“That’s A Poorly Coached Football Team”
January 8th, 2026
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
The following comes from a man who has two Super Bowl rings to his name.
He’s got one from the Eagles and a second from the Belicheats. So it’s not like his observations are from someone who has never played the NFL game at its highest level.
The source is Chris Long, the retired edge rusher. Hours before it was reported that Bucs coach Todd Bowles said he would be retained, Long recorded and published this Twitter video, an excerpt from his “Green Light” podcast.
He watched Bucs games and since the bye concluded the Bucs are poorly coached. Long has respect for Bowles and he didn’t call for Bowles’ dismissal,but said he could understand if that did happen.
One thing Long knows, something has to change with the Bucs.
“I don’t know where you go from here,” Long said. “I really don’t. I feel like nothing’s going to change.
“I’m not saying something should change, but to me, that’s a poorly coached football team. I don’t know what else to say.
“If it’s one unit that continues to fall short, if it’s one unit that makes too many mistakes, if it’s one unit that’s losing your games, that’s one thing. But if it’s everywhere on the field, you know, if it’s everybody taking a turn, as they did through that collapse,” that’s bad.
There’s one change Bowles could make that would be a major step toward getting the Bucs’ arrow pointing up again. That would be to allow Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to bring in a defensive coordinator and to give that man full control of the defense.
This indifference to an edge rush is destroying the team from within. Just once since 2019 has Bowles’ had a pass defense not ranked in the 20s.
And, the icing on top is that the Bucs had the worst red zone defense in the NFL in terms of scoring percentage this season.
Dead-freaking-last.
Most defensive coordinators or head coaches overseeing a defense with that bad of a record are not retained. For Bowles to keep his job, Joe hopes it came with qualifications. And one of those should be to give up his defensive coordinator duties.
Let’s be real: Given the aforementioned information, there is no way anyone can say with a straight face Bowles’ defense got acceptable results — at least not acceptable for a winning organization.
January 8th, 2026 at 3:59 am
Mind. BLOWN. Haven’t slept since I don’t know when LoL is today already THURSDAY!? Wow.
January 8th, 2026 at 4:46 am
Jason Licht is the GM . He needs to exercise his authority to have Todd Bowles find a DC. Finding good coaches is priority #1.As the OC, he is to manage all party of the team.
Todd Bowles, the Glazers have been both kind and patient with you. DON’T BLOW IT.
January 8th, 2026 at 4:47 am
That observation from a guy who was high on us for the first half of the season. Far from someone who doesn’t like the team or Bowles for whatever reason. I wish he would have tied those thoughts to the overall theme including ‘22-‘24.
It’s extremely clear what his limitations are to anyone that wants to have an open mind.
I hope this soft tank that the glazer are about to kickoff works.
January 8th, 2026 at 4:48 am
Also – if Jason is the one hiring any of the coordinators in this scenario, I’m really perplexed as to what TB actually does.
January 8th, 2026 at 4:50 am
I’m shocked that the Glazers are fine settling for mediocrity, this team will never win a Super Bowl with Todd Bowles. Not only that, the Glazers are willing to take a financial hit, there will be absolutely zero excitement for next season with Bowles at the helm. Half filled stands, merchandise sales down. Apparently the Glazers are not feeling the temperature of the fan base. As a life long fan since 1976, I’m not excited about another mediocre season.
January 8th, 2026 at 4:55 am
Additionally I will add that if assistant coaches are to be replaced, what quality assistant coach would come to a team knowing that it’s a one year gig? Bowles is most certainly gonna be be gone after another average at best season.
January 8th, 2026 at 4:58 am
• No Confidence
January 8th, 2026 at 5:01 am
Didn’t Bowles say last year he has seen what the issue was and was going to fix it!!! Mike drop SMH
January 8th, 2026 at 5:03 am
I’m not sure why any OC or DC would want to work for the Bucs at this point, unless they have no other option(s). They’re going to keep Grizzard, right? If the Head Coach isn’t being held accountable, why would anyone else?
