Jamel Dean, Like Mike Evans, Left Bucs To Chase A Ring
March 14th, 2026
“Sorry Todd, I don’t believe in you any longer.”
The greatest offensive player drafted by the Bucs, Mike Evans, shook One Buc Palace to its core and left Bucs fans in a combined rage and depression when he bolted the Bucs this week for the 49ers, saying San Francisco gave him a chance to win another ring.
Now, with fans beginning to calm down from that damning statement, Jamel Dean echoed Evans’ statements.
The Bucs’ top corner also bolted this week, ending up in Pittsburgh on a three-year contract.
There, in his press conference, Dean was asked why Pittsburgh? Dean told the Steel City pen and mic club that he felt his best chance for another ring was with the Steelers, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com typed.
(FYI, Since the 2017 season, Todd Bowles has more playoff wins than Mike Tomlin, who resigned from Pittsburgh just after the 2025 season. Yup, you can look it up.)
“All we do is win here,” Dean told Pittsburgh reporters. “I’m at the point of my career where I’m trying to chase another Super Bowl.”
So the Bucs like to brag that Bowles has a division title in his first three seasons as a Bucs head coach, and his best offensive player and best cornerback couldn’t get out of town fast enough for one more chance to chase a Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Rather damning, don’t you think?
March 14th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Steelers ain’t winning either.
March 14th, 2026 at 11:04 am
Best of luck Mr Dean but U are a injury waiting to happen NEXT
March 14th, 2026 at 11:07 am
The Glazers have brought Super Bowls and now they have created an atmosphere that needs an overhaul. Todd Coming back was not what the Doctor ordered.
How long until this mediocre cycle changes?????? Hopefully sooner than later.
GO BUCS!!!!!!!
March 14th, 2026 at 11:11 am
And IF that was the reason, he thought that the best opportunity available to him to do so was PITTSBURG?! Alriiighty then, haha
It’s funny how often we even take these player’s public comments at face value
March 14th, 2026 at 11:11 am
I’m going to try to see a bright side to this in that I don’t want anyone here who doesn’t want to be here, even if that includes great players.
March 14th, 2026 at 11:13 am
Joe – Me suspects it’s not the ring, etc. There’s something going on inside that locker room, and you being an ace investigative reporter, it’s up to you to interview these departed players and root it out.
And no, unlike the popular opinion that its the coach, methinks it’s something else.
March 14th, 2026 at 11:14 am
I really can’t find the negatives about losing Evans and Dean
All l see are the POSITIVES of losing Evans and Dean
We loss two players, who are not dependable players
Maybe they were dependable (once upon a time)
But this is the NFL, A (What have you done for me lately) league
And these two players haven’t done much lately, when we needed them most
I don’t understand all of the bitterness from this fanbase
We didn’t lose 2 great 1st team All-Pro players, who never misses games
We all have an opinion, and this my opinion
March 14th, 2026 at 11:15 am
What free agent that goes from one team or another doesn’t think they’re going to win a title w/their new team?
I will say though, Porter Jr, Dean, then Ramsey over the top at Safety is a pretty good look for that defense, but still. The Steelers still don’t even know who their starting QB will be
March 14th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Anyone not named Glazer has • No Confidence in Bowles.
March 14th, 2026 at 11:18 am
If these guys were such great impact players
They could be chasing rings with us
But the reality of the situation
You can’t chase rings in the Hot Tub
March 14th, 2026 at 11:19 am
Oh please!!!!
J. Dean wasn’t wanted in Tampa Bay any longer…
It became obvious when our GM reworked his contract last season.
Of course – J. Dean had his best year while he was looking for a new deal.
Good riddance. He will no doubt turn back into the same lame oft injured player he has been in Tampa the past few seasons.
Go steal money from another sucker.
March 14th, 2026 at 11:19 am
the panthers dline man said the reason was to play along side vea not to compete for a super bowl. we know the real reason was 1 yr for 10 mil
March 14th, 2026 at 11:19 am
This guy has some fans in Tampa but I rate him a notch below that other outstanding Tampa CB, Zyon McCollum. Tampa Bay will be better off without either of these guys. McCollum fooled Licht into a big contract. Dean didn’t fool anyone and actually had his salary cut last year. Pittsburgh is going to find out that Dean is soft and a colossal waste of money.
March 14th, 2026 at 11:19 am
Only blind, pre-slaughterhouse farm animals would believe these players’ defections were for any other reason than the retention of one person whose great skill is teaching regression, and consuming an ever increasing daily caloric content. But he did fire everyone else…..who he had hired…..
