Todd Bowles Accepts Responsibility
December 14th, 2025
Points finger at himself.
Joe reads and hears the following a lot and Joe just doesn’t get it.
Joe reads comments a lot on this here corner of the interwebs claiming Todd Bowles never takes accountability. That is a weird statement. All too often, Joe hears Bowles say, “We’ve got to coach it better… ” In fact, it’s such a frequent comment Joe groans when Bowles says it.
So how exactly is that not accepting responsibility? Is he supposed to throw himself in front of a train?
Bowles made it clear in his day-after presser — using the word “me” while taking responsibility once again for his defense blowing chunks all over Team Glazer’s feet.
Bowles did this while admitting that he’s also frustrated.
“Very frustrating thus far,” Bowles said of his defense. “You can do it all right in practice all week. You can do it in the game right four out of five times and on the fifth time, we don’t play it right, and that’s frustrating.
“That’s very frustrating as a coach – very frustrating as a player, I’m sure – but we’re all in this together.
“So, it starts with me. I’ve got to do a better job. They’ve got to do a better job, and we have to somehow scratch and claw and find a way to make this thing work.”
There. How’s that for accountability?
But Joe guesses between now and the end of the season, Joe will read how Bowles doesn’t accept responsibility a hundred times.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Good. Now resign. And take Licht with you.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
It’s the same exact thing year in and year out year out with this regime. Hot start, middle season swoon. Then race to finish. When you have coached, you usually have a track record on how your teams perform.
It’s just this year, I don’t see a strong finish. The defense is total crap, the front 7 needs to be blown up an totally rebuilt.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Joe is here just losing credibility
December 14th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Saying something over and over and over and over is not taking accountability Joe. Actually taking the actions to improve is accountability. Sorry to burst your bubble.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
Now if he benched said players who aren’t doing their job, that would be accountability.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:09 pm
I like Todd Bowles. It’s too bad his ideas about how an NFL defense should work leads to such bad outcomes for the Buccaneers. He’s been here 4 years now and the team loses every other game.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
I would LOVE for him to allow someone else to call the defense. For way too long now the same issues have happened during games. New players and old players making the same mistakes. Play calls not being aggressive enough or just simply too passive. The only true constant is him calling the plays. Let someone else do it and see if the results are the same. He’s too stubborn with his scheme and with him being the coach as long as he’s been these are the guys he picked. He seems like a good guy but I think he doomed himself with his loyalty to under performing players and coaches.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
How about not trying so damn hard to make the players like you. Be a leader. Chew some ass. Instead of practicing and deep film study he gave the team the entire week off during the bye. The Bucs haven’t been the same since. The message was read loud and clear by the players. “If you don’t care, then we don’t care”.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
It’s more about him holding players accountable, that is his job to make sure everyone does their job and if they don’t, they need to be benched or lose their job…
December 14th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
Yeah Joe so what! If Bowles takes credit then it means he doesn’t give a sht about this team. week after week saying”we gotta coach it better” means this “I know I don’t do my job right but I ain’t leaving or resigning or hiring someone else to do better” because “I don’t a give a sht bout this team that I fcked over” BOWLES HAS TO GO, he is responsible, and he knows he is and he does not care about the team, he only cares about his paycheck and outsized ego. Even Joe is pissing me off at this point.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
That last paragraph was damage control; an attempt to mitigate the embarrassment he caused the organization in his post game tirade. He does not truly believe that he is the problem.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
I get it Joe but my thing is taking accountability is irrelevant. I don’t like to be told sorry over and over or it’s my fault. I know it’s your fault i want you to fix the problem. At some point if somebody kept making the same mistake you would simply remove them from the equation.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Yes absolutely he accepts responsibility and admits his frustration, and as a coach who wouldn’t be frustrated . As I have said a few times he is not the only culprit. However, while Licht owns rresponsibility and the players not playing or r do to not enough talent, lack of effort or all, it is always the head cosch who falls on the sword. It will be the coach who has to get rid of the dead weight and that list may be growing. It appears a complete overhaul of the defense will need to take place.
Bowles knows it and likely knows 3-28, 4th and 14 will cost him his job. Unfortunate, but I don’t think the team recovers from this. How could they? , it would take a complete change of attitude to start, which only seems to get worse not better.
