“We Did It To Ourselves”
January 6th, 2026
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Joe always sees these comments on this here corner of the interwebs and Joe just doesn’t know where people get this idea.
Daily, multiple times a day, commenters claim Bucs coach Todd Bowles blames his players but never takes responsibility for losing.
Joe must be attending the wrong press conferences. Or perhaps Bowles is holding closed meetings with select fans where he says things not known to anyone else.
Yesterday was another example. Bowles said that he’s the head coach and he’s responsible for how the Bucs play. Seems pretty responsible to Joe?
And frankly, Bowles should call out players (if warranted). Dudes were turning on him and the team. What’s Bowles supposed to do, bring the pouters and losers to Dairy Queen so they recover from their poor feelings being hurt? Maybe bake them a cake?
Yesterday, Joe thought Bowles summed up perfectly why, for the first time since he first arrived in Tampa, the Bucs are not getting ready for a playoff game.
“We did this to ourselves,” Bowles said.
Tristan Wirfs pretty much said the same thing. Wirfs said the Bucs allowed their own destiny to be determined by another team.
In so many words, Wirfs was saying the Bucs got what they deserved.
Or as Bowles said, “We did this to ourselves.”
January 6th, 2026 at 12:05 am
If he allows mediocracy then that is what he will get. We need a coach that doesn’t allow his team to do this to themselves. This = seasonal collapse.
January 6th, 2026 at 12:06 am
I’ll be honest that I don’t see a slam dunk replacement for the guy but he has to go. Division titles be damned we are the worst division in football and he only scrapes them out by the hair on his chin. Fire him already and move on!
January 6th, 2026 at 12:11 am
I like Bowles , but winning is hard and he isn’t the guy who’s going to get us to any superbowls why are we wasting time and years on this mid level coach especially while we have the best qb situation we have had maybe ever besides Brady, let’s get real let’s have a coach that gives us a real chance at some hardware I’ve had like 30 losing seasons as a fan and would like to have a good run before I’m in a pine box.
January 6th, 2026 at 12:17 am
MY ARGUMENT TO KEEP BOWLES, GRIZZ, & McGaughey
3 NFCW teams finished with 12 win seasons.
To compete the Bucs need to rebuild.
Bowles and co might be the loser the team needs to draft a few stars.
January 6th, 2026 at 12:18 am
Most of the team absorbed Bowels demeanor hook line and sinker. I want an energetic offensive coach and a bad a.. defensive coach.
January 6th, 2026 at 12:31 am
Joe, I think fans want Bowles to act like Dan Campbell: not being wreckless on every 4th down like Dan (though we wish Todd was like Campbell in Buffalo this year, at KC last year and before the half this Saturday) but simply taking the blame when his team failed. Seems like every time the Lions grabbed their ankles, Campbell owned it and then got praised for his accountability. Granted, Campbell would simply repeat his mistakes game after game (like Bowles) but he publicly owned his gaffes, Bowles never apologizes for his crap playcalling, he blames execution and communication. So, Bowles does not put the target on himself, he kind of gives a lot of coach speak which is basically lip service to us fans who would like to simply have an explanation for why he never adjusted his schemes despite its ineffectiveness, why his special teams coach was not launched and if he had a hand in turning the Buc O into a grind and stall version of offense we had last seen when Leftwich still has a job with the Bucs.
January 6th, 2026 at 12:40 am
Fire Bowles!!!
January 6th, 2026 at 12:41 am
Todd Bowles can’t make the tough decisions that true leaders have to make. He can’t bench mistake prone players or fire coaches who can’t motivate players. He forgot why he is where he is and so he must go.
January 6th, 2026 at 12:43 am
Which year was he referring to where “we” did it to ourselves?
1. 2022 when we called a zero blitz costing the team a repeat SB chance?
