“It’s Moments Like That When A Coach Loses His Job”
December 13th, 2025
The NFL is very much about moments.
They stick with fans. They stick with coaches. They stick with owners. And in the case of Thursday night, they stick in the craw of everyone who cares about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Screamin’ Stephen A. Smith, arguably the most popular voice in all of sports, says he’s a Todd Bowles fan and has a ton of respect for Bowles and got to know him during Bowles’ days in New York.
During Smith’s Friday’s edition of First Dump Take on ESPN TV, Smith spoke with calm and reserved tones about Bowles’ demise and what he called “an incredible reason to be alarmed” if you care about the Bucs and Bowles.
He said Bowles’ profanity-laced tirade was so out of character, it revealed the pressure Bowles is feeling as his Bucs are freefalling after blowing a 14-point lead and failing to stop the Falcons on 3rd-and-28 and 4th-and-14 to close the game.
“It’s moments like that when a coach loses his job,” Smith said of the Bucs’ defensive failures.
“I hate that we’re talking about Todd Bowles in that fashion. Because the way he sounded with the players like, ‘Look in the mirror and understand this ain’t your job, it’s how you pay your bills. Have so more pride, etc. etc.’ Those are direct shots.
“So even outside of the cussing, outside of the profanity, the kinds of things that he said was an attack against their manhood, which means they’re showing they ain’t being the men they supposed to be as professionals. Because Todd Bowles would never, ever talk about them like that. He would never do that unless it was warranted.”
Joe gets asked all the time whether Bowles will be fired. Joe responsds the same way. “Maybe.”
Team Glazer wants to win and Team Glazer believes a path to winning includes stability. Team Glazer also had preseason expectations and goals unbeknownst to the general public and media, and those are the key pieces to the mystery.
If Bowles can’t reach the postseason, Joe suspects Bowles and his staff should be very concerned about their employment.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
The “great”Kirk Cousins has averaged a 135 passer rating the last 3 games against a bowels defense. If that’s not an indictment on him, I can’t do anything for you. “You like that”
December 13th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
It’s probably time for Licht to go as well before he early extends any more of his treasured draft picks.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
Ok one simple question?????
What has Bowles done that ANYONE THINKS he should stay????
Nothing in NY and Nothing in Tampa except division titles in a very soft division
One playoff win in how many years
WHY WOULD ANYONE KEEP HIM???
December 13th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
INTEGRITY
LOOK AT YOUR PAYCHECK ON FRIDAY AND BRING YOUR BEST ON GAMEDAY!!!!
December 13th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
I wonder what Rivers would’ve done against them if they had Indianapolis this week. Would’ve been interesting to see how he would’ve done against them in his first game back. Probably still would’ve done the same thing.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
Kirk against other teams is average at best. Kirk against a Bowles defense is Tom Brady in his historic statistical 2007 season.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
@ Tony, we would prob make Rivers look 20 years younger. Especially with the Oline the Colts have.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
One more game to go. Then this house of cards comes down for good.
We’ve now seen the same thing four years straight.
Licht should be on a hot seat as well if he does not fire Bowles after this season.
Tie their fate together and tell them it’s win or go home.
Regressing and missing the playoffs should get them all run.
No excuses play like a champion!!!
December 13th, 2025 at 3:31 pm
I think, because of his accomplishments, we’ve all hoped that Bowles would be able to have taken the next step. I also think the organization, and the fans as well, understand that coaching changes result in additional losses – and the unprecedented offensive injuries he was able to navigate earlier this season. The organization dedicated resources and time to get Todd what he needed to get that done (stopping short of the Edge we needed at the trade deadline).
I think the message is understood. The Bowles era is over. I resisted it, because of the windows of player talent we currently have available. However, this implosion is worse than anything we’ve seen under Bowles tenure. It is time to fix the problem. HOW they move forward has already begun, we’re just burning clock until we can create a target list. They will try to maximize HC candidates and player/talent, while minimizing impact to our timeline – but the path forward is pretty to those of us who have been through this before – it’s no different than what the owners had to do to Dungy and Gruden. It is unfortunately, time.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Todd Derp Bowles – Duh-yup!
December 13th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Even Schiano wouldn’t bash his players in a press conference. He would just bench them if they weren’t performing. It’s called accountability. Actions speak louder than words.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Sadly it’s not a “moment “
It’s been a torturous 3 year journey with pain losing streaks.
Nothing has changed this year… except the coaching staff unless they can get to the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP game…. and that’s not happening.
Team is simply not playing good enough!