January 8th, 2026 at 5:05 am
The 2 Head Coaches at Indiana and Oregon- Cignetti and Lanning, really should be considered by Bucs’ Management team.
January 8th, 2026 at 5:06 am
Hopefully the piranhas start to settle down and we can get back to reality…..
Bowles in his self evaluations needs to realize that he’s defensive scheme just doesnt work anymore and needs to at least bring in a CO-defensive coordinator. I trust that the offense will get fixed but this Mike Smith 2.0 defense needs to go.
And yes, Bucs fans, you can criticize Todd Bowles without having a complete meltdown, try it sometime.
January 8th, 2026 at 5:13 am
I’ll never forget magical season number 50! Never as a Bucs fan have I ever been this disappointed and angry with management. I cannot believe they have signed us up for more of the same in 2026.
January 8th, 2026 at 5:14 am
Apparently John Harbaugh is telling all the teams that contact him, to get rid of their GM if they want him to coach their team. That’s what he was rumored to have told the Bucs, and the Bucs chose to keep Jason Licht.
January 8th, 2026 at 5:25 am
Ebenezer Scrooge would do a better job of COACHING this football team!!!
Bah Humbug!!!!
January 8th, 2026 at 5:26 am
Bucs traditionally were known as a Defensive powerhouse. This HC was initially touted as a defensive Guru but seems ill suited for in HC role.
Under the current leadership, it feels to fans as though BUCS are essentially becoming a version of J.E.T.S. & we just wish the owners could get some de-icer out.
It is way more fun to be a fan than to slowely watch the team wither year after year under the man with the crossed arms on the side lines. He did show a bit of life at a press conference when he yelled at the team. At least we know he has a pulse. Guess that is a silver lining for his paybook. Silver is moving up after all 😉
January 8th, 2026 at 5:34 am
Well, this is a news flash.
January 8th, 2026 at 5:50 am
Glazers don’t like winning it seems
January 8th, 2026 at 5:51 am
This whole situation is helpless and hapless. Licht must have convinced the Gazers to keep Bowles. Why else would he still be here? I think Licht is a major problem also. His roster building on defense has been horrible and he keeps adding substandard players to the roster. It just keeps getting worse while the other teams in the division are getting better.
January 8th, 2026 at 5:51 am
no free agents will come here and all our free agents will leave and 26’ is going to be a nightmare unless Baker finds some magic for more than a few games
January 8th, 2026 at 5:51 am
You cannot attract quality help when the HC is dead man walking. He has to go or it’s another year of the same.
January 8th, 2026 at 5:52 am
No good coach is coming to be part of this idiots team. Why would they, good coaches aren’t blind or stupid. That job comes with no security, so unless the Glazers start roughing out guaranteed contracts for coordinators any good coach knows Bowles is a dead man walking
January 8th, 2026 at 6:01 am
We don’t have a definitive statement from the Glazers that Bowles will coach next year. I would imagine that they must be kicking the tires of John Harbaugh as a possibility, I can’t imagine the Glazers being gung ho for more mediocrity.
January 8th, 2026 at 6:01 am
Very sad news…seems like 2026 will be terrible again.
January 8th, 2026 at 6:02 am
If bowles stays as the DC, then I think all players coming in should have to be able to explain this equation in detail to qualify: E=MC²
January 8th, 2026 at 6:09 am
Chris Long is right and it’s something we all saw and was aware of this past season, the Bucs were poorly coached on defense and sure that’s where he’s gonna start replacing coaches. They could not develop an edge rusher, you hear all the hype about the stars the Bucs have at CB but yet that position is the worst of the defense and at the bottom in the NFL. Yes I am ok with Bowles staying for now As for bringing in a DC hummm, was it Bowles play calling or players just not coach well, I agree bringing in a DC but as said already, will it make a difference if you don’t bring good assistants and new voices on defense who will get the most out of the players
January 8th, 2026 at 6:10 am
To let a coaching talent such as John Harbaugh slip through your fingers is dumb [my opinion].
