Todd Bowles: “It’s A Players Team”
December 16th, 2025
What is Todd Bowles saying?
Joe heard all offseason about how the Bucs have historically good leadership on the roster.
Per Bowles, that leadership drives the Bucs’ bus. When it’s very good, the team plays well.
As Bucs fans know, the Bucs were once 6-2 and now sit at 7-7.
Does that mean the leadership is failing?
Bowles said the following on the Buccaneers Radio Network this evening.
“Well, like I told them in the locker room, you know, at this point in the season you’ve seen every play offensively and defensively,” Bowles said of his message to Bucs players. “It’s a veteran team, it’s a players team. And I mean that in the way of the leadership will take us as far as we go.
“Our leadership, our veteran leadership and our older guys will take us as far as we need to go because they lead us, they follow us. The guys follow them, and what they say resonates more to players from [being] accountable on the field to each other as opposed to what the coaches say. Not that they don’t listen because they do. and it’s the coaches as well as the players. But when the players speak up and take onus of everything and they can account on each other out on the field, then you see better results.”
Joe understands the value of players communicating and leadership types demanding the most from teammates. But perhaps Bowles needs to reassess the quality of leadership on the roster what he needs to take over before it’s too late.
Of course, that’s if the problem is really on the players.
December 16th, 2025 at 8:41 pm
Sounds like he’s passing off responsibility to avoid changing his scheme. To a point, I understand what he’s saying. At the same time, I distiinctly recall him saying how this was his team and he’d do everything to do things his way when he became HC, so unless this is his way of deflecting blame for himself if he gets fired, I just don’t get why he’s not stepping up at this point. Something needs to change clearly.
December 16th, 2025 at 8:48 pm
It’s a triple digit iq sysyem. The double digits are screwing up. But, it’s been that way all year. Time to run a base system, unless Mensa is funneling a secondary to the Bucs….
December 16th, 2025 at 8:49 pm
A question from the western edge of civilization, “has Todd Bowels, after the loss of a game ever said “this loss is on me, I take full responsibility?”
December 16th, 2025 at 8:53 pm
Well it’s definitely not a coaches team so what’s left?
December 16th, 2025 at 8:54 pm
Fire Bowles!
December 16th, 2025 at 8:55 pm
I’m Spartacus.
December 16th, 2025 at 8:56 pm
Real sick of the excuses. When your Pass Defense is Putrid again and cant get off the field and is what truly is holding this team back-own it. He has hit his ceiling. It is time for Todd to go when this season mercifully ends-which will be because this Defense will crap the bed when needed most. Go Bucs!.
December 16th, 2025 at 8:57 pm
Then let the leaders call the defensive play you dooosh!!! I guarantee pass rushers wont be pass covering the middle of the field and linebackers wont be playing cornerbacks….what a crock of BS he has become!!!
He knows its over now….he’s throwing everyone under the bus….get this idiot out of here already, GEEZE Jason!!
December 16th, 2025 at 8:57 pm
Dereliction of duty? Sounds kinda smelly O’l yeller dog used to indicate this sort of urgency, sometimes (usually after dinner)
Man, Chris Thomas would have had a field day with this.. Sound effects and all!
WDAE was the so funny back in the day. Fortunately they saved that tapes!
December 16th, 2025 at 8:59 pm
The only thing I can say is the players / leaders have been hollering for 3-4 weeks now and it does not seem to help the outcome. So do they really listen and take accountability to their own leaders in the locker room?
I doesn’t seem it. It should not have to get to a point like this. Like the great Monte Kiffin said, I am paraphrasing, just do your job and do it well and let the next guy do his, if everyone does their own job the defense will work. Same goes for the offense, if everyone is accountable for their assignments and reads the ship moves in the right direction.
December 16th, 2025 at 8:59 pm
Huh? What he said made no sense.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:06 pm
Well, he’s not wrong……Everyone is getting paid millions to play a kids game. Guys with a “C” on the jersey get paid to do more. Time for the “C” suite to step up or step out… GO BUCS!!!!
December 16th, 2025 at 9:07 pm
Todd’s Meet the Spartans moment!
.. guess things aren’t that great in Michigan either these days either. (could be worse)
The Attack without mercy is now the only other rational option
December 16th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
Then we won’t miss him when he’s gone.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:29 pm
Makes alot more sense now why he never takes responsibility for anything. He feels as though its not actually his responsibility for what happens on that field.
Apparently no matter what play he calls, it only fails if the players on the field fail the rest of their teammates. If all else fails, put on the resting dumb face on the sidelines and act like you have no earthly idea whats happening in front of you.
