Jon Gruden Is Disturbed By Bucs Fans Disrespecting Todd Bowles
February 10th, 2026
Joe is really growing tired of the high-horse crowd that wags a finger at Bucs fans for thinking the team isn’t well coached.
How dare anyone tell fans how to feel about coaching, especially after Todd Bowles himself moved on from several coaches on his staff.
Bucs Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden is leading the charge for unity around Bowles — and for the haters to shutup. Chucky has been on WDAE radio saying grumpy, anti-Bowles fans need to stop moaning and focus on 2026.
He also went there on Radio Row last week during a special edition of The Rondé Barber Show.
“I think people in Tampa, I know everybody wants to fire their coach now. You know, they all want to fire the offensive coordinator — Philadelphia, the Chargers. ‘They need to fire that guy;’ 10 head coaches [fired this year],” Gruden said. “And people, I hear the radio. I hear. You know, they’re on Todd Bowles. I think we gotta somehow get everybody on the same page. He’s our coach. We gotta get behind this guy, man. And we gotta have a good draft. We gotta get some edge rushers. And we gotta get some of these guys out of the training room.”
Joe hopes when Gruden said “we gotta get behind this guy” (Bowles), he was referring to Bucs players, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht and Team Glazer.
Ownership and Licht had no interest in saying loving public words about Todd Bowles after the season. Why?
They heard the same Bowles bashing Gruden did and decided to let Bowles endure the fury without a public show of support.
Fans are entitled to their voice. They shouldn’t be told to “go away” or how to express what they feel is best for their beloved team.
Gruden defended Bowles in the realm of injuries. He acknowledged the Bucs had too many last season and that has a ripple effect.
“Guys don’t practice when they’re hurt. And Baker Mayfield is out there throwing to guys that he hasn’t been practicing with,” Gruden said. “You gotta be ridiculous if you think you’re going to get great results.”
Barber also moaned about Bucs fans in the community, “I can get sick of people being Negative Nancy all the time in Tampa.”
February 10th, 2026 at 11:08 am
The whining very much is getting old
February 10th, 2026 at 11:09 am
You know if you produce and stop doing the very thing that pisses everyone off you might get somewhere
February 10th, 2026 at 11:10 am
Fans want their team to be better, and Bowels is a proven liability. It’s as simple as that.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:10 am
Could honestly gaf about their opinions. Turning a blind eye or ignoring the inadequacy of Bowles is a sign of acceptance. The same can be said about the state of the US currently, regardless of what side of the fence you’re on.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:15 am
The Todd Bowles defenders should be happy. Glaziers went against the grain and gave him another year. There will be no more chances if his defense continues playing like it is. Licht also needs another miracle year addressing the talent level.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:15 am
35 and 33 #!! 2 and 7 to finish the season enough said #!!
February 10th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Nope..Not this time. Ive seen enough. Todd teams have been crap gonna be crap ann crap the bed some more. He doesnt even care. He says he sleeps fantastic before games. He’s fat and paid got it made. Why worry about wins and losses. We gotta get that rookie corner some snaps because we might not have Jamel Dean NEXT NEXT season!!! Thats when we started losing and losing amd losing anddddd losing. Todd needs to fire himself if he had any decency. He knows this team doesnt believe a word he says anymore.Gru dog Don’t give the crap everybody fires the coach man! Cmon…. Nope stop it we jave seen enough of this losing loser losing and losing.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:19 am
Fans pay the bills and they’ve been ignored in the year the Bucs were “all about winning.” Every fan deserves to voice out against this subpar uninspiring head coach tenure. I still can’t believe he had it all out, blitz that he didn’t communicate in a game that kept us out of the Super Bowl with Tom Brady. One of the biggest comeback in Buccaneers history and Bowles blew it.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:19 am
Dont matter to me anymore at this point….im embracing a top 5 pick next draft, i already know whats up and whats coming…all good. Maybe we’ll finally be able to land our own star edge rusher and a QB to sit behind Baker for a year or two. Thats why I want to beef up that Oline this draft with Ioane since Styles probably wont make it to us….and spend that 2nd on TE Trigg!…then get a LB….Lawson.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:20 am
Yes people stop whining how dare you have high expectations hahaha. It’s a throwaway season. I told you there’s this campaign to change the narrative on Bowles and they’re talking about everything except his mediocre resume. Didn’t complain during the lost decide because we knew the team was trash, this guy has no idea what he’s doing that’s the only problem with this team
February 10th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Guys don’t practice when they’re hurt. And Baker Mayfield is out there throwing to guys that he hasn’t been practicing with,” Gruden said. “You gotta be ridiculous if you think you’re going to get great results.”
