on his face. No moves made on either line for a team that was balling out. At a minimum at year end should have manned up and let Todd go. Now the window is closing and best of luck finding a solid head coach next year. Todd’s calling plays? He’s an idiot. Seems like a genuinely good dude who I always pull for. Still doesn’t change the fact that he’s an idiot. My leadership is flat out failing me.
January 28th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Makes me wonder if the Glazer family on this of the Atlantic and the Glazers running Manchester United ever talk. Manchester United fired their very expensive coach and replaced him mid-season, the results… a miracle. The team is playing very well after many years of not doing so. I wonders if the local Glazers realize how much their love of Todd is detrimental to the Bucs. Football head coaches have a lot of influence on the direction of the team. Prime examples are the two playing in the Super Bowl this year. Mike Vrabel took a 4-13 last year to the Super Bowl this year with pretty much the same personnel. Attitude and attention to detail, neither Todd’s strength. Todd drains the energy of the room and looks befuddled 98% of the time.
January 28th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
“Ha, ha, that’s great marketing, J@e. Throw some click bait out there to a hopeless fan base and reap the ad revenue. Well done! I trained you well. P.S., I dream of football too! No! Not winning. Just making money off it. Yee haw.” – Hugh
January 28th, 2026 at 6:17 pm
Has Licht been asked outright by a Joe, or other reporters about hiring a DC? Maybe in a way that make Licht think it was his idea and he is a genius for thinking it?
January 28th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
From this from PFF…
“Jim Schwartz’s Cleveland Browns stand alone at the top of the league, playing man coverage on 45.1% of defensive snaps, by far the highest rate in the NFL.”
So that rules him out for Bowles.
Also runs a 4-3.
Honestly, though, with the LB depth issues, wouldn’t be the worst thing to switch to a 4-3, as 4-3 LBs are cheaper. Yaya at DE could be a monster – people vastly underate him because they’re too dumb to know what they’re watching, but Yaya as a dedicated DE, not dropping into coverage 50% of the time, he’d easily be in the double digit for sacks. If they did switch, sign him to a long-term deal BEFORE next season.
January 28th, 2026 at 6:19 pm
Make McDermott Assistant Head Coach
Make Schwartz Defensive Coordinator
That’ll turn some heads.
January 28th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
Rod Munch Says:
“Also runs a 4-3.”
Oops, didn’t realize this.