Big Day For Todd Bowles In Two Weeks
April 7th, 2026
While only six NFL head coaches have been on the job longer than Todd Bowles, the Bucs will sort of kicking off a new era when the team reports back for duty on April 20.
Gone are Mike Evans, Lavonte David and Jamel Dean, and their combined 33 years of service to Tampa Bay. Gone are the coordinators on offense and special teams. Gone are longtime defensive backs coaches and senior offensive advisor Tom Moore, among others on the staff.
That’s a ton of signficant change without a team replacing its head coach.
Bowles seems to recognize that, per his words to Josina Anderson of The Exhibit.
Bowles sat with Anderson last week at the NFL annual meeting in Phoenix. He addressed the Bucs’ staff overhaul. how it was difficult but necessary and how Bowles is eager a critical Day 1 later this month.
“It’s hard because a lot of [departed coaches] you’re very close to and extremely close to,” Bowles said. “And a lot of guys I came up with from nothing, from the dust. And I’ve been with them for many years. And from a football standpoint, when the game changes and the coaches change, you have to concentrate on the thing that got you there — and that’s just understanding how to coach. Concentrating on the fundamentals and teaching the guys that come in the building because you can’t worry about the relationships from a football standpoint. It’s never personal.
“And some guys have moved on to go to better places, as far as head coaches. Some guys have retired and been in it a long time and then some guys just didn’t fit anymore. You have a combination of all that as a head coach. So it’s never easy. It’s always a difficult process. But it’s important to find the right fit and I think we’ve kind of found the right fit this year.
“… It starts with me. Obviously, that first meeting is going to be important to lay the groundwork of what we want to do. Then you have to practice what you preach every day. If we do that, I think we’ll be fine.”
Interesting hearing Bowles says of coaches, “some guys just didn’t fit anymore.”
Joe likes the Bucs’ changes. It feels like there’s just enough new blood to prevent the stink of last season’s collapse from lingering.
April 7th, 2026 at 9:41 am
Once again more vague, empty talk. Who specifically from the “new blood” will help prevent a collapse? You have the same people making the most important decisions on and off the field.
Bowles said it starts with him and we’ve seen year after year he doesn’t adjust or try anything new. But sure, this season will be different because the Bucs have new blood. And who made the decision to hire and sign the new blood…and the old blood…oh thats right…..
April 7th, 2026 at 9:48 am
They just got to coach it better, players got to play it better.
April 7th, 2026 at 9:49 am
if this team from top to bottom can develop a sense of urgency and accountability, then we will win at least 11games and win a playoff game…
but, if we jump out 3-0, get full of ourselves and blame failures and struggles on injuries or having to “coach it, play it better” then we’ll be drafting in the top 10 next year with a new HC and sending baker packing
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 7th, 2026 at 10:00 am
“And some guys have moved on to go to better places, as far as head coaches.“
Conspicuously no one connected to the defensive side…
April 7th, 2026 at 10:07 am
There is nothing wrong with Baker.
April 7th, 2026 at 10:10 am
The problem is Bowles not Baker.
April 7th, 2026 at 10:21 am
I just hope Bowles doesn’t “find something” with the defense like he did last year.
Whatever crap he thought he found I hope he lost again.
April 7th, 2026 at 10:22 am
Bowles still has not accepted that the coaches under his direction we’re not getting the job done. Neither is he.
April 7th, 2026 at 10:29 am
Special Teams coach should of been fired during the season. The good buddy network of coaches apparently hurt the Bucs last year.
April 7th, 2026 at 11:22 am
I can say this the BEST off-season we’ve had since Bowles been HC
We replaced a lot of assistant coaches
We replaced a lot of soft loafers with tough guys with high football IQ
I’m excited for the upcoming season
I’m more excited about the upcoming draft
April 7th, 2026 at 11:41 am
Todd, just teach the D players to wrap up when tackling. We gave up way to many first downs because of poor tackling last year!
April 7th, 2026 at 11:46 am
Sounds like Bowles is talking about the departures of CB coach Kevin Ross and S coach Nick Rapone.
April 7th, 2026 at 11:47 am
The Glazers need to write a big check for Jason Taylor to come in and teach pass rushing.
April 7th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Hopefully after this season one more coach is sent out to pasture.
April 7th, 2026 at 12:13 pm
And I ask again-what did this guy do to justify keeping his job this year?
April 7th, 2026 at 12:27 pm
1 year of winning out of 33. Bcuz of Brady And in spite of everything else.
April 7th, 2026 at 12:55 pm
Todd has ‘earned the right’ to RETIRE. Let your son take over as H/C & D/C. Can’t do any worse!!
April 7th, 2026 at 1:33 pm
Right there with ya Lakeland.
April 7th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
The guy that “doesn’t fit” is the guy that’s the HC and DC.
April 7th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
In 31 out of 32 scenarios, Bowles would be unemployed.
But not in Tampa where they just love the culture.
Todd is the only minority HC in the NFC currently.
My guess is the Glazers couldn’t afford the poop storm that would come if they had fired him.
The NFL demands diversity. Results don’t enter the equation.
April 7th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
I’m more excited about a toroise race than I am about this dumpster pageant.
April 7th, 2026 at 2:02 pm
Bowles is a Super Bowl winning Defensive Coordinator. He’s a very knowledgeable coach working his way through not having enough high quality players on defense and some awful strings of injuries. As soon as the team finishes improving the defensive starter positions and stays healthy, results will follow.
April 7th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
StPeteMatt = Todd Bowles Jr.
April 7th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
Lefty = Crybaby whiner
Let’s see how this team plays when everybody is healthy. My guess is this season starts just like last season did. Then if we don’t lose all our starters to injury, expect the winning to continue. It will. Our offense is very, very potent and the draft and off-season acquisitions will dramatically reframe the defense. If our linemen stay healthy and we protect Baker, we win.
April 7th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
Where are my posts Joe?
April 7th, 2026 at 7:28 pm
Any middling QB wins those 4 games in a row that Baker lost – and that turns the Bucs into a 12-5 team, on a 6 game winning streak going into the playoffs, and almost certainly all these changes on the team don’t happen (well most of them anyways). Certainly Evans is back, David probably doesn’t retire, you wouldn’t have all the coaching turnover – and likely Baker gets a huge extension.
That’s always been the tease with Baker – he looks good at times, then when people bet on him, he gets everyone fired.
But next year, things will be different, I’m sure of it.
BTW, while I obviously don’t have a ton of faith in Baker, before the Boi(s) do their normal crybaby act, I’m 100% with Baker getting another shot. It is just up to him to finally come through when it matters the most. As a Bucs fan, I hope he can do it, I’d love if the Bucs found their long term QB. But Baker needs to actually do his part and for us not to hear about another year where he’s ‘injured’ and nothing is hi fault.
April 7th, 2026 at 9:02 pm
Rod….
So what do you think the Bucs should do at the Quarterback position?
April 7th, 2026 at 9:21 pm
If we do not practice live tackling and able to put pressure on the QB, we will be worst than last year.
April 7th, 2026 at 11:48 pm
Mutt from Stpete wins the Miss congeniality prize. Such cluelessness needs one of those awards.