_________
Even after the bye week offensive slide, the DEFENSE was still the biggest weakness.
If you can’t see that Chucky, you better keep your current day job.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:23 am
Gruden just preaching it is what it is, get behind it. But like so many fans, the writing is on the wall wirh Bowles. We know what we are getting. Mediocrity and I think this Bucs team is better than that. I am tired of seeing this team unprepared. Losing primtike games is an example of that. Or to backup QBs. That says lack of focus, lack of prep and leads to lack of execution on gd. Ive seen enough of the short falls with Bowles and ready something else. Bowles isnt the guy. Never was.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:28 am
This is not the fans ” beloved” team
This team belongs to the Glazers family
When the owners make a team decision, that should be final
These fake fans can’t tell the owners how to run their business
The Bucs are the Glazers corporation, not the fans
It’ was really ridiculous how they reacted
Trying to force owners to make a decision , that they wanted
It got to the point of being comical
February 10th, 2026 at 11:30 am
We gotta be excited for mediocrity? Didn’t the Bucs draft “rushers” with two 1st’s and two 2nd’s since Bowles has been here? We’re supposed to believe he can actually develop a pass rusher?
The Bucs aren’t going to develop any pass rushers with SOFT coaches (with Bowles being CHARMIN SOFT) and easy, walk through practices. Sorry, I’m not excited to see another year of Bowles and his sorry, SOFT defense.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:30 am
Gruden has and will continue to always bring up injuries as an excuse for poor performance.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:30 am
Blah Blah Blah
Put your money where your mouth is
Place a Bet the Bucs do anything this year
I Bet the Bucs do nothing this year to include losing the soft division
February 10th, 2026 at 11:30 am
We still lost very winnable games when healthy. Don’t gaslight us
February 10th, 2026 at 11:31 am
I’m pissed because I care. I want someone other than John Gruden to come out and defend why this guy is still the head coach. What did he do to earn another year? Crickets.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:32 am
Most NFL fans have this figured out. We of course want our team to have a legit chance to win the Super Bowl and you have a built a team that can do it.
OR
The team needs to build draft capital clear contracts of older players and commit to a rebuild.
The Bucs have decided to do neither and that is what is disturbing to Bucs fans. With the right additions the Bucs have enough talent to be in the mix for the Super Bowl, but any logic minded Bucs fan knows the reality of Todd Bowles leading this franchise as the head coach to Super Bowl is not going to happen.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:34 am
im surprised gruden is the type of guy that would use excuses like injuries. thats cool support bowles but whining about injuries?
February 10th, 2026 at 11:38 am
I believe it was a strategic and smart move not to jump into
The HC coaching carousel on a year with so many vacancies and not enough elite coaches. We would not have ended up quality coach. We would have went down the road of firing a coach every 2-3 years, something the Glazers do not want to relive.
See what ya got this year, there will be better coaches to hire in 2027
February 10th, 2026 at 11:40 am
The saddest thing is seeing fans that already assume the 2026 season is a lost cause, and I say sad because everyone they’re griping about is rich and happy. I feel for you guys, but I never disliked anybody to the point it made me hopeless.
Even me, who thinks we have a try hard, who’s peaked as an athlete at QB thinks we can still turn it around with him at them helm.
I don’t always agree with Gruden, but seeing how some fans wanted him to replace Bowles had Bowles been canned, makes his remarks about the same fans in defense of Bowles a little funny to me.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:40 am
Lets be real. After the bye week Buc fans had little to cheer for. Looked like the players quit on Bowles before the fans did. Bowles should’ve been fired, and quite frankly it was time for the coaches who did get fired too. Chucky was fond of saying you either get better, or you get worse. We got worse.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:41 am
Whatever, wait and see a new HC next year
February 10th, 2026 at 11:42 am
And why are we listening to this guy who can’t even get an NFL coaching job?
February 10th, 2026 at 11:48 am
It’s the same guys every single post that get on and cry and wine. It truly is getting old. You’re stuck with Todd Bowles this year get over it.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:50 am
Something still happened after that Bye week or during!! totally unacceptable and embarrassing to have a meltdown that extreme!!! I’m thinks there was some kind of brawl or major blow-up in the locker room!!!! Go Bucs
February 10th, 2026 at 11:50 am
The Same few trying to rally fans for IBS will be the same people belly aching that the stadium is empty and every game is more like an away game for the team…
I have yet to come across anyone that says they will be at the games 2026….