2. Pick any of his season’s mid-year slides where the fixes eluded us
3. The defensive scheme that we designed that has OLBs in coverage and CBs playing Safety and Safeties playing Prevent?
4. The collapse of 2025 with our epic finger pointing and anonymous blaming from the podium?
There is no personal responsibility with this man. It was ‘you’/’we’ but never I. This man cannot admit personal responsibility and thereby move forward fixing his issues. He continues to wait for others to lead.
Accountability NOW please.
January 6th, 2026 at 12:45 am
Buc fan for life but certainly not a Bowles fan.
January 6th, 2026 at 12:52 am
yes joe…coach holds select meetings at dennys, once a week, for privy fans who get to hear info unbeknownst to others…and top notch ideas on how to butter a roll or get an aarp discount on your check total
January 6th, 2026 at 1:00 am
Ok Coach, riddle me this. You are referred to as a defensive coach and often defensive mastermind. I’ve never seen you dispute those monikers. And you have continued as the defensive coordinator since becoming head coach. Your defensive coordinator has failed miserably and on 31 other teams would most likely been replaced before this season. Even Raheem is much better DC than you. As a Head Coach your offenses have underperformed and you have made numerous late game decisions that were too conservative or cowardice which cost your teams wins. You did limp into the playoffs before this season and again underperformed. You are not the going to take this team to a championship unless you make some serious changes. Grizzard is terrible and I like to refer to him as a one drive wonder. Then he turns to junk and your defense cannot be relied upon to stop opponents late in games to secure wins. I have not seen one single comment posted anywhere or heard one voice in support of you from fans. Your time as leader of the Bucs has come and gone. Do the admirable thing and retire. What are you clinging on to Coach? What is one positive that you can point out on your team today that shows promise for the future or why you should be retained. No one wants you here anymore. Please go quietly. You’re a wealthy man who had a good run sort of. Feel fortunate but let someone else lead this team into the future. Please tell me if I’m wrong or off base here.
January 6th, 2026 at 1:03 am
ANTONIO BROWN FOR NEXT HEAD COACH & LEGARRETTE BLOUNT FOR NEXT OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR! Then if somebody pisses Blount off he can just go & punch the waterboy or something.
January 6th, 2026 at 1:04 am
It’s a mind numbing fan experience.
January 6th, 2026 at 1:09 am
And let me say something else Todd. You said something to the effect that if we don’t support you we aren’t true fans. You’re a fool and why would say something so far off base. True fans want to win. We don’t wear the colors of another team but the product you put on the field was not NFL worthy. Backhanded passive aggressive responsibility followed up by comments deflecting it are signs of a weak mind. Don’t you ever tell us we aren’t true fans. If you stay, be prepared to play in a home stadium in front of fans that aren’t yours cheering for your opponents. Who do think you are, Coach?
January 6th, 2026 at 1:22 am
I agree. I really don’t see the issue. He just did what he had to do towards the very end of the season, when he was obviously, completely out of ideas, and had no answers left. He turned into being much more in a ‘self-preservation’ mode, by that point. But, I’ve felt all along that he has been WAY TOO EASY on a lot of these guys, and tries PROTECTING THEM… In all honesty. I’ve seen a few players though, NOW trying to make EXCUSES. If they were REALLY THAT concerned about not practicing hard at ‘full-speed’ during the week, & etc…. Then, WHY are they JUST NOW suddenly, deciding to find ‘the balls’ to actually, SPEAK UP!? Especially, when they ‘think’ THEY are such a GrrrrREAT “LEADER” of this team, that they are expecting to be a (LoL) “CAPTAIN” for next season. Hmmmm… cough, cough, YAYA. It’s a BUNCHA HOG WASH and is WEAK AF. Just more excuses.