We only thought the loss to the Saints was bad. This game puts us back to a laughing stock of the NFL
December 14th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
I mean Schiano for Christ sakes said the same thing in everyone of his press conferences. “We have to coach it better”. What did that equate to on the field, squat! It’s the most overused cliche in sports. Give me a break.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Going from what SR has said, it sounds like the Bucs do walkthroughs over actual practices a lot of the time, that’s a huge red flag.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
The NFL is a socialist machine and readily accepts repetitive, failure. Just like all the toxic judges, forcing us to deal with it in our society. The people i/ the fans are the ones that suffer…………….. not every team can be a winner, however, every team can have accountability !! when you’ve got all these experienced players and plates and you can’t run a defense there is no more excuses……… oh yeah, I forgot the fans keep buying the tickets, the team value keeps going up, so the ridiculousness will probably continue. 🌈🍦🦋
December 14th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
Sorry yes a few typos.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:22 pm
You don’t think Bowles has 100% say in who Licht drafts on D? It’s both their fault, and Licht street cred is running out from the Brady signing.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
You’re only allowed a certain number of practices.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
Great…..is he gone yet?
December 14th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
That’s not accountability Joe. That is simply a rote, BS response!
December 14th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
So what? Does it matter?
December 14th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Let’s reunite with Shanny. Make it happen Glazers, you did it with Gruden, you can do it again. He can get blood from a turnip. He took Jimmy G to the SB for gods sake. Hoping for it. Your favorite word Joe
December 14th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
Saying, “It’s on me” is a common theme among NFL coaches after a loss.
So what?
In a results driven league we want positive results, not apologies.
In the history of team-sports, has taken the blame for a loss overturned a single outcome?
Blame is a funny thing. You are honored for accepting it, but it doesn’t change a thing.
I’d rather have a coach who implemented changes. Instead we see the same thing every week. Opposing receivers remain wide open and our defensive backs spend more time trying to figure out where they should be instead of just playing football.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
At least Bowles and Schiano have that in common. They say the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. I will hope it finally shows results against the Panthers next week. Sound ok to you Joe?
December 14th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
Really Really!!!!!!
December 14th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Poor Todd. He’s getting out coached and still doesn’t realize it. Sad…
December 14th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Which episode in the new documentary is about our loser fans?
LOL!
December 14th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
NorthgaBucs Says:
It’s more about him holding players accountable, that is his job to make sure everyone does their job and if they don’t, they need to be benched or lose their job…
————————————————————————————–
In a normal business, that IS how it would work. if you don’t do your job, the GM would show you to the door with a pink slip.
It’s not as easy in the NFL when some of these players have a huge guaranteed income with multi-year contracts.
Most Bucs fans were happy when Winfield was extended with a huge contract. But now that he’s not living up to his expectations, you can’t do that without a huge dead salary cap penalty.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
There is an ocean sized difference between we and me. Taking responsibility is not spreading the blame amongst us or we. Pointing your crooked booger picker back at yourself as the Head Coach and saying “I”, or “me”, thats accepting responsibility. Until now, he’s been sharing it. Unless of course by we, he means him and the defensive coordinator. Maybe that’s is. Is there anything less than no confidence?
#noconfidence
December 14th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Not sure why this is even a discussion. Todd saying he accepts responsibility means nothing without action.
Same awful scheme is rolled out every single week.
Won’t bench anyone.
Refuses to fire underperforming coaches.
Joe – next time he says “we have to coach it better,” how about you ask for specific examples of what that means, what he’s doing differently.
December 14th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
I support Todd Bowles and his coaching staff. I think we’ll win the NFC south. Let’s go Bucs.
December 14th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
I hate to break it to him but his players aren’t even close to “getting it right 4/5 times”
NOT EVEN CLOSE
December 14th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
I think he was told to say that by someone who can fire him.
December 14th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
If we had any depth on this roster he could bench some of these guys. Problem is – who do you go to. The guys that look like they’d rather be someplace else.
#1 – Winfield: Checked out when he got his Bag of $$$
#2 – McCollum: Never had the talent to begin with. Now has a Bag of $$$.
#3 – Reddick: Got his $14m and at 31 plays like it.
#4 – Hall: Makes a play every third game. Same guy all four years.
#5 – Diaby: In year 3 still trying to figure it out.
#6 – Dennis: Not a starter. Maybe good special teams guy.
#7 – Morrison: Looks confused most of the time.
December 14th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
Now that the lipstick has been put on the pig things look much better.
December 14th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
As a coach I am sure he reviews the tape several times along with the coaching staff. The “I” and “we” are functionally the same. Hence, his post disaster remarks a day later.
Todd has demonstrated that he cannot wear the dual responsibility of HC and DC well. He should have realized this and found another DC. It is probably too late for that now.
Go Bucs!!
December 14th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
For HC- good offensive minded coach in a offensive league.
For DC- Vic Fangio, or Steve Spagnola type.
