Jamel Dean Issues A Defense Of Todd Bowles
October 20th, 2026
“You can’t save me, Dean.”
So Joe marched into the Steelers’ postgame locker room the moment it opened Sunday to talk to Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting, two former Bucs Super Bowl cornerbacks who are tight with Todd Bowles.
The Murphy-Bunting chat was private; the Dean conversation was not.
(And many thanks to Dean for shutting off the music on his side of the Steelers’ locker room to talk to Joe. Much appreciated!)
Dean, who left the Bucs in free agency after last season, recorded a ridiculous total of six passes defensed on Sunday. That gives him eight for the season, tied for second in the NFL, one behind league leader Jacob Parrish. Yes, that’s the Bucs cornerback who replaced Dean.
A known Todd Bowles fan, Dean doesn’t like the heat on his former coach.
“I understand it, but I don’t like the fact that Bowles gets a lot of scrutiny because he makes players like I am. He develops players. They have to perform,” Dean said. “There’s nothing really going on with the Bucs, even now with them struggling. Whatever is leading to losing I wouldn’t put all on Todd. It’s something where the team and the entire organization got to come together from the top to the bottom. It’s football. It’s not one person who deserves blame. You come together and win as one.”
The Bucs’ 2019 third-round draft pick added that he’s not sure how things could change in the Bucs’ locker room with the team now at 1-5. “I’ve never experienced that kind of record,” Dean said.
As for last season’s collapse, Dean didn’t have any answers as to why the Bucs couldn’t find one more win to take home the NFC South crown. He has no hard feelings toward the Bucs for how his tenure ended — he visited with former teammates before and after the game — and he is not surprised Parrish is having an excellent season
Dean served up a message for Bucs fans: “I love you guys. I miss you. I appreciate the journey and the memories.”
October 20th, 2026 at 10:38 am
i dont think i have read anyone ever say only bowles is responsible.
October 20th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Number one, Joe Bucs Fan is the best. Dean quit last year and was a cancer. Played not to get hurt. Poisoned Mccolum and Winfield. Add Reddick, Dennis, and David giving up it led to a disaster. Unfortunate the season is over after six games. Anzalone is the bust of the year. Keep playing Daniels to see if he can develop and get Mayfield’s thumb completely healed. No hurry getting him back unless he is 100 per cent at this point.
October 20th, 2026 at 10:46 am
Who’s buying the Fire Bowles billboards ?
October 20th, 2026 at 10:46 am
What a great guy. And he’s totally right about Bowles. Winning in the NFL is hard, so take care of the other things that you can control. Extend Bowles.
October 20th, 2026 at 10:50 am
Dean is a class act. Best to him. He earned that nice bump with solid play ( albeit hurt at times). Like Rashad and Mike, I like to see them do well.
October 20th, 2026 at 10:54 am
“…It’s something where the team and the entire organization got to come together from the top to the bottom. …” he’s partially right. The only way to get this ship righted is to clean house and establish a new standard. To start at the top by jettisoning Licht, Bowles & staff, and cutting out the dead weight players.
October 20th, 2026 at 11:00 am
Say what you want about Dean, but that interview to me shows he is a first class guy. I thought he was good with the Bucs but the injuries were too often. However the Bucs usually did not do well when he was out of the lineup. I am not surprised he is doing well.
October 20th, 2026 at 11:01 am
McBay, You’re the most low-key troll we have here.
October 20th, 2026 at 11:01 am
Great comments from Dean. He didn’t have to do that, but meant every word of it. The Bucs had their chances to win the game but that’s all in the past now and it’s on to the red hot Panthers where hopefully they can find a way to win.
Go Bucs !!
October 20th, 2026 at 11:10 am
This is a World Series between the best teams in their respective leagues all season. The Rays and Brewers are arguably the two best-run organizations in baseball.
The above is a quote lifted from the 4 letter website.
If the owners of the Bucs don’t get their act together (very unlikely) Tampa with the Rays and a beautiful new ballpark and a perennially good hockey team will make the Bucs irrelevant. I still predict a change of ownership and move to Orlando. The Disney vibe seems to fit better with the Glazer family.
October 20th, 2026 at 11:16 am
when the pupil has surpassed the master
October 20th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Wow, this thread is an alternate universe from what I’ve seen the last two years. What have I been watching?
October 20th, 2026 at 11:28 am
the Bucs have solid players at every position and some good backups too – no superstars at any position but overall pretty good – net point differential is 19 or about 3 points per game – no blowouts and max spread was 7 – just an average team that can’t finish – the team needed a spark like Gruden or Brady to get over the hump – Mayfield ain’t it – the Bucs play about the same without its primary captains on offense and defense (Mayfield and Winfield) as they do with them – the team is 36-38 under Bowles , which is an average team – so what we are getting during the Bowles era is to be expected – mediocrity that underperforms when under pressure – the roster is not the problem – we had adequate OCs in Coen and Canales but record-wise Leftwich was the best in recent years – but we know it was all Brady in 2020 and 2021 – so what’s the answer ? get a superstar HC and/or GM and let them construct a team and scheme – Bowles-Licht-Mayfield will just be more of the same – Mike Evans knows it – Jamel Dean knows it – Rachaad White knows it – and now so do we
October 20th, 2026 at 11:34 am
So, Lights drafting the wrong players or the Scouts are hyping the wrong guys up the ladder? Dean says its not the coach. Then we have the wrong guys.
October 20th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Citrus, we’re in the world series. Everything looks good right now for our baseball team. The NFL is still, and perennially more popular than any of the other sports. The Bucs will never be irrelevant. Though their relevancy will obviously wane, if the results stay the same.
October 20th, 2026 at 11:47 am
For Whom The Bell Tolls……..by Ernest Hemingway
or
For When To Tell Bowles……..by The Glazer Boys
🙂
October 20th, 2026 at 11:56 am
Game plan is to be blamed on both sides of the ball. No killer instinct. And it makes you wonder how Robinson’s game plan collapsed with us? SMH
October 20th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
CLASS ACT!!!!
you’ll have to wait until FEB to talk to Mike lol…
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 20th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
3 and 28 Zac’s game plan fell apart cause he’s not creative and predictable. How many times are they going to run on 1st down then throw on 2nd. Almost every freaking time. No roll outs or options for JD which he excelled in collage. We go from having one of the best olines in the league in 24 for to shambles. It’s the OC not the HC not the GM not the water boy it’s the OC. DEFENSE has bin on playing good ball for once and our offense can’t score points or sustain drives unless it’s against a Dallas defense. Come on bro. Have some common sense
October 20th, 2026 at 12:40 pm
If Dean is Defending this incompetent Kit Kat eatting (save a few for the rest)
Coach (I use that term lightly)
HE IS AN IDIOT
October 20th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
Hopefully the Buccaneers can pick up on the Champa Bay energy and win some games !!
Go Rays !!
Go Bucs !!
October 20th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Oh By the way
WHAT DOES MIKE SAY???
I will take less money
Move across Country
Pay double in Taxes
TO LEAVE THIS COACH
October 20th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
Steven007 Says:
October 20th, 2026 at 11:43 am
^^^^^^
The point I was trying to make is that the Bucs are a poorly run organization from top to bottom. Can anyone dispute that with facts ?
October 20th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
It’s not Todd’s fault the Glazers are stupid enough to keep him as HC. I’ll give him that.