January 6th, 2026 at 1:37 am
It’s because Bowles HIMSELF, truly doesn’t believe it is HIS FAULT. HE ‘thinks’ HIS DEFENSE is THE BEST scheme there is, when EXECUTED ‘PERFECTLY’ every time. And, that HE is THE ‘smartest’ person and best ‘technician’ in the room. But, that’s the problem. Hell, you will rarely ever SEE HIM ‘call-out’ any individual player publicly. Sometimes, they need to be. It’s usually just vague “CoachSpeak” that everyone already KNOWS. He’s just stupidly stubborn and REFUSES to adjust and CHANGE to ‘fit’ his personal. Just good (not even great) coaches, try putting their players in the best possible positions for THEM to succeed, by utilizing THEIR BEST attributes and strengths. This is just one of MANY REASONS for Todd has failed, and is NOT liked as a coach. Period.
January 6th, 2026 at 1:48 am
Bowles is using a “The buck stops here” type of accountability where the ‘top’ guy acknowledges that he is responsible for his underlings screw-ups.
He does not take responsibility for poor game prep on any level. Whether it be player prep, ie. practice, film study, specific coaching for the next opponent, etc. Or game planning specifically for your next opponent. Again, film study to determine the best match-ups, take advantage of weaknesses and shore up your own weaknesses.
If your opponent has a superstar kick returner, it’s a viable option to kick it out of the endzone. Doing so because your special teams don’t know how to tackle is just a mask to hide bad coaching.
When you consistently execute the same game plan week in and week out, your opponents will take advantage of your tendencies.
Not admitting, or noticing, that you have tendencies that are being taken advantage of week in and week out is coaching malpractice. Whether he knows it or not.
We are THEEE MOST predictable team in the league, because of Bowles.
That is not a recipe for winning.
January 6th, 2026 at 1:51 am
@ adam from ny says: “coach holds select meetings at dennys, once a week, for privy fans who get to hear info unbeknownst to others…and top notch ideas”
Yeah, I’ve dropped in there before, but it’s been a little while ago! He’s been doin it for YEARS, prob ever since he’s been here LoL. It’s not for me. Bowles eats that sh!t up tho… Friggin’ LOVES-IT. You can just tell. He’s the freaking KING. While all his “lovers” are literally SERIOUS AS A HEART-ATTACK, hanging onto his every word, and ‘slurping’ up EVERY last drop of it. It’s almost ‘comical’ if not for being SO embarrassing for all involved. He takes-off and disappears though, when the check comes Lmao.
January 6th, 2026 at 1:53 am
I could write an essay on all the things I think make Bowles a bad coach but figure I should leave some for other posters to point out.
January 6th, 2026 at 2:05 am
If it is TRUE about them NOT PRACTICING during the Bye-Week, and that HE really did give them that ENTIRE WEEK OFF, & etc. Then, that is… Well, I just CAN’T right now!!!! There are just soooo MANY WORDS… I don’t know where to even begin. But, it has to be his FINAL, FATAL MISTAKE. Of MANY just badddd coaching decisions. And, you saw the end result. It’s unforgivable. You JUST CANNOT ‘allow’ YOUR TEAM to completely lose focus like that.
January 6th, 2026 at 2:34 am
No … The Glazers did it to us.
January 6th, 2026 at 2:41 am
If Bowles ACTUALLY took accountability seriously like you say, if he ACTUALLY looked in the mirror, he would realize he no longer has it, his defense has been figured out, and he couldn’t/wouldn’t adjust. Saying “we did it to ourselves” is meaningless without action, it’s not what you say, it’s what you do! The Joe who wrote this must be totally fine with Bowles defense and the defensive effort, I guess. IF Bowles was ACTUALLY accountable, he would retire.
January 6th, 2026 at 2:46 am
Fire him..hire Bill Belichick and gruden..spend the 4mil gru will want yo run the offense..spend the 5 million for bill.
Watch the team come alive like gruden is coach again
January 6th, 2026 at 2:47 am
1. The clowns that be own this team, so unless the fan base is willing to cutoff this team as a show of being fed up with an inferior product…you’re just making noise.
2. Stop with they need an offensive coach…this team needs a HEAD COACH regardless of area of expertise. Last time I looked, the number one seed in the NFC and the number 2 seed have defensive minded HCs. 4 of the top defenses with HCs are in the playoffs John Harbaugh’s a special team’s guy. Gonna take a pass of he becomes available?…yeah, right.
