Bruce Arians: Bucs Are A Super Bowl Contender
May 13th, 2025
Pressure.
Super Bowl pressure is piling up for Todd Bowles.
The preseason hype foundation for the Bucs took a stronghold after the 2025 NFL Draft, and then it grew.
Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians threw a log on the fire this morning during his visit to The Pat And Aaron Show on WDAE radio.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt,” Arians said when asked if the Bucs “are pretty close” to returning to a Super Bowl. “We just got to stay healthy. You know, we had all those injuries in the same position last year at defensive back. But if we stay healthy, I don’t think there’s any doubt the sky’s the limit for this football team. I mean, we got great camaraderie; it’s great energy in that building. And guys are really pulling for each other, so yeah. I think this is going to be a great year.”
The Bucs are returning their entire explosive offense, including a quarterback coming off consecutive Pro Bowl seasons. And they added a first-round pick receiver and expect Chris Godwin back. The defense has legitimate stars and should be improved by health and healing alone, in addition to adding edge rusher Haason Reddick and four defensive players in the draft (Rounds 2 through 5).
Just win, Coach Bowles!
May 13th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Go Bucs
May 13th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
need a little more depth (either a vet LB or safety), have to stay healthy, and the rookies and guys drafted last year will need big contributions!
May 13th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
Arians is 100% right. The Bucs must stay healthy. And it’s also the refs calls too. We had some bad ones last season along with injuries. Arians said Bucs and Super Bowl in the same sentence. Hope it happens!
May 13th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
I’m ready for another boat parade! 🙂
May 13th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
Some of us don’t need BA to tell us. We can see it.
Some of y’all wouldn’t care if Jesus himself said it.
May 13th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
LFG, huge year ahead
May 13th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
Defining yr for Bowles as a HC. 🤞🏼 Unlike Ira, I think he gets some serious side-eye from Glazers with a 6-10 team, but i also feel Licht would save Bowles’s job
May 13th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
It just feels that way because we should have beaten Commanders and then watched them thrive against others. Super Bowl teams don’t struggle against horrible teams in critical games, or play up and down to their competition (except the officiating-rich Chiefs), or prefer the road (theory), or give 1,000 yards to Kirk Cousins in two games. Bowles has to make a change, he can’t rely on Licht and the roster’s new potential. We need to know details about coach’s alleged epiphany. Bowles is the key.
May 13th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
Situation is perfect for Bucs having a Playoff Seeding that will provide a better Super Bowl Win probability of 4% if they make the Playoffs..
Of the 14 easiest schedules 4 belong to the NFCS. 7 others Play a schedule with the NFCS
2 Playoff teams from 2024 the Bills and Bucs are in that group because their Divisions basically have been garbage.
Of the 14 toughest schedules there are 10 Playoff teams from 2024 in the group.
This years schedule certainly favors a better than 10 win season.
Some Quarterbacks have navigated a Super Bowl win with less than 12 wins but in the Bucs case they will need at a minimum 12 wins to be in the best position statistically along with a 1st or 2nd Seed in the NFC.
NFL may stack tougher games to start the season, not because they are trying to hurt the Bucs but just because they should have some cake walk games against NFCS and AFCE teams in the middle of the schedule.
May 13th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Health! Health! Health! If the trainers can only find a way to eliminate these pulled hamstrings and turf-toe problems. Stretch! Stretch! Stretch!
May 13th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
“We need to know details about coach’s alleged epiphany”
With all due respect, no WE don’t.
May 13th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Even with a quarterback like ours😱
May 13th, 2025 at 2:23 pm
“Super Bowl pressure is piling up for Todd Bowles.”
The NFC South title is Bowles SB. He’s won it three years in a row.
A literal 3 time SB champion HC.
Four in a row should be easy. No pressure at all.
May 13th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
Baker Mayfield is a MVP candidate this year.
May 13th, 2025 at 2:37 pm
I agree!
Barring injuries the defense will be much better
May 13th, 2025 at 2:55 pm
This is the team that can do it! I believe safety we’ll be ok, but we need a top tier LB to make it a win at the SB, LFG BUCS!!!
May 13th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
You are incorrect on the Bowles contract.–Joe
May 13th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
If the Bucs can manage injuries then I think this team can be a Super Bowl contender. They have a tough road ahead of them since seemingly every team in the NFL that would be in their way got better.
May 13th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
It comes down to coaching. Very simple. The players are in place.
May 13th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
The roster is there IMO. Need some healthy players, and better situational awareness & aggressiveness from the HC.
I’ve confident the defense will play much better with the updated personnel. The rest we’ll see about.
May 13th, 2025 at 4:27 pm
So is every other NFL team at this point.
May 13th, 2025 at 4:43 pm
‘Bucs Are A Super Bowl Contender’
They have the horses, just not the brains…
With a better HC and DC, i’d be sold on the notion!
May 13th, 2025 at 5:10 pm
It all depends on what script was written for the season we all know it’s rigged deep down but don’t want to believe it
May 13th, 2025 at 5:16 pm
Stop talking my post down
May 13th, 2025 at 5:18 pm
Stop taking my post down
May 13th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
Got to stay healthy, and a little luck never hurts. I agree with Bruce. Feel good about this team. Think they explode like the Lions did in 23.
May 13th, 2025 at 5:54 pm
Go Bucs!! They have a solid chance to be a top tier tea.
May 13th, 2025 at 5:57 pm
Not without a pass rush #!!
May 13th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
It is hard to deny that the 2025 Buccaneers are in the Super Bowl conversation. Are we witnessing a turnaround in the national narrative?
As a fan who does have faith in Bowles I can say I am expecting a great season followed by a strong playoff run. Can hardly wait for the season to begin.
Go Bucs!!
May 13th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
really interesting piece on the Glazers on Athletic.
May 13th, 2025 at 7:26 pm
I’m hoping the new situational/clock coach makes a difference.
May 13th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
NFC Championship or bust no more excuses. We have a quarterback that has never played in a conference championship game even with good teams. So if we get to the NFC Championship game that will be a susessful year to me then in 2026 we can talk Superbowl. If we get to the Superbowl this year that’s a bounes.
May 13th, 2025 at 9:03 pm
They were a Super Bowl contender last year if not for CTB defense.
May 13th, 2025 at 11:05 pm
Fair expectation by Oneilbuc. Gonna take better than a bottom barrel pass defense though, no matter how lights out Baker plays.
May 14th, 2025 at 3:29 am
Shhh Bruce! We don’t want that to get out to the media idiots!
Now go back to your golf big man. LOL
Go Bucs!
May 14th, 2025 at 4:19 am
I’d prefer to fly under the radar and avoid the pressure of such high expectations. Too many question marks at this point to be talking Super Bowl.