Ben Solak Says It Is Time For Bucs To Inspire Change And Turn The Page From Todd Bowles
December 25th, 2025
Columnist calls for termination.
Well, this really isn’t in the spirit of Christmas.
In the past three weeks, Bucs coach Todd Bowles has gone from a punching bag for a loud sect of Bucs fans to the most hated man in Tampa Bay since tyrant Vince Naimoli owned the Rays.
TikTok is full of videos with Bucs fans growing hoarse hollering for the Bucs to can Bowles. Local sports radio in recent days is nothing but non-stop calls and texts for hours at a time with a singular focus: “Fire Bowles.”
Watching the Bucs’ loss to the Stinking Panthers in a watering hole in an exclusive Tampa neighborhood on Sunday, whenever FOX cameras focused on Bowles, the normally well-behaved if not well-heeled Bucs fans in this establishment began hollering and cussing and begging the Bucs to rid themselves of Bowles.
Joe has really never seen anything like it. It’s not as if Bowles is a total jackass like Naimoli was. Bowles is one of the kindest, funniest guys you can meet (no, really).
But fans are results-oriented. And they do not like Bowles. Throw in how the team has collapsed since the bye, and there are now legions of volunteers who will help Bowles pack.
That is, if the Bucs want to move on from him.
Respected NFL analyst Ben Solak of ESPN has joined most Bucs fans. In Solak’s mind, there is no logical reason why the Bucs should give Bowles a fifth-chance to get the Bucs to the Super Bowl.
Solak noted that, yes, Baker Mayfield’s sharp decline is a concern, but he’s not the Bucs’ biggest problem. No, Solak typed, the biggest problem is Bowles. Solak thinks the Bucs should inspire change and fire him because he is dragging down the team.
Coach Todd Bowles has struggled to figure out the Buccaneers’ defense for an unacceptably long period of time. While there have been reasons for poor play in various pockets over the past few seasons, a good defensive coach should eventually get a stretch of good defensive play. Over the past three seasons, the Buccaneers are 22nd in defensive success rate and 22nd in defensive EPA per play. Eight of the 10 teams below them have seen at least a defensive coordinator switch, if not a head coaching change, in that time period.
Bowles’ team philosophy is clearly reflected in how his defense has performed over this large sample. The Bucs are 26th in EPA per dropback faced but fifth in EPA per rush faced; they are 25th and fourth in the same pass/run split by success rate. Independent of player injury/matchup and team offensive performance, stopping the run at all costs has left the Buccaneers’ pass defense liable.
Without an above-average defense over the past three seasons, it’s difficult to figure out what Bowles is adding to the Buccaneers. By his own acknowledgment, the team had lost intensity and focus, and the Bucs needed to look in the mirror before the Panthers game in Week 16. They did yet lost that game. The Bucs are 30th in fourth-down decision EPA, ahead of only the Jets and the Titans. Bowles had an enormous hand in the Buccaneers’ run-heavy offensive approach this week, and he probably has had that influence for a while. In five of the Bucs’ past eight games, they’ve had run rates 10 percentage points over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats.
Directionally and in execution, Bowles is not carrying the water a modern NFL coach needs to carry.
Solak went on to type that the Bucs are a “disaster” right now, but a disaster, Solak noted, can lead to good things “if it forces necessary philosophic or staff changes.”
For those wanting Bowles gone immediately, Joe cautions that will get you nothing but a lump of coal in your stocking. Team Glazer has never had a coaching change before the end of a regular season (that doesn’t mean behind the scenes, they haven’t started a coaching search well before the end of a season). Joe has zero expectations Team Glazer will break from their practice in the next two weeks.
And Joe isn’t sure Bowles will be removed. Joe’s not saying that shouldn’t happen. Remember, Joe’s last name is not “Glazer.”
It hasn’t been that merry of a Christmas for Bucs fans.
December 25th, 2025 at 8:04 am
Coach can stay, but give up the DC responsibilities. Our OC needs help or replacement. I see the Bucs not making the playoffs. the team is a mess right now.
December 25th, 2025 at 8:14 am
His scheme requires a good 4 man pass rush and 2 super-human ILB’s, NONE of which he has. YET, he plows forward anyway
December 25th, 2025 at 8:21 am
If you’re going to criticize Todd Bowles, don’t forget to say you like him as a person first.
Those are the rules. Just saying.
December 25th, 2025 at 8:36 am
My 14 year old daughter gave me a Christmas card with Santa dumping coal on Todd Bowles and his sweater said inspire change. Literally, everyone knows it.