3. Bowles crowning moment of glory, was when he decided to abuse KC in the super bowl by having Vea and Suh take turns bulling a guy playing out of position at RG…which forced Mahomes to run for life, right into the arms of JPP and Shaq. Yeah, defensive guru. The RPO has made Bowles stupid scheme of no effect. QBs, even the non running QBs, rarely get under center anymore. There goes the A gap blitz which was a part of Bowles stupid scheme.
January 6th, 2026 at 2:53 am
4. This team won 4 games on their last possession which means ladies and gentlemen…they were 4 plays away from being 4-13 instead of 8-9. One wrong move in any of those last possession games and we’re talking about having the number one pick overall.
5. This is the worst division in the history of the league. To the point that it’s embarrassing to brag about winning the division, by no more than a game in any of those “division championship” years.
January 6th, 2026 at 2:55 am
Edit to number 4. The number 2 pick at best.
January 6th, 2026 at 3:00 am
6. You won’t get an edge rusher worth anything to come to the bucs, because they don’t want to be embarrassed trying to cover Kamara, Robinson and whoever else out of the backfield.
7. Ownership, hc and a few players don’t share the same passion as their fans. With all the things I’ve just thrown out here…that’s the most criminal of all.
January 6th, 2026 at 3:02 am
Edit yo number 2 rant. Number 2 seed in AFC.
January 6th, 2026 at 3:17 am
Haha Buc King- fun idea, but do you really think Belichick and Gruden could co-exist?
January 6th, 2026 at 3:28 am
@ Buc king Says – you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about… Belichick. Gruden. Are they the ONLY COACHES that YOU know of or something!? Obviously, must be. It’s SO ABSURD. On just soooo many levels. And, $5-MIL FOR BELICHICK!? He’s making $10-MILLION PER YEAR RIGHT NOW, with still 4-YEARS AND $40-MILLION LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT. So, STFU and GTFO. This site is The “PAWL FINEBAUM” of Bucs Fans Sites, ya know! There IS ‘a standard’ HERE, and YOU are not worthy. Coming in HERE with THAT BS. Come on, dude.
January 6th, 2026 at 3:36 am
Todd’s got farther from the Superbowl since becoming the HC. I don’t want to move in that direction anymore. The SB window has ended Bucs are a middling team tracking in the wrong direction. The team went from winning the Superbowl to getting embarrassed.and calling mercy to Mcvay. Retire Todd and start over.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:01 am
Was this the same Joe that stormed out of the podcast because of Bowles lousy defense?
January 6th, 2026 at 4:05 am
It’s not what you say, it’s what you do…Bowles just said he DESERVES a job, didn’t he? Is that taking accountability for his lousy defense? His defense was figured out, exploited, and either he couldn’t or wouldn’t adjust. So if he ACTUALLY took some accountability, he would’ve retired by now, and not think he EARNED or DESERVES anything.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:09 am
Fucz this site fxux the joes. I’m never coming back
January 6th, 2026 at 4:28 am
The players aren’t getting nearly enough of the blame in these comments. Bowles isn’t going anywhere so get used to that idea. Licht isn’t going anywhere either. Our defensive linemen can’t apply pressure on the QB. Our linebackers can’t cover a cold let alone tackle one….and our secondary doesn’t stand a chance because of the first two reasons. Offensive linemen can’t stinks and everything falls apart from that. Coaching isn’t good but the players are even worse.
January 6th, 2026 at 4:59 am
Bowles doesn’t take responsibility because he constantly uses the excuse that “players just need to do their jobs”. If it’s only one or two players making mistakes then sure, you can blame the players but when everyone on defense is making mistakes then the problem is on the coach. People aren’t doing their jobs because you’re training them wrong, it’s that simple.
If one or two kids fail an exam you blame the kids, if an entire class fails you fire the teacher.