Nearly everyone I have heard from says they see Bucs 2026 as a calculated tank season and who wants to spend hard earned money, time to watch a team lose on purpose… We have lives, families, other interests that are far better ways to spend money and time on…
Let RJS be the emptiest it has ever been all season long!
Thats what the owners chose…
February 10th, 2026 at 11:55 am
“Got to coach it better and the players gotta play it better” yeah thanks Todd for the brilliant insight
February 10th, 2026 at 11:57 am
The beatings will continue until morale improves. These current and former Bucs want to shovel 💩 on the fans plate, call it a ribeye and get mad when we don’t eat it.
I could care less what any of them have to say. As long as Bowles and Baker are leading the team, the Bucs will continue to lose.
February 10th, 2026 at 11:57 am
“Something still happened after that Bye week or during!! totally unacceptable and embarrassing to have a meltdown that extreme!!! I’m thinks there was some kind of brawl or major blow-up in the locker room!!!”
Honest question, how’d we look going into the bye week? As a team, on offense, on defense, and on special teams-how did this team look?
February 10th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
I mean I come home to go to at least 2 Bucs games each season with my friends. So I appreciate yall keeping the tickets cheap!!!
February 10th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
Fans aren’t “Fake” because they are angry. Fans don’t have the inside intel that the Glazers do, that’s for sure but if they were fake they wouldn’t be voicing their displeasure. Some statements are unrealistic to be sure, and their are facts that Gruden points out that are just what they are: FACTS. Complaining about a fact doesn’t change it. This is the 3rd year in a row that this team has had a mid season slump, was voiced before the season began and yet we had a major melt down. I don’t have to be an NFL coach to see that there was a lack of commitment and intensity from this team as a whole, that was obvious. What the reasons were for it aren’t. Injuries certainly played a big part. I think we saw a major lack of depth and just talent in spots that showed itself. I do think there needs to be a serious look at training and soft tissue issues though. I don’t think Bowles is a bad coach but there needs to be solid football players brought into this club and they need to be held accountable. No player should get bored and half-ass it because they think they can turn it on in a split second, they can’t. Yeah Bowles is here for this year and I believe so many who wanted him gone would also cheer the crap out of him if the Bucs won the title. Winning cures a lot of things. I hope he does it.
February 10th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Chunky’s faux outrage is rather comical. It’s a results based business he used to declare. Him and Bowles likely have a very similar record with the Bucs. Chunky was fired following losing out in 2008. Bowles survived finishing 2-7 in his last 9. Butt-squeezers by 3 & 2 points.
February 10th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
what did we consistently do right in 2025, that you would take into the 2026 season?
i honestly would like to know because i cant think of anything…
and imo, thats why fans are pissed…
GO BUCS!!!
February 10th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
2-7 in their last 9 games and neither Bowles or Baker could stop it…..it speaks for itself…….”We gotta coach it better”…..
February 10th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
The problem is the head coach and Licht. This team needs a defensive coordinator not named Bowles.
February 10th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Hodad … ‘After the bye week Buc fans had little to cheer for. Looked like the players quit on Bowles before the fans did.’
Agree 100% with the 1st line Hodad. Don’t agree with 2nd though, although everyone’s obviously entitled to an opinion.
o In the 8 games prior to the BYE, Bucs’ defense allowed 178 pts (22.3 PPG). Our offense scored 197 pts (24.6 PPG). 6-2 record.
o In the 9 games after the BYE, Bucs’ defense allowed 233 pts (25.9 PPG). Our offense scored only 183 pts (20.3 PPG). 2-7 record.
So our defense allowed 3.6 PPG MORE after the BYE, while our offense scored 4.3 PPG LESS after the BYE. Kinda the perfect storm where the defense plays worse, but the offense counters by playing even worse. Checkmate.
Bucs lost 4 games after the BYE by a TOTAL of 11 pts. All 4 were very winnable games (Saints, Falcons, Panthers & Dolphins). In EACH GAME, there was a point in the 4th qtr where we blew it; we had a chance to win but we blew it. And it WASN’T JUST THE DEFENSE; our offense stunk up the joint just as much (and in some cases more).