This guy would need to be surrounded by HOF level assistant coaches to succeed. He isnt raising the level of any of those players on the field any time soon. The more he talks, the more the product on the field makes sense to me.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:34 pm
A lot of good points here. I think Coach Bowles is passing the blame. He doesn’t want to take responability for his coaching malfunctions. He tries to defend his D coaches at all costs. Most of his coaches on the D are too soft
December 16th, 2025 at 9:35 pm
Todd retired. It’s all on the players now. Defense reports to themselves. Offense reports to Grizz. It’s been that way since bye week. There vets now.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:37 pm
I can’t believe that Todd would be dumb enough to continue to bury himself with this BS. Well, he’s gotten away with it thus far…….
December 16th, 2025 at 9:38 pm
Anyone notice Nick Emmanwori’s play this year as a rook? I remember pushing hard for us to get him and then get a WR 2nd.
Man, he wouldve excelled great in this scheme…plays CB, SS, and LB….might be a candidate for DFROTY. Oh well, Im not todd or Jason.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:40 pm
Please let there be no Grizz next year. Cohen felt the pulse of his offense. Whatever Grizzard is feeling is not translating to success.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:45 pm
Once again he’s back to refusing to accept responsibility! What a sorry state of affairs!
#noconfidence
December 16th, 2025 at 10:14 pm
The real answer comes over the next few games. And then the playoffs. One and done probably won’t cut it for Todd after three straight years of mid season swoons.
Sadly they’ve figured out Special Teams. Just kick the ball into the end zone and give up the 35 yards instead of risking the other guys taking it to the house.
Punting…keeping fingers crossed.
LEADERSHIP? Who are the guys leading. Most of the leaders have been on the last Bucs SB team they clearly know what it takes to win. Trying to teach or share that with others doesn’t always work. It’s not just the leaders it’s the followers. The entire defense looks in disaray.
The middle of the D is gone. LVD is holding best as possible with heart and savvy but his wheels seem to be gone. SVD was never a cover guy. Guys are getting wide open because this group of players cannot master Todd’s zone d’s.
It’s time to match up and at least get beat and not simply confused.
I honestly do not know how this all ends. But I’m a very happy camper. Frustrated for sure but also grateful to be three games from the end of the season with the playoff in the Bucs grasp and the team finally getting healthy.
Let’s hope the Falcon’s loss embarrassed the guys so throuroughly tthey come ut with their hair on fire against the Panthers.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:39 pm
We all saw the P-Poor defense this Bucs’ team put on tape the last several games. It’s a combination of poor scheme AND bad players who don’t seem to be able to make big plays when they’re needed. This defense has fallen from #7 ranking in 2023 (allowing 19.1 PPG) to #16 in 2024 (allowing 22.6 PPG) to #24 in 2025 (allowing 25.3 PPG). That’s a MAJOR FAIL.
Saddest part is that this coaching staff has no answers. Without Baker’s last minute comebacks in FOUR games early in the season, we’d be 3-11 right now instead of 7-7. I like Todd & I’ve backed him until recently, but if you’re the HC and you don’t have any answers, you’re the wrong man for the job.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:40 pm
stpetebucsfan. Thank you for some rational thoughts.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:52 pm
Hey Defense Rules welcome to the Party! You are a little late However. It has been apparent really since he has been here that Bowles is not a Winner as a Coach. His forte is Defense and they are Putrid against the pass and have been for awhile. Not sure if you noticed. lol It is Time!
December 16th, 2025 at 11:38 pm
God bless all the fans that are patient and want to see the next three games.
I commend you for that. Let’s play it out tho:
Based on what you’ve seen the last 6 games, what do you truly think the best outcome is? Is it three wins? Is it 2/3?
Let’s say either of those come to fruition and you get the home playoff game? It’s likely Seattle or maybe the lambs or 9ers. What do you think will happen there?
If you authentically think this team can win 2/3 next games and not get stomped in the WC game at home, more power to you. I give you the maximum fan positivity award.
Or maybe it’s that you can’t really ask yourself that question.
Either way, I hope you’re right and I’m wrong.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:43 pm
Obvious Says:
If you authentically think this team can win 2/3 next games and not get stomped in the WC game at home, more power to you. I give you the maximum fan positivity award.
———-
It 100% depends on what Baker does.
If he catches fire, the Bucs can outscore anyone.
If he plays like he’s been playing, the Bucs won’t make the playoffs.