December 13th, 2025 at 3:35 pm
Licht is hugely responsible as well for the now defunct defense. It was obvious to all that Bucs needed a great tackler with great cover skills at LB , but instead of trading for the leading tackler and glue like cover guy in Jordyn Brooks , Licht sat on his hands like he always does at the trade deadline saying we all good.
HOW GOOD IS IT LOOKING NOW LICHT?????
December 13th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
Probably time for a change. As readers of JBF, we need a new coach to hate.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:45 pm
Even though I would prefer an offensive HC, I would be happy with giving Brian Flores a shot. He looks like he would get the defense on track.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
At Todd, GM’s and Head coaches usually work in tandem, unless you are Jimmy Johnson and are a real egomaniac. So Bowels is just as calpable as Licht.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:49 pm
This is what happens with good ole boy hires. BA influenced Licht and the Glazers to promote him and they should have done more research on this guy and looked else where. Now here we are as expected. The D was ranked 30th overall last year! Explain how he got a new contract and was allowed to continue being the DC? That is a dysfunctional FO and ownership not doing their jobs.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
BINGO
Confido 75 !
December 13th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
Fire Todd
December 13th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
Licht definitely has beer goggles for his draft picks when it comes to contract renewals
December 13th, 2025 at 4:01 pm
Giving that extension to McCollum is def a firable offense!
December 13th, 2025 at 4:02 pm
One thing I came to believe about leadership from my many years in the military is that a leader is only as effective as those who he leads. And because the military (and most organizations) are pyramidal, you’re really only as effective as those who work more directly for you.
In Todd Bowles’ case, he has 3 coordinators who are key to how well this team performs: (1) OC; (2) DC; and (3) S/Ts. All 3 have continually let this team (and Todd) down this season. The irony is that Todd did it to himself.
Anointing Grizz as our OC was a mistake. One day he may be a great OC, but right now he’s shown himself to be woefully unprepared to deal with major turmoil (caused almost exclusively by injuries to OLinemen, receivers, RBs and yes, to his QB).
McGaughney as our S/Ts coordinator boggles my mind. I recognize that he was Bowles’ S/Ts coordinator with the Jets in 2014, but hey, this is 10 years later & his career has been meh to say the least. And out S/Ts performance this season pretty much verifies that.
But Todd’s biggest faux pas was dual-hatting himself as DC when he took over in 2022. MAJOR MISTAKE. Bucs’ offense & S/Ts obviously required additional attention this season. At the same time, our defense fell apart, and Todd relying on himself has had no answers. Makes me wonder now if Kacy Rodgers (Bowles’ right-hand defensive man from his Jets days) bolted for Carolina with Dave Canales 2 years ago because he saw what was coming. Our defense has been going downhill ever since.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:05 pm
McFollowum
December 13th, 2025 at 4:08 pm
He did better than expectations at first with cap budget, found Mayfield, Dave, and Coen. Was predicted to win 3 games that year. Those teams basically had HC/Coordinators on both sides of the ball. He needs elite talent around him, players and staff to raise the current ceiling. He was a bridge coach apart of the BA agreement. The time has come to be on the other side of that bridge but what was built over there last three years? Trask, Dennis,JTS, Braswell, Otton. It’s a long list of nobody’s and the upcoming Coordinators left too.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:11 pm
The problem? With being. 60 years old. And having your. Wheat in the barn. You don’t have the same drive. As 35. When you Lose your job. There might not be another head coach opportunity. Ever.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:13 pm
Bowles said a couple of years ago that the Bucs are his last stop on his NFL road. Said whenever his days with the Bucs are over, he’s done. He will retire.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:19 pm
Good Grief…This has been long time coming.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
So… if Bucs beat Panters and eeek in to division again???? Then what…We will be right here right now next year… He wins division and owners will keep.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
There is no way that Bowles should return in 2026. What will be different? Its been 4 years of the same mediocre slop. How can anyone think there will be improvement.
I didn’t like the hire in the first place – blame Arians – and I have been a “No Confidence” voter ever since.
Bowles has wasted 4 years and the prime of some player’s careers. Its time to move on.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Jason Licht is the true architect of this mess. Outside of WR and o line he can’t draft to save his job.
Time for a full cleaning of the house.