Had we won all 4 of those games, Bucs would’ve ended 12-5 on the season, made the playoffs and who knows what MIGHT have happened after that (assuming we were playing better of course by winning those 4 games). Coulda-Woulda-Shoulda. But losing by a TOTAL of 11 pts in those 4 games Hodad tells me that the players didn’t quit on Bowles. They made some very stupid plays, but they didn’t quit.
February 10th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
Oh and for everyone piling on just Bowles & the Bucs’ defense, guess what … it wasn’t JUST the defense that screwed us last season. And it wasn’t JUST the 3 coordinators (Griz, Bowles & McGaughey). It takes a TEAM effort to play bad enough to go 7-9. We’re gonna have quite a few 2025 players who won’t be wearing Bucs’ uniforms this season.
February 10th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Seriously, Bowles is going nowhere anytime soon. Either STFU or find a new team to root for… people are sick of hearing it. You either support the team, or you find a new one, nobody wants the constant negativity. If they listened to the fans, they would have cut Super Bowl LT Donovan Smith in 2018, cut Mike Evans for his rookie drops, never drafted Vita, never signed Baker, cut Ronald Jones during his rookie season (he was our most consistent offensive weapon in 2020), cut Luke Goedeke his rookie season, paid Devin White whatever he wanted, signed every big name free agent that was never heard from again… let’s face it, most fans are stupid AF. Just because you watch the games doesn’t mean you know football. Go root for the Seahawks and join their bandwagon.
February 10th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
I like Gruden but couldn’t care less about his opinion on Bowles. I have eyes. I saw what I saw and it was despicable. It does take a team effort to suck as bad as this team did however when a team comes out flat and stays flat game after game after game it’s on the HC. His record at home is utterly PATHETIC. Basically .500 in his time in Tampa. That’s GARBAGE. How about Todd’s record in Nationally televised games? How about Todd’s record against 2nd and 3rd string QB’s?
How about the defensive guru having the worst red zone defense in the entire NFL?? So spare us the pro Bowles nonsense. He’s a fraud and a utter failure.
February 10th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
The fact of the matter is if Baker doesn’t single handedly lose 4 games in a row, if he was merely a average backup level QB during that 4 game span, the Bucs finish the year 12-5 and on a 6 game winning streak.
The fact the same people who non-stop call for everyone to be fired, to claim they’re happy Dean is leaving because he’s always hurt, who said Carlton Davis being traded away was good because he’s constantly hurt, who claim Evans is constantly hurt (really, 11 1000-yard seasons in a row and he’s constant hurt – impressive), that Kancey is a bum who is constantly hurt – all these morons all say Baker gets a free pass because he’s ‘hurt’. Just like Baker is hurt every year when he plays like a bum for extended stretches.
February 10th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
One below mediocre coach defending another below mediocre coach…
LOL!
What a joke…
February 10th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
The whole point of being a fan is to voice our opinion. Fans are committed to the team for life. Players, coaches and even owners move on and without fans paying their hard earned cash the club ceases to exist. You want fans to shut up? Win games – simple as that.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
Gruden should shut his mouth… and stay away from email.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
“Seriously, Bowles is going nowhere anytime soon. Either STFU or find a new team to root for… people are sick of hearing it””
HAHAHAHA you’re an idiot! 90% + of fans despise Bowles and for good reason.
So tough $hyt for you that you’re sick of hearing it. And you’ll continue to hear it every single day this entire offseason.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
These fake fans wasn’t voicing their opinions
They were actively praying and hoping the Bucs lose
There were a “Saints vs Falcons” open thread on this site
And over 90% of the commenters was pulling for the Falcons
Hoping the Bucs don’t make the playoffs
If these are “True” fans, we don’t need a fanbase
We’re better off without a fanbase
February 10th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
Perfect, I’ll blindly give money to a corporation/rich family that is more interested in optimizing profits than winning super bowls. Thank you for the encouragement.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
Gruden knows, it’s not Bowles’ fault. Having three winning seasons in eight as a head coach is proof that Bowles is one of the best. Heck, he even won a playoff game once. His defensive scheme and playcalling are marveled at by league experts. It’s clearly everyone else’s fault but Todd’s.