For GM- someone cut from cloth of Howie Roseman.
December 14th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
So what? Todd admits he’s somewhat responsible. What’s he done to fix anything? Players under Todd regress. Why? Coaching. Todd clearly hasn’t entered the 21st century NFL. He is frustrating, energy zapping person and out of a job three weeks from today.
December 14th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
It is possible the bucs eek in to division title again…If so he will be Baaaaack.
December 14th, 2025 at 2:35 pm
Since Vildor isn’t playing the best, whatever happened to Bryce Hall? Hasn’t played all year to my knowledge, is he still with the team? I’m all for benching guys who are NOT playing up to par and are making mental mistakes. I liked mixing in Deion Jones to add LB speed but hopefully Tykee is back for the final 3 games. Offense should score against the Panthers / Dolphins; it’s the D not giving up the goods I’m concerned about.
Bring in hungry guys Todd, even if they’re on the practice squad currently AND get Baker to get rid of the ball and stop taking sacks.
December 14th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
I literally never get why anyone cares about someone saying they want others to say they “accept responsibility.” Who the F cares if someone says that or not, it’s a completely meaningless statement unless it comes with action. If you’re one of the saying “he doesn’t accept responsibility” – you’re a dullard.
December 14th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
This team went into the bye week 6-2 every time they start losing fans say the roster sucks EVERY YEAR. Then Every offseason say this is out year GTFOH. This team has enough talent to beat the saints and the falcons. 9-5 instead of 7-7 and no one is complaining
December 14th, 2025 at 3:05 pm
Who cares. Fire him already.
December 14th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
There IS NO “I” in “WE”! This man has NEVER taken “Direct Responsibility” for ANYTHING, EVER!
And Joe’s ….. The word play is weak. Please! Then just go ahead and pretend whatever you like there “Joe”, but the lengths you’re PERSONALLY bothering to attempt to convince is sad.. It smacks of Desperately trying to get Bowles approval. I just don’t know why this particular “Joe” is so enamored with Bowles, but you’ve bought him cover for years. You’re Not pulling it over eyes now however. PROVE IT!
This particular Joe I challenge you to produce #1…. Just ONCE that Todd Bowles has SAID THE WORDS “I AM RESPONSIBLE” FOR….. Any Instance that HE “Personally takes Responsibility” in which Does Not include others… “WE IS NOT, I”!
And Good Luck with that. I’ll wait for you to produce it. I don’t think I’ll be holding my breath though….
December 14th, 2025 at 3:21 pm
If you are the HC you should have both the authority and responsibility.
December 14th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
For those whom it doesn’t bother that someone doesn’t the “integrity” and STRENGTH of personal conviction to call themselves out are the WEAKEST OF HUMANS!
PATHETIC WORMS that crawl around on their bellies like the Slimey Low Life creatures that they ARE!
I see that some worms are crawling around right now. NO courage of conviction. NO guts. NOT worth listening to because they ARE the lowest lifeforms after all.
Anybody who’s “to good” doesn’t have friends or respect from anybody. They are PURE COWARDS through and THROUGH!
December 14th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
I like Todd, however this is sort of half accountability. I agree he isn’t fully to blame. It’s Special Teams coach, Jason, Grizz, and others including some of the players. And maybe they have been addressed internally. It does sound like he is ready to fight now.
Agree with Big Red. We could win the NFC South. Go Bucs!
December 14th, 2025 at 3:54 pm
Amazing./s I don’t see the usual old time Buc fans on here. Watch the Bucs win. Then what?
December 14th, 2025 at 4:20 pm
Here’s how Bowles fixed the 50+ yard kickoff return dilemma. Coaching up players? NO! Reworking execution plan? NO! Benching under performers for other more hungry backups? NO! For kickoffs we’ll just kick into end zone so they can automatically start at 35 yard line. This is not coaching this is surrendering. Does he know how to fix problems? I don’t think so, I think he relies on the players to fix themselves! Heck that worked for McLaughlin didn’t it! Not so much with the middle of the secondary, the Linebacker coverage, the missed tackles, the edge containment, and edge rushing!!!!! Then there’s the defensive scheme in general. Every team shows up in Tampa looking to pass…Todd Bowles, when all else fails try something different!!! It’s the old saying … Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!!!
December 14th, 2025 at 4:20 pm
orlbucfan – the big thing is these people rooting for the Bucs to lose because they think it means Bowles will get fired. I keep bringing it up, but I’m not so sure, not with Bakers deal guaranteed next year, I’m not so sure they’d want to bring in a whole new system with Baker still here, plus likely Evans is still here, etc. They might want to just ride it out one more season with some changes on the defensive staff, and removing play calling from Bowles.