March 14th, 2026 at 11:21 am
Well, he was upset when the team made him re-negotiate his contract last season and made it 1 year and less money.
And for anyone carping about the Bucs signing 30 year old players, Dean turns 30 in October.
So he feels he is better and got out for maybe the only team that was interested. Who will have a new coach in McCarthy next season.
Not sorry to see him go. He had a hard time staying on the field. Good luck to him in Pittsburgh.
AND maybe save the sour grapes. Gee whiz – YOU were on the defense that you are complaning about, after all!
March 14th, 2026 at 11:26 am
Todd must have said a very telling message at the bye week. Because after that it was obvious the team specially the defense had a huge disconnect with Todd. SMH
3-28
4-14
Good bye Evans!
Good bye White!
Good bye Izien!
Good bye Dean!
Was Todd unable to hire a more qualify assistant coach than his son?!?!
March 14th, 2026 at 11:26 am
Yea uh no. Is Aaron Rodgers coming back? If he was looking to win the chip he wouldn’t have gone to the Steelers and to the Ravens division
March 14th, 2026 at 11:37 am
And/or Dean was boxed in ( then out ) when Bright Licht threatened to cut him ( when all monies elsewhere had dried up ) if he didn’t take a far reduced salary. Thankfully Licht taught him and Bucs fans alike a valuable lesson by topping off Zyon ( killing his motivation and making him bored ) and drafting lockdown corner Benji Morrison.
Licht was still tipsy from The Bruce & Brady Party Days/Daze in 2025. It’s suddenly gotten real as it’s do or die ( it better be at least ) for the current regime. The hangover is upon us.
March 14th, 2026 at 11:37 am
I APPLAUD Jason Licht and Todd Bowles
They saved us $40 million a year in salaries
For letting two unreliable, injury prone, aging players walk
I understand this fanbase is upset and angry with the Glazers
For retaining Coach Bowles, but mourning the loss of Evans and Dean
Is totally ridiculous……Unless
You are hoping and praying the Bucs fail as a team, as an organization
March 14th, 2026 at 11:40 am
So both Evans and Dean don’t believe the team we have is close to making a run, but the Glazers sure do believe in Bowles to get us there…Just shows how out of touch the ownership really is. Fans wanted Bowles gone, your legendary Receiver bolted because he doesn’t think Bowles can get it done. Your often injured CB literally took a pay cut to get out of here earlier. We need to make a splash to get this fan base excited again because right now are we truly better than last year? Also have you seen our schedule next year? We might be the Yucks again by the end of the season.
March 14th, 2026 at 11:41 am
The Glazer’s can ignore the fans all they want, but the players speak volumes and the echo is rumbling through the organization right now. This has to be extremely embarrassing for the entire organization. I appreciate Lee and Steve (not Ira sadly) for coming out and putting the blame squarely where it belongs.
March 14th, 2026 at 11:41 am
Chase is a word doing a lot of work there. We’ll see how it works out for them. Would be interesting in a perverse way if it was the Steelers versus the 49ers in the super bowl.
March 14th, 2026 at 11:46 am
What do you expect the players leaving to say they’re leaving for money?
March 14th, 2026 at 11:47 am
Bucs blank San Fran in the NFC Championship 42-0…
Bucs upset Jacksonville in Super Bowl route 31-3…
You heard it here first!
March 14th, 2026 at 11:50 am
Well , while I was not a big Dean fan, to many injuries not many picks. However, last year was another story. He definitely was the best cornerback on the team by far. Dean and Mike are correct I believe. They know more about the team than we do and they chose to leave. Presently we have Morrison and McColumn at corner!!!. Yes pretty scary. Bowles last year told us we were in good shape with Dennis at LB, we saw how that worked. Currently he and Licht are telling us Morrison and McColumn are the future!!!. We still have no Edge Rusher who is a legitimate player. We need to more starting LBs. We added Feeney for depth at Guard. So you can see why Dean and Evans left. The Bucs are losing talent and bringing in short term aging rotational players instead. This is their plan. Yes no wonder they left. Definitely hard to be a fan. This Organization is frustrating.
Appears we are headed back to the dark days. Thanks Licht and Bowles you are sinking the ship.