January 8th, 2026 at 6:13 am
Get your mind off Harbaugh.. in 18 years he’s won one superbowl and has been just an above average coach, not genius. Let’s talk about Tony Dungy.. who was fired for what you want to fire Todd Bowles for.
But Tony Dungy learned his lesson and he changed. He did ignore the offense…. and yes he had Peyton, but it was more than that.
Give Bowles some actual talent like he had during Superbowl season.
And Licht needs to understand he’s on the hot seat next year too!… and this will be Baker Mayfield’s 4th OC in 4 years. That has to stop too.
If the Coach shows he can’t learn his lessons than there will be PLENTY of coaches to choose from. These Fired coaches: Jimmy Johnson, Cowher, Mike Ditka, they are a mirage.. only Andy Reid amounted to anything
January 8th, 2026 at 6:16 am
The Bucs are poorly coached
And Coach Bowles suppose to meet with the assistant coaches today
I’m sure changes will be made within the coaching staff
Changes will also be made with the players on this team
I really think Coach Bowles biggest mistake was sticking with the wrong players
I think we can get back to the playoffs in 2026
The decision to keep Bowles for another year has been made
And I’m ok with it, we will be better in 2026
January 8th, 2026 at 6:24 am
Joe, don’t think you from 2019-2023 at least the pass defense was so bad because teams couldn’t run and had to play from behind against us?
January 8th, 2026 at 6:24 am
Glazers are cowards. Bowles is terrible. Bye bye Bucs.
Nail in coffin for many fans. Deaf, dumb, and blind to results.
Glad we are being boat-raced by our division.
Atlanta fired their coach because they actually have expectations.
We are a fraud franchise. Glazers don’t give a F.
January 8th, 2026 at 6:32 am
Everyone knows it but the Glazers dumb as is!!
January 8th, 2026 at 6:38 am
Lakeland I and many others agree that the Bucs were poorly coached. As I said earlier, was it Bowles play calling or the position coaches not getting the most out of the players. Seems that Bowles have been too loyal to his coaches. I too think besides coaches Bowles will be getting rid of a few players too as he tries to get the team back to winning and keep his job. As for Harbaugh, I just don’t see a lot he has done for 18 years and he and Bowles are both in their 60s and from what I am hearing is, he’s getting paid around $16 to $17 million a year. Last he just seems to be to much like Bowles
January 8th, 2026 at 6:39 am
One can’t be poorly coached unless you have pitiful owners.
January 8th, 2026 at 6:40 am
no good coordinators are gonna want to work or bowles on the hot seat
January 8th, 2026 at 6:48 am
How many NFL Head Coaches are NOT on the hot seat?
Every owner wants a Super Bowl
But only one owner will get it
There’s a high turnover rate of Head Coaches in the NFL
Changing Head Coaches every few seasons won’t change anything
January 8th, 2026 at 6:50 am
An NFL HC seat can get Hot pretty quickly
January 8th, 2026 at 6:54 am
What’s done is done. Now the team needs to address 2 key areas. First, fire the special teams coordinator. Second relieve TB of his DC responsibilities and bring in a DC who understands the nature of today’s NFL. It’s a passing league. You need a good pass rush and you need a workable coverage scheme. Let Todd be a HC and let someone else run the defense.
January 8th, 2026 at 6:56 am
Let’s start by asking one simple question, what was working, offense, defense, special teams, situational football, game management, goal ine defense, red zone scoring, anything? If your answer is none of the above and you make statements like “the coaches have done all they can do” or “we have no answers”, you are a terrible coach and the organization that accepts that is doomed to fail.
January 8th, 2026 at 6:59 am
Stick a fork in the Bucs, they are already done. 2026 is going to be a terrible year. Bucs will be lucky to win 7 games.
January 8th, 2026 at 7:04 am
Special teams C should have been fired in season.
A new one couldn’t have possibly done worse.
