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BY IRA KAUFMAN

Everyone working at One Buc Place shares a common goal. That doesn’t mean they face the same level of pressure heading into the 2026 season.

Some in the organization are under more stress than others. Their professional futures depend on the results on the scoreboard, while others aren’t going anywhere, regardless of Tampa Bay’s record this fall.

For example, Tristan Wirfs will remain a Buccaneer fixture — even if the team inexplicably finishes in the NFC South basement. That’s not necessarily the case with two players and two coaches whose fate in Tampa are intertwined with team success.

Todd Bowles

Any conversation in this regard has to start with a head coach who enters the new year with a 35-33 career mark with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has won one playoff game since Todd Bowles replaced Bruce Arians in 2022.

Bowles reeled off three consecutive division titles, providing ownership with revenues that accompany an additional home game in January. But he’s also the same head coach who opened 6-2 last season yet failed to make the playoffs in a division that couldn’t produce a winning team.

The Glazers continue to believe Bowles possesses many admirable qualities. They would prefer continuity at the top, but you’d have to think a division crown is the minimum bar Bowles has to clear in 2026. Even another 8-9 finish, accompanied by a first-round playoff flameout, should prompt serious consideration of a coaching change.

The Glazers are supposed to be hunting championships. Mediocrity shouldn’t be acceptable, especially during an era when the Falcons, Saints and Panthers have combined to go 79-125 during Bowles’ tenure as Buc head coach.

Bowles isn’t naive. He knows job security is fleeting in the NFL. He also knows if the Bucs go in another direction in 2027, he’d be a longshot to ever land a third head coaching job in the NFL.

That’s pressure, with a capital P.

Chris Godwin

Chris Godwin will turn 31 in February and his career has been derailed at times by injuries.

When healthy, and Godwin looks quite healthy at the moment, he’s a clutch receiver who thrives making contested catches in the slot. That’s a commodity hard to find in this league and Tampa Bay coaches are counting on a big year by the longest-tenured Buccaneer.

Still, the Bucs hold a club option on Godwin in 2027 and his salary is not guaranteed. If rookie Ted Hurst is the real deal and the Bucs falter, Godwin’s future with the organization would be tenuous.

Suppose Bowles no longer reports to One Buc. Where would that leave Zac Robinson?

New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson

Tampa Bay’s new offensive coordinator has a lot to prove this fall. First, he must prove he’s an upgrade from Josh Grizzard. He also needs to inject life into a drab attack still recovering from Liam Coen’s departure.

If Robinson gets this offense humming, the Glazers will make every effort to keep him in the organization. Other clubs might consider him as a head coach at that point.

It happened to Dave Canales and Coen.

There’s a lot of talent on this offense, more to work with than Robinson had in Atlanta the past two seasons. If the Bucs average 22 points per game again with a relatively healthy offensive line, Robinson could very well find himself packing his bags once again.

No matter what happens this fall, you would think the Bucs will make every effort to keep YaYa Diaby beyond the expiration of his rookie contract. Diaby has produced enough through three seasons for Jason Licht to lobby on his behalf to ownership.

YaYa Diaby

But signing Diaby to an extension after the season and giving him the money he’s looking for are two different things.

Diaby’s durability works in his favor. He hasn’t missed a game as a Buccaneer and 19 sacks is a decent total heading into the final year of his rookie deal. He has also averaged 16 QB hits and 13 tackles for loss.

Those are good numbers and Diaby’s production figures to rise if rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain proves to be the real deal.

But if Diaby’s metrics flatline, he probably won’t command the same 4-year, $100 million extension Pittsburgh just granted to linebacker Nick Herbig, also a member of the 2023 draft class.

The Bucs expect more from Diaby. He’s entering his prime at 27 and he’s surrounded by better talent on the front seven. A double-digit sack season will lead to a windfall … and the Glazers would be happy to write the check.