January 6th, 2026 at 5:26 am
FortMyersDave – Being a fan, no way about Campbell. He is too much over the top and is whining now about having to watch the games. Joe posted an article on his “Cup of Joe” this morning about the grade Campbell gave his team.
I like Todd’s demeanor, however we do need coaches that are in the middle. Not screaming, whining, throwing fits but not so closed off that they seem too tired out on and off the field. We need the middle ground type of coaches.
January 6th, 2026 at 5:48 am
My only question is ; Why hasn’t he walked the plank yet?
January 6th, 2026 at 6:37 am
I always thought the Glazers assessed which way “the arrow was pointing- up or down” when looking at change. No one in their right mind could look at this team and think the arrow is pointing up, especially with this coaching staff.
January 6th, 2026 at 6:37 am
This “Joe” should walk the plank. Dumb post. I’ve listened to every press conference this year. Yes, he will say something very superficial, like I gotta coach it better, we gotta execute better or the also superficial, I’m the coach so therefore therefore the buck stops with me type stuff. But then, for years he’s blamed the offense, he’ll blame individual player execution, he’s throwing shade on Baker players don’t come out and throw the coach under the bus. They have plenty of ammunition to do so. Thanks for throwing red meat out to the fan base.
January 6th, 2026 at 6:41 am
What a joke of an article. It’s the HC job to FIX problems. Game after game after game after game we saw ZERO changes from this team. Same garbage every week. The only 2 wins in the last nine games was a 3point win over the Cardinal’s and a 2 point win against Carolina. So once again were asked who are you going to believe the Bowles supporters, which are few and far between or your lying eyes? Talk about gaslighting. What an absolute joke.
January 6th, 2026 at 6:55 am
Told You and BucU – Respectfully, gee whiz. The article is about what Todd said. Wirfs pretty much said the same thing too. Yes, sounds depressing but isn’t Joe’s fault for writing an article about it. We are lucky to have this “free” outlet. Many out there are paid subscriptions. It’s definitely not all cupcakes and ice-cream out there right now and there is still a lot of time for changes before next season. Thinking positive 🏈😊
January 6th, 2026 at 7:02 am
Todd the expert DC and HC.
Here are some examples of why you’re not in the playoffs:
Kirk Cousins
Quinn Ewers
Tyler Shough
You should reflect on that for a while and maybe “self scout yourself “
January 6th, 2026 at 7:06 am
Whatever dude. I and “we” have FAR DIFFERENT meanings. You support Bozo all you want. He’s dead to me..
January 6th, 2026 at 7:11 am
Thank you, may we have another.
Lemme try this crap at my job. “Oops, I failed again. We did it to ourself. You and colleagues for enabling me and me for allowing you to enable me. So, how about a raise??”
Has Licht stepped up to mic to confess his sins yet?
January 6th, 2026 at 7:12 am
You wrote an interesting article on December 31st Joe entitled ‘Todd Bowles Has No Answers’. The quotes from Todd on our practices leading up to the Panthers game say it all to me …
“We’ve all talked and said everything. We can do everything we want to do. We just have to do what we do better.”
This team was never gonna be a top-tier team capable of winning the Super Bowl. It took 4 very last-minute comebacks early in the season to make us look competitive, but that was an illusion as we soon found out. The REAL Bucs’ team showed up after the BYE, losing 7 of 9 games.
The problem was players AND coaches, and the Bucs need changes in BOTH if they’re gonna be competitive going forward. Our DC, our OC & our S/Ts coach performed abysmally this year. Our HC had no answers because his primary coordinators had no answers. And when your leaders have no answers, they’re no longer leading. Time to clean house.
January 6th, 2026 at 7:13 am
Joe, is that the royal “we,” because I’m not hearing “I?”
January 6th, 2026 at 7:21 am
Yesterday this fool said “I won the division championships”, not today he said “WE did it to ourselves”. Clear as day, success is because of him, failure is shared. This is not a leader of men. Fire this Clown!!