That’s always been the excuse with this team. “It’s too late”
With that attitude change never has a chance to happen until the following year.
That’s where we are yet again.
Coaches are afraid to admit fault and take blame and Just Fix It!!!
With Bowles the problem is, I don’t think he can.
January 8th, 2026 at 7:07 am
Get a DC who’ll run the defense? I don’t get it. Why keep Bowles, then? What value does his continuing presence in an executive capacity hold versus starting fresh? How would you sell that to the locker room? “Coach Bowles wasn’t getting it done, so we’ve stripped him of the duties he’s most known for, but he’s still in charge of your new DC and everyone else”
January 8th, 2026 at 7:10 am
I’m not going to complain anymore about the pass coverage until we fix the pass rush. It’s already difficult to cover WRs in this league, and when the pass rush is bad, it’s only harder. This is basic football stuff and I don’t understand why our coaches don’t get it.
January 8th, 2026 at 7:21 am
Bad coaching + bad players = most of the Bucs 50 seasons. Happy 50 Anniversary
January 8th, 2026 at 7:25 am
Who would want to coach this team under Todd Bowles??? No state tax and great weather is not going to be enough to attract top notch coaches to a toxic, and likely temporary, staff. A DC that doesn’t have to answer to the HC is untenable. Anyone who comes to Tampa under these circumstances has to be desperate for a job and won’t demand a high salary. We’re certainly not going to attract great free agents. It’s impossible to get excited about the Bucs in their 51st season. It’s like the Glazers have given up on the team just to save a few $$$$. It’s like a return to Hugh Culverhouse. I won’t be paying extra so I can watch them every week.
January 8th, 2026 at 7:41 am
Bucs have had worse seasons but there are two major changes since 2008. One is the rise of social media and forums like joebucsfan, so there is more interaction and information than any other time. People are more bold with the anonymity of the internet to put forth more aggressive and uncivil comments. Second, expectations for the Bucs has been different. When Brady left the Bucs were predicted to just win 2 games with Baker. TWO. Bucs were more competitive and won NFC South with 9-8. Some of those games lost were close. We beat the eagles in round one. Expectations rose. We were favored in 2024 and won nfc south 10-7 but it was the last game of the season and close losses were more tied to defense woes. We got beat in wildcard game. Baker and defense were blamed. Draft was heavy on defense but pass rush was again ignored with the exception of Reddick and a rookie who blew his knee in practice. Still, expectations were SB or bust. We didn’t get into playoffs. Yes injuries, Baker playing bad, OC too green, and the defense was horrible. When people have high expectations and they aren’t met, they are more disappointed than if they had low ones and those are met. So people had high expectations and were let down then with social media you can see their frustration. Bowles isn’t the guy. I’ll still wear my hat in public and cheer for them but I’m not spending money on their merchandise or tickets. I don’t have faith in Bowles to succeed. I have faith he will be mediocre to bad.
January 8th, 2026 at 7:49 am
So Joe is trying to say is Todd is a better HC than a DC!?!?!?!?
LMAO
January 8th, 2026 at 7:50 am
What fantasy world do you live in thinking a competent DC or OC wants to work for a lame duck HC
January 8th, 2026 at 7:58 am
Too many walkthroughs. Not forcing your special teams coach to kick the ball through the end zone at the Bills game. How many times Grizz refused to run the ball on 3 and 2 or 4 and 2. And we were having a good running game at the time. When is Todd going to stop the bleeding? Those are no brainers!!
January 8th, 2026 at 8:07 am
With a ‘lame duck’ head coach how will the Bucs be able to sign ANY assistant coach worth a damn??????
January 8th, 2026 at 8:25 am
No good coordinators, coaches, or players are coming to this franchise if Bowles is there.
More likely, we lose players (LVD, Evans) that would have stuck around for a new coach with a vision and a plan (you know, other than “We need to coach it better” and “we’ve done all we can as coaches”).