March 14th, 2026 at 11:55 am
If you are hanging out hat on the fact that you win division titles, you’ve set the bar pretty low
March 14th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
I love 💕💕 what Licht and Bowles are doing
👍👍👍 Thumbs up from a very Happy fan
March 14th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
If the Glazers haven’t already figured it out just wait until the games begin. Maybe then they’ll realize the true consequences of keeping Bowles. An empty stadium is hard to ignore. Still can’t believe they thought they could sell this to the players or fans.
March 14th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
😂😂😂😂
March 14th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
Not sure how much better a shot the Steelers have at a SB than the Bucs, but it does sound nicer than saying “Bowles is a mediocre head coach, the Bucs are currently a hot mess, and Pittsburgh showed me the money!”
March 14th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
It’s a huge disservice to a player’s career and life to make it t the pros and then be damned by the likes of Bowels to give you NO CHANCE at the top prize…
Those players are doing what’s best for their chances at reaching the top of their profession….
Side note: I saw an article that gave a reason for the Bucs to keep IBS as HC and so many other bad decisions… it said what if it is to purposely tank 2026 for Arch Manning!….. The Bucs did so years ago for one of the worst decisions in history that bit them in the butt… No college qb is a guarantee but at least make some sense as to why the owners seem as though they want to tank 2026!
March 14th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
It has me wondering just who approached who regarding Deans contract rework last year.
We’ve all been assuming that Licht approached Dean, but it didn’t make any sense that Dean would accept it.
On the other hand, If Dean saw the writing on the wall, and wanted out,and to go where he wanted to go, it makes a lot more sense.
March 14th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
Dean just said in his presser what was expected, probably written up for him by his agent’s publicity staff. What did anyone expect to hear from Dean that he just signed with the Steelers for the coin and does not care if they might be fighting it out with with the Bengals for 2nd place in their division at 8-9? Guy was fragile for the Bucs, when he was on the field he was good but man the guy always spent a lot of time on the pine; I guess the Steelers will find that out. Again, if the Bucs paid Dean what the Steelers did, the trolls who are posting the obvious about Bowles would be complaining about retaining Dean. Licht has improved several positions with the signings already, the loss of a WR who had 300 yards receiving and a CB who is injured several times every year are the type of player you “hope” stay healthy, now that is the Steelers and Niners problems. Good chance one or both of those clubs will regret the signings when their key acquisition goes on the IR which is like clockwork for both.
March 14th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
John:
Joe’s written about this many, many, many times over the past six or eight months. It’s basically been the theme of the team and it’s demise. Joe’s written about it probably daily for months.
This team, specifically the defense, quit on Todd Bowles. There’s no other way around it (unless you want to say they tuned Bowles out. It’s basically the same thing). Consider:
* Baker Mayfield unloaded on the Bucs (directed at defense) in the locker room after the Patriots loss for being lazy, undisciplined, unfocused and not playing with passion.
* Twice, Lavonte David ripped into his defensive teammates for not being focused and playing with heart, including at halftime of the Rams debacle.
* Bowles slammed his defense twice: Once in the fourth quarter on the sidelines against the Cardinals and then his famous rant after the Atlanta loss.
That was the problem with the locker room. Dudes threw in the towel. Prominent players who were starters on the Bucs’ Super Bowl team in 2020 including one of the greatest players in Bucs history wanted nothing more to do with the Bucs.
It’s pretty clear why.
March 14th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
And you went to the Steelers
March 14th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
^^^^^^💯. This is on the Owners…they signed Bowels to a big contract last year and no way are they firing his butt just to save face.
March 14th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
Who Dat!
March 14th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Joe … ‘This team, specifically the defense, quit on Todd Bowles. There’s no other way around it (unless you want to say they tuned Bowles out. It’s basically the same thing).’
Still can’t agree with that Joe, because IF that were true, the Glazers would’ve had no choice but to replace Bowles. They could not have afforded to leave him in charge of a sinking ship.
After starting off 6-2 last season, but went 2-7 to finish 8-9 on th year as we all know. Only the Bills (44-32) and Rams (34-7) games were decided by 5 points or more, and 5 of those 9 games were decided by a FG or less. That’s NOT a sign of a team that’s quit on their HC.
Bucs weren’t competitive last year for a number of reasons, lack of DEPTH being the biggest one which came to the forefront as injuries mounted. The defense in particular was not well constructed from a personnel standpoint, and that’s surely why we’re seeing such pronounced turnover right now.