January 6th, 2026 at 7:27 am
“I’m not guilty, we were all caught up in a mob mentality. Never you mind that Im the one with the megaphone and whistle. Forget the fact that Im being paid to select, mentor, and coach these men. We just thought we were saving our team when we crapped on the league. Just line up for your pardons my faithful little minions. Big Todd will enable you to ruin another season. Don’t worry about any oversight, Licht fits comfortably in my back pocket. Feel free to slap the Glazers on your way out, they just foot the bill. “We” are the champions, let me just fix those standings with my sharpie. There you go. We are the best. Have always been the best. There’s nobody better.”
Accountability be d@mned
January 6th, 2026 at 7:30 am
NO!!!!!!! I DID IT TO YOUR SELF , DON’T PLAY THE BLAME GAME , , YOUR THE HEAD COACH… GO DOWN WITH THE SHIP !!!
January 6th, 2026 at 8:29 am
I usually agree with you DR, but not here. There isn’t any coach to get that’s worth it right now. And we cannot afford to trade picks for McVay since we have so many holes. A near fully defensive draft will be transformative for this team. And lots of work in free agency to match and for depth.
January 6th, 2026 at 8:29 am
Last 2 years injuries have crushed this team. Maybe we should revamp the training staff?
January 6th, 2026 at 9:11 am
What does Belowszo say when asked why the same mistakes are made every week, the same in game failures every week? What’s being done in practice to correct the mistakes? Why did it take Kancey to suggest they practice against Garrett Green as a run-around QB?
Failure. Fire the failure.
January 6th, 2026 at 9:16 am
A good, innovative, demanding and accountable HC would have led this team to a easy division title..while I think our talent level is a bit overrated, I do think it was better than the rest of the division… this would have been a 11-6 team with a quality HC and OC and a serviceable special teams coach…Bowles should be out or its more of the same thing next year and probably worse..rest of division is improving slowly
January 6th, 2026 at 10:07 am
Bowles taking responsibility??? Maybe you’re not listening to the same press conferences that I listen to. Bowles is too stubborn to admit that his perfect defensive ideas are wrong. He always, always say the players didn’t execute. They “executed” exactly what he drew up. The same soft, prevent defensive scheme that doesn’t prevent anything. I’m tired of his B.S.
January 6th, 2026 at 10:09 am
Bowles allowed the special teams disaster to fester, he never fixed it–either he has no idea how to fix it or it was just easier to handicap our team by giving opponents automatic 35 yard line. This Joe! is NOT taking responsibility!
January 6th, 2026 at 10:09 am
If it was an ordinary company and I’m managing employees they aren’t going to keep firing all the employees for me until I can get them to do their jobs efficiently. Who cares if he takes the blame, if he knows it’s his fault then he knows he should be fine
Damn why did Coen save his job last year. The only holdover from 2024 is a bad defense and Todd Bowles.
January 6th, 2026 at 10:27 am
Joe: to many of us taking responsibility means different things. for example hiring josh grizzard as OC. The Buccaneers are an NFL team. There are only 32 of them. Why would anybody on Gods green earth think that Grizzard is the best man for the job? He had never been an OC, never called plays and his hands shook to the point it seemed clear from the get go that he was in way over his head. All offseason and this was the best Bowles could do. Bowles was responsible for filling this important spot. Clearly Bowles went with Grizzard as it was easier as he was already on the roster. Better more qualified candidates for our offense never got asked to apply. Bowles DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY and get a better more qualified candidate.
January 6th, 2026 at 10:34 am
So just saying I take responsibility means nothing, many times Bowles says he takes responsibilty but clearly he does nothing in that regard, he just ignores the problems and that is NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. So Joe please stop saying Bowles takes responsibility because he says he does. It is hard to believe you fall for that sht. Judge a coach by his actual actions with his team and game performance not his save my ass speech.
January 6th, 2026 at 3:13 pm
We have a quarterback problem!!
January 6th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
And Baker Mayfield late 4th quarters picks was also a problem!!
January 6th, 2026 at 5:18 pm
I’m dumber having read all these comments.