He kept the special teams coach on staff all year, despite the fact that our ST cost us at least two games (probably more once you factor in that opposite offenses always started at their 35 yard line or better). The Rams fired theirs in-season because they weren’t getting the job done and people are held accountable on a well-coached and well-run team. I’m pretty sure Bowles (and Licht) kept the ST coach on so they could “make changes” now”(i.e., throw the ST cpach under the bus), instead of being fired themselves.
Expect more of the same lack of accountability in 2026, especially if Bowles has to hire a new DC. I can hear the excuses now, “it’s a new scheme,” “it’ll take more communication to get guys on the same page,” “The players need more time to learn their assignments.” And many of you “Pro-Bowlers” will lap it up and blame our talent or Baker or some other tangential crap that is like 5% of the problem, while ignoring the 80% problem that is Todd Bowles.
January 8th, 2026 at 8:28 am
Man what a sad state when our best case scenario is hoping this defensive coach that we’ve decided to keep, will make sure to not touch the defense or offense lol.
Man the pressure is on next year. I feel like it’s playoffs or epic collapse type vibes now lol
January 8th, 2026 at 8:35 am
Pretty sure he can’t handle both jobs. If he’s HC then he needs a DC.
January 8th, 2026 at 8:37 am
Bo Pelini for DC
January 8th, 2026 at 8:51 am
Joe….you will need to address the comments on JBF about Bowles going forward.
The decision is made… he is our coach….the continued negativity will make comments very hard to sift through and read.
January 8th, 2026 at 8:51 am
Uhh, ya think?
January 8th, 2026 at 8:52 am
I’m as disheartened as anyone about the decision to keep Bowles as our HC, but at this point we really know very little about what’s on the horizon. LOTS and LOTS of speculation obviously, but very very light on FACTS.
Ask most JBFers & I’d venture to say that the majority would like to see ALL THREE coordinators changed this year. All 3 phases regressed considerably, and that SHOULD call for a change in coordinators. Will it? Heaven only knows.
But to say that no highly-rated coordinators would want to come on-board here is rather short-sighted. Yes their job may only last 1 year working for Todd Bowles (if in fact he moves after this season?), but there could be a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow. That coordinator MAY end up being HC of the Bucs if he does an awesome job here as a coordinator; no way for us to know what’ll transpire in a year’s time. Tampa is a desirable location, and we’re not totally bereft of talent by any means.
This defensive coaching staff in particular has proven to me that it can’t get the job done and needs to be replaced. Will that happen? Again, we don’t have enough FACTS to know at this point. Todd’s biggest shortcoming IMO is his stubborness; he’s now been DC (as well as HC) for the past 4 years, and we’ve regressed considerably. I would certainly hope that the Glaziers (and Licht) in their recent evaluation of Todd recognized that and demanded that Todd take the obvious path to fixing it: for him to wear ONLY the HC hat and hire a DC (and let him pick his staff).
January 8th, 2026 at 8:56 am
When does the Buc philosophy of insanity stop?! It’s an endless loop of continuing to do the same things over and over and expecting different results. It gets overlooked when we’re winning but rears its ugly head when we’re not.
The all-out blitzing scheme of Todd Bowles is NOT working. Buc fans in their recliners across the nation on Sundays could tell you it wasn’t working. The stats bear out that it was not working. The coaches and players admit it wasn’t working so….
Lets keep doing it!!!
Stop the madness, please!
January 8th, 2026 at 9:04 am
‘Hopefully the HOA Karen’s start to settle down and we can get back to reality.’ Reality being, as Chris Long correctly deduced, as have we real Buc fans deduced. This team has been and still is poorly coached. Period. Love Todd Bowles the man. But, he has no answers, no plan, and no clue. We real Buc fans do not need anyone, especially HOA Karens (hat tip to Mad Max), to tell us how to be fans. Until I hear Licht & the Glazers tell us Bowles is the coach next season, will I believe it.
January 8th, 2026 at 9:11 am
Everyone else can notice this.