Jason Licht is a lifetime loser like Bowles. Dump em all.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Licht couldn’t draft an edge rusher if his life depended on it. But in all fairness, no GM had, since our first pick in LeeRoy. The Brady move is what made Licht. If it wasn’t for that, he would’ve been gone years ago.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Can everybody stop saying that we have the worst division we do have horrible teams but not one division can you guys really name and be like oh yeah they’re a powerhouse all around every division has weak teams cut it out
December 13th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Unless a miracle happens and they win a playoff game he can’t come back. This D is done and it needs a complete retool of most of the personnel on D. Saying that, the O line needs something as well and I don’t think just health will fix them. Baker is completely scared anymore back there every time he’s drops back, play action was really the only time he really stood in and threw good balls on Thursday. He can’t sit still and step into passes at all for the last so many weeks and his play has fallen off a cliff because of it. I don’t think Bowles commands enough respect anymore to fix all of these important things going forward. After Sundays loss to the Panthers Bowles needs to be done
December 13th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
Seat got hot in Philadelphia before they won the Superbowl.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
So many reasons to fire Bowles and no reasons not to. He is an embarrassment to this team, worst defense in the league.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:34 pm
I would love to know for certain who the bad apples are on this team. I wish Bowles would just sit them down and make it obvious.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:36 pm
@ELHEFE – SINCE TODD TOOK OVER THE REST OF THE DIVISION IS A COMBINED 71-121!!!!! FIFTY GAMES UNDER .500!!!!
THE WORST IN THE NFL!!!!!!
December 13th, 2025 at 4:36 pm
It’s been obvious his whole career Bowles is not even an average coach. Been saying it from before he got head coaching here. Remember Brady year 2 ? Miraculous come back ( offense. Yeah Todd They try to score in order to win) Home playoffs we score 70 something seconds on clock and your not” soft” defense absolutely want let other teams throw on us. Cooper Kupp. Open by 20 yards. They had no timeouts and scored in less than 1 minute. Quote “ Todd: we had a mid-communication”. Huh. What there wasn’t miscommunication it’s your pitiful mindset. Love to see Todd. Raheem. Lovie. Dumbgy. Play cards. 4 guys. All night cause none of them know how to win or even try to win. Please continue sucking so WE HAVE TO FIRE YOUR HORRIBLE ASS
December 13th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
So did Bowles say on Friday that Winfield was in proper position on the 4th down play or not? One of the posters says Bowles literally said that Vildor didn’t drop in coverage and they had practiced it all week, and he screwed up the play – Winfield was in the proper position. Sort of a big deal if Bowles did say considering there’s an article up saying Winfield was at fault for losing the game (which isn’t true in any case, Baker lost the game when he choked in the 4th quarter like it was a playoff game).
To my eye, looking at what Joe posted, it sure looked like Winfield was in the right spot since it looked like every other 3rd or 4th and long Todd Bowles zone call – where you wonder, why are people so far off the ball. That’s by design, you see it 100 times a season, and it fails about 90% of the time, yet the dummy keeps calling it. But to bag on Winfield, claim he’s a bum for doing his job is nonsense if Bowles did in fact make that statement.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Solution: Hire Gruden. The answer resides in our own town!
December 13th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
I’ve been thinking for weeks that Winfield is one of the cancers. McFollowum is another. Possibly Reddick as well. One thing I know for sure is that we will know once we see who isn’t back next year
December 13th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
If they turn around and win three straight, including two vs Carolina, Bowles should and probably will keep his job. It’s not that big of a mountain.
December 13th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
I don’t think it’ll matter who they put on that D (draft or FA) as long as they’re still in that same scheme/system. They need to get out of that. We could put Garrett or Hutchinson or somebody like that in there & if the line is dropping into coverage they’re not gonna look like themselves either. Duh. Yaya would probably have like twice as many sacks as he has now if he just stopped dropping them into coverage.
December 13th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
@View,thats so true!
These bi*ches gone bi*ch either way!
December 13th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
You KNOW its bad for the fans when the team is there heart but the team owners SUCK!
NO winning franchise would have this coaching staff in their building accept as opponents to pad their winning record…
Its a Yucks life!!!
December 13th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
@Larrd
They’re probably losing at least one more unfortunately.
December 13th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Kirk Cousins > Todd Bowles
You like that?
December 13th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
No way this defense can stop Miami, loss. No way this team beats Carolina twice. The patient is on life support. Next Sunday they pull the plug. May the season rest in peace.
December 13th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
Tony: I totally agree about the scheme/system. It has been said many times how Bowles runs a “complex” system that’s hard for players to learn…Did it look like Kirk Cousins had a hard time figuring his scheme out the last 3 times he’s played the Bucs?
December 13th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
Licht is just as responsible as Bowles. Drafting and starting rookies in the secondary, extending zyon, not doing anything about the pathetic edge rush, not getting a vet to back up aging LVD, keeping SVD as a starter. Doing nothing during the trade period when it was obvious that the defense was in trouble. Not forcing Bowles to get a DC after last year’s meltdown. Promoting a guy to OC who has never called a play at any level in his life. How crazy is that? In retrospect, Licht is no longer the GM that the Bucs need to right the ship. The GM and the entire coaching staff needs to be fired at the end of the season. Total malfeasance.
