Todd Bowles Has A Magic Number
July 28th, 2025
Todd Bowles
If Todd Bowles wins at least 11 games this season, he’ll join a list of 13 head coaches that reached a consistent standard of improvement since 1969.
Joe’s exhaustive research is complete.
Some might argue the list is only 11 coaches long (Joe will explain), but regardless, it’s an impressive bunch that includes five Hall of Fame head coaches and seven Super Bowl winners.
With 11 wins or more this season, Bowles will have improved the Bucs’ record for three consecutive years after the first year with his respective club.
Steelers legend and Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll pulled that off in 1970 (5-9), 1971 (6-8) and 1972 (11-3) after starting 1-13 in 1969.
Next was Buccaneers Ring of Honor head coach John McKay in 1977 (2-12), 1978 (5-11) and 1979 (10-6), following the Bucs’ winless inaugural season. Ironically, Hall of Fame head coach Dick Vermeil was on a similar trajectory with the Eagles, and the Eagles and Bucs squared off in the NFC playoffs in 1979.
Bill Parcells (Giants), Marv Levy (Buffalo) and Jimmy Johnson (Dallas) are the other Hall of Fame head coaches to have achieved the milestone.
Zac Taylor and Dan Campbell have gotten it done this decade, and one could argue Jon Gruden did, too. His Raiders were 7-9 in 2019 followed by 8-8 in 2020. In 2021, when Gruden was ridiculously ousted from the league in October, his Raiders finished 10-7 and made the playoffs.
Mike Ditka, Brad Childress and Buddy Ryan are on the list, and former St. Louis Cardinals head coach Jim Hanifan belongs with an asterisk because of the strike-shortened 1982 season.
That’s it.
Bowles would land in impressive company with an 11-6 season, a finish a large percentage of Bucs fans would find an appropriate and likely outcome.
As for the postseason, Bowles should desperately want to avoid getting on the very small list of head coaches that have (or had) a 1-4 record in the playoffs.
No special names there. That list might make Team Glazer nauseous. And that’s where Bowles would land with another quick playoff loss.
July 28th, 2025 at 6:45 am
We easily could/should have had 11 last year. But for the injuries and some odd play/game calls. I expect more than 11 this year but I am no expert talking head LOL
Go Bucs!
July 28th, 2025 at 7:38 am
Definitely hoping for at least an 11-6 season too!
garro – fully agree about injuries, play/game calls this past season.
July 28th, 2025 at 8:07 am
Todd Bowles is 3rd in terms of win percentage for Bucs head coaches, ahead of Gruden. If the Bucs win 12 games this year that will move him past Dungy.
July 28th, 2025 at 9:35 am
8-10, 10-8, 10-8.
Playoffs are more important measures, and Bowles is 1-3 in the playoffs, including the only win against an Eagles team that had mailed it in weeks before. Of course so Dallas the year before and Todd managed to have his team totally flat and unprepared for that, so yay Todd.
Mr Twojobs is who he is.
July 28th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Aqua give it a rest. Please!!!
July 28th, 2025 at 11:23 am
Wild Bill
I share your sentiment but I’ll add to it. At this point I honestly feel sorry for “Lung”. I do not judge individual people. “Judge not lest ye be judged!”
But I do feel free to judge behavior. At this point “Lung’s” behavior has become obsessive. I used to joke that it’s like Todd somehow had an affair with his wife.
I’m ashamed of that now because I truly feel sorry for his difficulty in dealing with his obsession. I can only hope he gets help. Good luck “Lung”. No snark intended.
July 29th, 2025 at 9:31 pm
The season has yet to start and we are out a major position. TW doesn’t need a pre season, and I hope his PT is as good as Tristin is. This is exactly what I mean when I say it takes a team to win. Bowles wants every player healthy at the end of the season, for the playoffs. The reason TW waited on the surgery in none of our business. If and when Tristin wants us to know is up to him. Ever hear of HIPPA? Bowles wants a Superbowl as a HC. And he has long term goals. He is building a team with the future in mind too. He does not want to settle for only one Bucs ring, that as a DC. Which was masterfully played, keeping that offense team to no touchdowns. Remember that Mahomes? Really fun season. Let’s do it again. Happy 50 years! Let’s have that boat parade again, with a lifejacket for Lombardy! Been a fan from the start.