January 8th, 2026 at 9:13 am
Excellent take DR. Todd cannot be involved with selecting defensive assistants if they have indeed mandated that a DC is hired. They cannot run the current defensive scheme, it is outdated and the league is on to it.
January 8th, 2026 at 9:17 am
I’m thinking 3-14 next season. And to really twist the dagger, these bums will wait all the way until the end of the season to fire him. It’s gonna be a miserable season for all of us, Bowles included next season
January 8th, 2026 at 9:20 am
Get a DC, at least…wtf
January 8th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Yeah I don’t understand Licht must of backed Bowles, knowing that when this goes south next year and it 100% will he will also be out of a job. Could you imagine being part of last season and the previous and thinking “Yeah, I can hitch my career to to this guy and that staff he will assemble” Edwards, Hynson, McGaughey, Ross, Strong at the minimum need to be gone. Everyone keeps pounding the table for Scheelhaase, but why just get Zac Robinson from Falcons and bring Jeff Ulbrich as the DC.
January 8th, 2026 at 9:41 am
“I don’t know where you go from here,” Long said. “I really don’t. I feel like nothing’s going to change.”
That about sums it up. No hope that anything changes next year. I expect a fast start, mid season swoon, then trying to claw our way to 9 wins and hope thats enough. Bowles is good enough to get 8 or 9 wins. Sooner or later one of these rival teams are gonna get it together, and 8-9 or 9-8 ain’t gonna be enough to win the division. Maybe if we hire a dedicated Defensive Coordinator and an experienced Offensive Coordinator, and let Bowles walk around I’ll have a little excitement for this upcoming season.
January 8th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Not sure why you only at one side of the team . Our offense wasn’t good either and if Baker (who had multiple shots) closed out a couple of those games we wouldn’t be discussing the defense . And how the special teams coach is still employeed has to be the most telling sign yet that this team has no accountability. This guy should have been launched after his 2nd disaster . So the very minimum we need a new OC, DC, and special teams coach . Someone tell me how Bowles should keep his job.
January 8th, 2026 at 9:56 am
They will probably promote the ST coach to DC.
January 8th, 2026 at 10:09 am
People keep saying what defensive coordinator would want to come here as a lame duck working under Todd and sure on the surface that may be the case.
On the other hand if that coordinator turns things around and looks good, they may say to themselves that they have a potential to become head coach of this team as I am sure the glazers do not want to make the same mistake twice as they did with losing Liam Cohen.
January 8th, 2026 at 10:10 am
In any case the way I see it if there aren’t any significant changes to the defensive coaching staff and if we do not load up on the front seven in free agency in the draft and we are doomed to a five-wing season next year and at that point we will have a new coach and GM and likely a new quarterback in 2027.
January 8th, 2026 at 10:41 am
No doubt this is a poorly coached team however with that said the idea that there’s not a quality OC/DC willing to come here is in my opinion wrong. This offense has a lot of weapons and with the right OC they can put points on the board and win games, Coen proved as much, so finding a top tier OC probably wouldn’t be that hard. The biggest issue will be finding a DC that has the intestinal fortitude to take complete control over the defense and the only way I see that happening is if Bowles was told he either gives up the defense or gives up his job.
January 8th, 2026 at 10:56 am
It’s a poorly “owned” team. I certainly don’t know the Glazers game plan, but I Can say with ALL CONFIDENCE that this has been a poorly coached team from the moment bowles was lifted the job. Starting with him single handedly and Totally dismantling “Every Single Aspect” of a DOMINANT SUPER BOWL WINNING TEAM, SCHEME, AND ALL STRATEGIES that won us the Lombardi. “Including” the defense he was ORDERED to run. You know, the kind that INCLUDES a pass rush FROM “actual pass rushers”…. This coach “in particular” has destroyed us.
So… with that said. The Glazers…. If they had any interest in the “actual welfare of the team” let this coach dismantle what made us winners, from top to the Very Bottom and instead of taking whatever supposed action they are taking now, they OBVIOUSLY DIDN’T give a shake of their d..ks about this team that you and I obviously love. They actually gave this absolute failure an extension to boot.