December 25th, 2025 at 8:41 am
FIRE TODD BOWLES PARLAY
DOLPHINS (ML)
PANTHERS (ML)
+1,200
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
December 25th, 2025 at 8:42 am
My hope is that Bowles just retires or is given a “promotion” like Bruce Almighty…
Just get him out of the way already.
At very least the Bucs should hire a DC to replace Bowles and just let Todd stand there with his arms crossed – It seems that is what he is best at.
December 25th, 2025 at 8:44 am
What the heck is ‘Inspire Change” what this means?
December 25th, 2025 at 8:45 am
His schemes and ideas just are not working. He has been been given the leeway to make them work and his time is up. Best wishes go out to Todd “Toilet” Bowles.
December 25th, 2025 at 8:57 am
bowles is bad for business he will get canned. glazers need a coach that the fans believe in to buy tickets
December 25th, 2025 at 8:58 am
First off all, I was more then surprised when Ariens handed Bowles the keys to the team – I didn‘t like the idea, ‘cause of his restrained personality. But I liked him as a DC and his sceme and hoped for the best. But the last years the productivity and development of the young players went down, a lot of players had a good 1st year a better 2nd year, but after that always followed by bad or subpar seasons (Barrett, D. White, Dean, Winfield, McCollum, Dennis, Diaby etc.). None got better. The D stats confirm that.
This is something that goes back to the head coach and his way of leading the team. No improvement, just mediocrity. This shouldn‘t be the standard for any team – not even for peewee football, let alone NFL teams.
December 25th, 2025 at 9:14 am
Shaq, JPP, Suh, Vea LVD on a front 7! Who wouldn’t have a good defense except lovie. Bowles scheme is trash because he has to have the best players in the nfl up front to have a middle of the pack pass defense. I thought Tampa is where only players came to retire but Bowles brought an entire coaching staff
December 25th, 2025 at 9:40 am
It really won’t do any good to just hire a DC. He has his hands on the offense. Hire a DC and he would definitely have his hands glued all over that too.
December 25th, 2025 at 9:51 am
the scheme is horrible and not working, it has to change whether he’s a good hc or not. as a dc he needs to go!!! …and i’ve always supported him
December 25th, 2025 at 9:54 am
If there was a Ben Johnson or (ahem) a Liam Cohen out there I’d say do it. I just don’t see a viable, long term head coach prospect this cycle. Except Curt Cignetti.
December 25th, 2025 at 9:58 am
Getting a DC would definitely help but Bowles wont relinquish those duties.
December 25th, 2025 at 9:59 am
Call it irony, prognostication, an unconscious feeling of self worth, or even an absent minded inscription to Bucs fans, but never have I laid eyes on a hoodie worn by a man who appeared to be placing an ad for his own downfall.
Yes Todd, if there ever was an inspiration for change, you embody it.
Todd claims he never reads or listens to journalistic or fan reviews on his coaching prowess, or lack thereof.
Perhaps he should!
December 25th, 2025 at 10:40 am
IF Bowles is having a hand in the offense then getting rid of Grizz isn’t the answer. I think him and Thad Lewis are still solid young coach’s but where they would fit in a coaching change is hard to figure. Please no re-tread coach’s. If Bowles stays he needs a defensive coordinator without a doubt. Matt Patricia is a good one still but he’s not a head coach. I think the draft has been one sided in favor of the offense because of where the team drafts and how it’s played out. Looked brilliant taking EE when Evans went down but then the defense couldn’t stop water from running. Injuries played a part but that’s no excuse. They have been lacking with some FA’S but I understand the % goes up on hitting with draft picks if you have more of them than FA’s. Without being inside the walls it’s tough to call but the outcome speaks for itself.
December 25th, 2025 at 10:47 am
Does anybody know if the Bucs agreement with Bruce Arians to come to Tampa had a stipulation how long they must keep Todd Bowles as head coach….They must have fulfilled that commitment by now. I think the Glazers truly are good people by being a family of their word …. A deal is a deal. I’m still miffed that they might have given a shot to Liam Coen as HC last year if it meant totally losing him to the Jaguars.
December 25th, 2025 at 10:51 am
Why wouldn’t he be removed? The defense has been relatively healthy all year and it’s still a complete mess and has been for years. Selling out to stop the run in a passing league makes 0 sense.
December 25th, 2025 at 11:12 am
Hopefully the Glazer’s bought Todd one of those 278 day cruises with a departure date of June 1 2026 for Christmas this year
Maybe even spring for a balcony room 👍👍