March 14th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
Licht and Bowles are getting rid of the LOAFERS
The LOAFERS didn’t get rid of Bowles
And that’s the way it should be
I’m so glad that the Glazers are intelligent owners
This team will be free of the Loafers, the underperformers
Now we can be a successful football team
March 14th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
Nick2 Says:
The Glazer’s can ignore the fans all they want, but the players speak volumes and the echo is rumbling through the organization right now.
————————————————————————————
NO owner of an NFL team is going to run their organization according to what the fans want. 75% of what one needs to know to make the right decision, fans have no F’ing idea about.
The Glazers understand that the NFL is an entertainment business, and they will do everything they can to make the team a contender again because of the constraints of the salary cap. It’s extremely rare for a team to be in contention every year.
I would have preferred to see Bowles go, but there are many ways the team can be improved other than replacing the coach. They’ve already upgraded two of the coordinators and upgraded the front 7 on defense.
A horrible season isn’t always due to horrible coaching. The Kansas City Chiefs were 6 -11 last season. Should they fire Andy Reid? LOL
Since 2019, there have been 7 instances where a team has failed to score a touchdown in a playoff game. 2 of those times, the opposing team was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose defense was run by a guy so many fans don’t believe knows how to coach. LOL
The 2020 Chiefs and the 2023 Eagles combined for ZERO TDs in their playoff games against a Todd Bowles defense. Improved the talent on his defense and upgrade the OC and ST coordinators, and you’ll see that he hasn’t forgotten how to coach. Some of you need to get over your BDS (Bowles Derangement Syndrome).
March 14th, 2026 at 12:55 pm
^^^^^^^^^^
The Glazers understand that the NFL is an entertainment business, and they will do everything they can to make the team a contender again, BUT because of the constraints of the salary cap. It’s extremely rare for a team to be in contention every year.
March 14th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
That’s canned verbiage they all say.
March 14th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
I think maybe that Lakeland is Jason Licht’s nephew or something – or he is Todd Bowles Jr
March 14th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Defense Rules Says:
Joe … ‘This team, specifically the defense, quit on Todd Bowles. There’s no other way around it (unless you want to say they tuned Bowles out. It’s basically the same thing).’
Still can’t agree with that Joe, because IF that were true, the Glazers would’ve had no choice but to replace Bowles. They could not have afforded to leave him in charge of a sinking ship
———————————————————————————
Exactly true! There is no way the Glazers would have retained Bowles if the team quit on him
March 14th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
We need to trade for Trent Richardson, we need a real QB on this team!!! Oh I forgot our leprechaun, doesn’t like competition!!!
March 14th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
lol and he choose the Steelers…..
March 14th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
People are twisting Evans’ and Dean’s words. What Dean really said is, of the teams offering the money he wants, Pittsburgh gave him the best chance to win a Superbowl.
Not sure if Evans specifically said the Bucs can’t win but I think more than anything he wanted a stable offense with a coach known for it. Not the revolving door of O.C.s the Bucs seem to have.
March 14th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
True enough, we had a few Loafers on defense
But l thought it was the OFFENSE that quit on Grizz
The offense averaged 16.8 points during our last 7 games
Games we went 2-5, and the defense was keeping it close
The offensive players were even fighting on the sidelines amongst themselves
But it’s all good, that was last year
We’re back
And better than EVER
March 14th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Do you remember what Richard Sherman said last year when the Bucs were imploding at the end of the season. I agree there is something going on in the locker room and it starts at the top with Todd Bowles. The softness, lack of detail and concentration and complacency is a direct reflection on our head coach. Shame on you Glazers for keeping this poor head coach as the leader of your team.
March 14th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
Yeah, Steelers aren’t winning anything.
March 14th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Yes, Joe. WHY they left hurts fans way more than that they left (even beloved Mike). Who cares about winning this division. Bowles can’t keep his job just because that’s the sorry standard. If he was in ANY other division in football, he’d be gone.
March 14th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
HeavyE Says:
March 14th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
We need to trade for Trent Richardson, we need a real QB on this team!!! Oh I forgot our leprechaun, doesn’t like competition!!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You mean Anthony. Trent was a running back who retired years ago.
Anthony’s problems have been twofold:
-staying healthy
-ability – has a real scatter arm
That’s why Colts went with Daniel Jones instead and just resigned Daniel to a 2 year contract.
I seriously doubt Baker would worry about a competition with Anthony. Although Anthony would be awesome in goal-line situations. If we we could get him for cheap, I’m all for that.
Anthony is bigger than Josh Allen. Real bulldozer when running.