It reminds me of a bad comedy where you’ve got John Candy running around trying to figure out who hates the team that their father loved So Much that they actually take steps and make moves to destroy from within, what their father loved so dearly.
Fans don’t need to attack each other for what the Glazers HAVE and HAVE NOT done to keep going what WE ALL SUFFERED SO LONG FOR. Its FAR MORE than CRYSTAL CLEAR that the Glazers ARE Absentee Owners AT BEST! It seems more like the John Candy Comedy though, since if the Glazers “TRULY CARED” for our Success then they would have removed bowls from calling the defense AT THE MINIMUM, two years ago. They CERTAINLY WOULDN’T HAVE REWARDED HIM WITH AN EXTENSION for having in the bottom of the league to the VERY WORST performing defense in the ENTIRETY OF ALL OF THE NFL!
The Ownership has let this team become the pitiful Bucs of old instead of Fighting to keep us “In The Game”. They Truly Are only about The Money. And I sincerely hope that they have cut their very own throats financially As Much As if not FAR, FAR MORE than they have cut All of our hearts out by letting it get to this point without as much as even looking back.
We have SUFFERED LONG ENOUGH and WE HAVE ALL BEEN LOYAL FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS FOR WHAT? Malcom has passed away. IT’S TIME THAT THE ABSENTEE GLAZERS SELL THE TEAM TO SOMEONE WHO LOVES IT AS MUCH AS “WE ALL DO”! Because for them, it’s MORE THAN “OBVIOUS” THAT THEY COULDN’T CARE less….
January 8th, 2026 at 11:02 am
yeah all phases are awful all year–poorly coached football team. Talent will only take you so far.
January 8th, 2026 at 11:16 am
Bowles should have been canned last year and certainly after the disaster this season. That being said, if the Bucs had hired a competent OC they could have easily won 2 or 3 of the close games down the stretch avoiding most of the coaching change speculation. Another trip to the playoffs secures Todd’s job. This has to be the logic the Glazers are using to justify the retention of a clearly overrated, overmatched, incompetent who will never get us another ring. Changing out coordinators now will probably improve the record next year if the team is not irreparably damaged by the lack of accountability. This team makes way too many errors every game. The issues are systemic. Offense, defense and ST are all affected. Even the “better” players have lost their edge. All of these problems go back to the source – Bowles. Dropped passes, critical penalties at inopportune times, inexcusable time management, no creativity in play calling.
Bringing Bowles back can only continue the malaise. This is huge mistake delaying the inevitable. The good Ole boy mentality perpetuated here by Licht and BA
January 8th, 2026 at 11:21 am
and the Glazers will set the team back at least 2 years or more until they come to the conclusion that change has to happen. The gloom and doom prognostications are overblown. Bucs will be middle of the road again like all Bowles teams. You can put any Super owl aspirations on hold though until he is gone. Go Bucs!
January 8th, 2026 at 11:52 am
Todd Bowles has more lives than Morris the Cat. Really shocking that Todd survived. No need for press conferences next season. Just repeat what we know Todd will say: “we work on it in practices, it’s a communication issue or some little thing.”
January 8th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
Look you can replace this part or that part but if you retain the biggest problem what the hell is the point?
January 8th, 2026 at 1:22 pm
Critical mistake not firing Bowles. Grizzard needed to go along with Lewis. As Long states, the real issue is poor coaching.
NFL truth: You better have a solid head coach to attract solid OC/DC coordinators plus position coaches. NO NFL coach who needs to make a living and grow professionally wants to go to a team that is mediocre due to a weak head coach, esp. one that WON’T HIRE a DC. The defense this year stunk.
LIcht better get his authority whip in motion and force a DC hire. Bowles’ shortcomings are increasinfly visible. The collapse and regression on both sides of the ball notwithstanding injuries, and special teams not good.
January 8th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Duh.