Time is running out for Baker and his desire to get $50M+ a year, he needs to perform. BUT, if he does get hot, that can carry you a long ways.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:49 pm
What an absolute crock.. there’s only one other person I know who talks this kind of gibberish and puts everything on someone else.
December 17th, 2025 at 12:20 am
In short “I have lost the locker and need my vets to step up for me. I don’t know what do.”
Read between the lines
December 17th, 2025 at 1:43 am
Sorry Joe but I am no longer buying much of what Todd is selling. Players team? What does that even mean? Deflecting is a popular word these days…
We definitely have some players who are ignoring coaching! Leader? Those are dudes who will get in the offenders grill! Sapp I miss you big man. Some of our dudes will not be here next year.
Go Bucs!
December 17th, 2025 at 1:49 am
Todd is unaccountable, he has never manned up and said that he has made cruccial errors. It is always on the players and the mistakes they make. While the players have indeed played poorly on defense, part of the problem is that Todd stubbornly tries to force the square peg into the round hole by continually going with a scheme that requires intense pressure on the QB. The Bucs do not have that and the QB has the time to torch the soft D making the secondary players look like fools and loafers. Some have probably gotten fed up with the bad scheme and quit, sure it is a bad mentality but isn’t a lot of the blame on Bowles for not adapting one iota? Other platforms mention Vea and others mad at Reddick, I get that, but I also can say that a player angry about a 3rd and 28 getting converted could be shouting about the ineffective players on the Buc D but also on the shoddy play calling which led to the collapae and that is on Bowles.
December 17th, 2025 at 1:52 am
Coach, if you can’t rely on the players, it’s time to consider sitting guys that don’t fulfill their responsibilities.
Go Bucs!
December 17th, 2025 at 3:07 am
On the day they hired Bowles several years back, my Joe Bucs Fan comment was FIRE BOWLES YESTERDAY!!
Just sayin I told ya so…
December 17th, 2025 at 3:15 am
It’s clear the scheme is too much for the personnel. He refuses to or is not wise enough to adjust. He’s gotta go. He’s delusional.
December 17th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Cleanhouse, he needs to go, and so does Licht. It’s time.
December 17th, 2025 at 8:06 am
stpetebucsfan – Good to see you! I am grateful that we have three more games, three more chances to win. The rest is icing on the cake!
December 17th, 2025 at 8:43 am
I believe with all 4 WRs healthy we still have a shot to put up a ton of points down the stretch.
As we all know what will the defense do? Probably give up 1 more point then we score.
I truly believed pre-season when Todd said he took a look at the defense and had something he finally identified that we would be a good team this year.
Now I’m wondering if what he identified is that he has no clue what he is doing?
What a major magic trick it has been for him to keep us all believing.
Soft coverage never changes
LB play covering RB/TE never changes
Pass Rushers dropping in coverage never changes
Prevent Defense still allowing a TD in 1:45 seconds never changes
Please Please Please let’s move on!!!!!
December 17th, 2025 at 8:47 am
Going back to the days when our young bucks were Lynch, Sapp, Brooks, and Barber, we had the ultimate alpha dog warden Hardy Nickerson patrolling the locker room and field showing these guys how it’s done. He would kick anyone’s butt who didn’t toe the line. We saw the results of that leadership in those guys for years. Later, we had Suh & JPP along with Brady laying down the law. Since then, nothing of the sort. We need an infusion of ‘Those Guys’. Poor Lavonte David is a man in the wilderness on this putrid defense. Next year with a new head coach, if Licht wants to keep his gig, he better use every single draft pick on defense along with every free agent acquisition or trade on this defense and get us ‘Those Guys’!
December 17th, 2025 at 8:49 am
It’s difficult to understand what motivates a player. Tom Brady was the leader of the pack in the NFL. You’ll probably will never see that again in our lifetime. So what will Mayfield be? He’s wired differently from Brady but nevertheless he can be a leader by example.
Apparently he is injured and we don’t know the exstant of his injury. The next couple of games will be Tampa’s defining moment.
We seen what a Devin White can do to a team. Apparently TB motivated him and when gone White was taking down a team.
We will know if the Bucs will perform or the instagatirs like White implode the team. This will fall on Bowles and Licht to take action. But one one way or another the Glazers will have the final say.
December 17th, 2025 at 9:51 am
Sooooo radio still not taking any accountability shocking
December 17th, 2025 at 2:23 pm
That was a hot plate of meaningless coach speak, with a side of deflecting accountability from the coaching staff.