Go Bucs
February 10th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
Except when it comes to building a stadium. Then its “our” team and we need to pitch into the billionaire welfare pot to keep “our” team in Tampa. Meanwhile, the Glazers pull ever dime out of the venue for every event, TSA gets back pennies for ever $100k they rake, and you loyal fan…you get an additional tax into perpetuity. Most fans lived in Tampa and rooted for the team before the Glazers showed up with dollar signs glinting in their eyes
February 10th, 2026 at 1:14 pm
Whine is the only thing helping me stomach all the cheese being forced down my throat
February 10th, 2026 at 1:18 pm
Nothing to see here, TB is a good HC per Gruden. I just lost a lot of respect for Gruden. Sounds to me that he didn’t actually watch any of the games. As far as injuries for an excuse, see SF.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Usedtocould Says:
February 10th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
Perfect, I’ll blindly give money to a corporation/rich family that is more interested in optimizing profits than winning super bowls. Thank you for the encouragement.
————
Meanwhile the Bucs are tied for the 3rd most championships this century.
Now go back to the Soviet Union, commie.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
Everyone’s voice matters. That’s what make JBF stay alive. And Ira of course. lol
February 10th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
“o In the 8 games prior to the BYE, Bucs’ defense allowed 178 pts (22.3 PPG). Our offense scored 197 pts (24.6 PPG). 6-2 record.”
12 takeaways to 5 giveaways, +7
“o In the 9 games after the BYE, Bucs’ defense allowed 233 pts (25.9 PPG). Our offense scored only 183 pts (20.3 PPG). 2-7 record.”
11 takeaways to 11 giveaways, 0
Also DR, you keep giving the offense pre-bye credit for 2 defensive TDs in these points posts. I think if we subtracted the 2 TDs and that 1 safety by Merriweather vs. Philly, it shakes out to 22.6 ppg in our first 8 games as compared to the 24.6ppg with the defensive scores included.
Scoring 68 points against Seattle and SF combined, then going into Detroit to basically soil our pants for 60 minutes on offense to the tune of 9 points, was telling.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
Rod, Baker continued to play WHILE he was hurt. His backup, as you know, was a joke. Baker tried his best while hurt and had little help. Dean, on the other hand, is hurt every year and then misses multiple games every year. A little perspective would help.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
Yes we are stuck with Bowles for another year and there is nothing we can do about it except not support the team financially. Disagree that this was a weak coaching cycle. Guys like John Harbaugh don’t become available every year. The Glazers allegedly looked into him but it was reported he wanted his own GM which we now know wasn’t true since the Giants kept theirs in place. The bottom line is the Glazers weren’t willing to pay the amount of money necessary to get a top level coach like Harbaugh.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
Love Bowles as a human being and am appreciative of the lack of jerks, drunk drivers and domestic abusers, etc., on the team, but retaining him as head coach is pretty disheartening.
The team collapsed mentally as much as physically and Bowles had no answers.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
He’ll never work for the Bucs again…but I would love Gruden to become our OC at some point. Not head coach though.
So far as Bowles, I wanted him fired…but once the decision was made to keep him, I saw no point in whining about it. It is what it is.
Stressing over it is just going to raise blood pressure and that’s not good for anyone.
So I am 100% behind Bowles again. That doesn’t mean I won’t want him fired later, but for now, I’m hoping for the best.
And I DO believe there could end up being reason to hope.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
Outrigger Says:
“The bottom line is the Glazers weren’t willing to pay the amount of money necessary to get a top level coach like Harbaugh.”
Not necessarily. Harbaugh could have initially wanted his own GM, then changed his mind later. Or…the GM could have been one of the GMs he was considering all along.
Things are not always what they appear.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Once again to the people who say bowles cant develop pass rushers… name one bucs coach who could? Bucs have not drafted and developed a 10 sack pass rusher since lee roy selmon.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
I hope Gruden doesn’t read THIS place!
February 10th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Anyone calling for the greatest head coach to be fired are just haters who don’t understand. It was everyone else’s fault but Todd’s. Todd made the perfect calls in the Atlanta game, and the team gave up 3rd and 28 and 4th and 14. That’s not Todd’s fault.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Rod Munch Says:
“Meanwhile the Bucs are tied for the 3rd most championships this century.”
Ding!
February 10th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
Lakeland Says:
“This is not the fans ” beloved” team
This team belongs to the Glazers family”
Whoa!
Ease up there, Lakeland! Don’t shatter my illusions!
Next you’ll say my wife is right…and the players really cannot hear me yelling at the TV.
February 10th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
Hey Munch
NOT UNDER THIS COACH
Next I guess you will pull the 3 Division Titles
Yea!!!! Get me a Hat and a Division trophy
Bet you celebrate 5th place at the pinewood derby