December 13th, 2025 at 7:42 pm
For those wanting Licht out. For better or for worse, he is not getting launched. Why? He will claim he brought in BA and then he reeled in TB12. Right or wrong, that is what he will point out. Baker’s pick gave the Falcons a chance and why didn’t Grizzard dial up running plays before the 2 minute warning? These hurt but it is still inexcusable that the Bucs allowed a 3rd and 28 to end up as a first down.. Do not forget Zyon having a penalty on that FG. He gave the ATL 4 points. A lot of blame to go around but it is Bowles who in the end is accountable. BTW, those wanting Baker gone, umm the team guaranteed his deal for 2026, I doubt a new coach can launch him without a big cap hit.
December 13th, 2025 at 8:23 pm
I can’t believe how right I’ve been about Bowles over several years. Looks like now he FINALLY will be replaced.
December 13th, 2025 at 8:29 pm
Kirk Cousins has thrown for almost 1200 yards and 11 TDs in those 3 games against the Bucs. Think about that for a second.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:00 pm
Oregon Buc Says:
December 13th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
I’ve been thinking for weeks that Winfield is one of the cancers.
——-
Well you’re literally a retard who thinks Baker Mayfield is better than Tom Brady, so it really doesn’t matter what you think.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:03 pm
BTW, went ahead and googled it, and yes, Todd Bowles flat out said Vildor, not Winfield, blew the coverage on the 4th down play. Winfield was where he was supposed to be, but Vildor jumped an underneath route on a 4th and 14 and abandoned his part of the zone.
Clear as day, he named names, and that name wasn’t Winfield. No idea what the agenda against AWJ is, but if there isn’t one, the Joe’s really should run an updated article and correct the record. Half the idiots in the comments think Winfield should get cut for literally doing his job properly. Want to have a problem with someone, have a problem with that moron Bowles for running such a style soft zone.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:18 pm
Pulling for Todd and the Bucs to win out and make a run. It would’ve glorious.
Also, owe an apology to Winfield. I was bagging on him hard, but he finished the game with 13 tackles.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:21 pm
I’m most pissed off st Licht and his refusal to trade for a legit pass rusher bc he’s not drafting one worth the “investiture”.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:35 pm
Rod Munch Says:
December 13th, 2025 at 9:03 pm
^^^^^^^
Todd Bowles would not name who made the “big blunder that was inexcusable” on 4th-stand-14 during the Falcons’ game-winning drive last night.
The Bucs’ head coach wouldn’t tell a reporter who asked and suggested he watch the film.
Well, the film is clear. Antoine Winfield, circled above, defined soft coverage as Kirk Cousins released the throw. Winfield was 9-plus yards away from the target. And some folks wonder why a segment of NFL think the league is rigged.
Joe swears Bowles has his defensive backs so terrified of giving up a big play that it leads to this kind of mistake — with no receiver behind Winfield.
No, Joe is not taking blame from Winfield. He’s not paid $20 million per year to pull a Division II college stunt with the game on the line.
^^^^
That is Joes post rod. Are you saying Joe knows nothing about football ?
Bowles didn’t name Vildor until afterward. I posted that perhaps Bowles was spoken to by Jason and it was suggested to him to lay off the very expensive AWJr because the bad press might affect the ability to dump him off.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:43 pm
Once again we have a case of commenters wanting to blow their horn before carefully reading what was written and what was said and when it was written and said. You’re a real football expert aren’t you rod.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:44 pm
The play calling on offense isn’t great. On defense, it is outright terrible. We don’t know when to blitz and when to drop. Really basic stuff, but this coaches can’t figure it out. Time for sure for Toilet to go.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:53 pm
Once again rod, here’s where you went wrong. You started scrolling the comments looking for someone to bully. You found something you thought you could exploit. Without knowing the facts because you failed to read and listen you you tried to impose yourself with your false confidence and fundamental lack of knowledge.
If you are going to try and bully me you had better bring a step ladder and a box lunch.
You and Melvin must be related.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:59 pm
Rod Munch Says:
December 13th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
So did Bowles say on Friday that Winfield was in proper position on the 4th down play or not? One of the posters says Bowles literally said that Vildor didn’t drop in coverage and they had practiced it all week, and he screwed up the play – Winfield was in the proper position.
^^^^
Read your own words rod. You are guilty as charged.
December 13th, 2025 at 10:42 pm
Tood bowels is a dead man walking he will be fired glazers need to nut up