December 14th, 2025 at 4:37 pm
Fire Todd
December 14th, 2025 at 4:44 pm
Consequences too ..
December 14th, 2025 at 4:45 pm
Touchdown Panthers, yes yes yes
December 14th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
He is still feeding a line of bull there.
He thinks the D is doing it right 4 out of 5 times a game!? Only the 5th time burns them? Hahaha without the penalties on Thursday his D maybe “did it right” and got a stop 1 or 2 of 5.
December 14th, 2025 at 6:21 pm
Baker is 1-9 in prime time games that’s not a franchise quarterback..
December 14th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Accountability goes through the entire building. Everyone has it, not should have it, DOES have it. Todd is the mouth piece for the team and frankly has not called them out as much has he has recently, that is not throwing the players under the bus, try sticking to the facts. It is most definitely on the players to perform, not the coach’s. Been in the locker room and seen guys check out and sometimes it’s very hard for others who haven’t to keep from kicking their a**es. But this isn’t college, these are grown up’s with real life contracts. Sometimes the coach’s really do suck, such as the ST coach, BUT, if there is a lack of talent to do the job what choice does he have? Should he be fired mid season? There is still a chance they can get to the playoff’s, but I don’t think they will, or win the division. IF they do I think it’s another 1 and done and that seals the fate and there will be some/ should be some serious housecleaning, maybe Licht included. I don’t know who has checked out, but the tape sure doesn’t lie so the players need to be called out. Maybe even fined. Heavily. Like everyone else here I share the frustration, especially how we looked heading into the bye. What I do see is a total meltdown for the 3rd year in a row and as I typed before that can’t happen again with this staff.
December 14th, 2025 at 6:43 pm
Yes Todd, we know it’s your responsibility. That’s why we’re pissed.
December 14th, 2025 at 7:23 pm
There’s a very big difference between “we” and “me”…it’s good to see this
December 14th, 2025 at 9:07 pm
It’s all well and good to say you accept responsibility. It’s another to actually accept responsibility. That involves changing what doesn’t work and Bowles has proven time and time again that he’s not going to change his game plans. He is, after all, the GURU! Time for a mutiny.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:33 pm
Throw your team under the bus and say you don’t know what to do is not accepting responsibility
December 14th, 2025 at 10:03 pm
Bowles isn’t the only problem with this team, but he is responsible for the team’s overall success. I hate it when guys say, “we have to do better”. No kidding. More action, less talk. Either you got it or you don’t.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:09 pm
It’s a lot of responsibility for the head coach .. not making excuses but let’s be honest .. he leads and is in charge of 200 plus personnel. In the moment it’s easy to say the defense blew it. The quarterback threw a pick .. easy to point a finger. Just remember every time you point a finger you have 3 pointed back at you. Look at the stats and let that point to the problem.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:50 pm
Couch Bowels refuses to make changes & adjustments. Coaching staff etc, etc, He is by far very stubborn coach. What has improved absolutely nothing. When Atlanta had the ball last I knew it was over. Licht has to take some of the blame too. They have a lot of work to do for 2026.
December 15th, 2025 at 12:37 am
Bowles isn’t accepting responsibility if he’s not specific about how he screws-up. He’s never specific, and the general statements as: “The coaching has to be better, too,” he know just serves to actually make him look better; like it’s “big” of him to include himself in the media blame-game. But, he’s admitted nothing…you’ll notice.
Bowles, personally blew the last two games; and in his special and typical way.
What highly-paid dumba$$ “protects” a mere two-touchdown-lead, starting in the third quarter; by playing pull-back, zone defense so extreme that it allows the opposition to play pitch and catch, straight down the field for an easy touchdown?
Does Todd ever mention anything like that, Joe?
Joe!?
…Hello! ….Joe…???
December 15th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Licht is absolutely not the problem. The team has been a train going off the rails since Bowles replaced Arians. A lot of that has been the conga line of offensive coordinators. Bowles is a defensive coach, and year after year the Bucs defense is getting worse.
Any life in the offense can’t be attributed to Bowles, but honestly there isn’t much life there anyway. If the NFC South wasn’t a joke, Tampa would not have made the playoffs in the last two seasons.
As for the Saints and Falcons games that Tampa should have won? Officiating has been a black stain on the NFL since sports gambling was legalized, and it’s getting worse. Some of these close games have gone the way they have due to how they effect the payouts, it’s a guarantee. I think Tampa might have gotten some of these in their favor too, much as I prefer an outcome where they win.