How Safe Is Josh Grizzard?
January 2nd, 2026
Should Josh Grizzard start watching his back?
If the Bucs lose tomorrow, the immediate future of Todd Bowles, his staff and several players is very much up in the air.
“This Joe” finally watched Episodes 3 and 4 of “Raise the Flags” and a couple of things jumped out.
* The idea that some folks have that Malcolm Glazer called every shot the Bucs made from the day he first purchased the Bucs until he became too ill to run the day-to-day operations of the Bucs is at best misguided and at worst naïve.
* The notion some folks have that Team Glazer doesn’t really care about the team and that winning isn’t a priority, well, those same folks are sadly mistaken.
* When expectations with the Bucs are not met, especially high expectations, someone will walk the plank as a result.
Now “this Joe” believes Bowles likely is coaching for his job tomorrow. Even if the Bucs make the playoffs, “this Joe” isn’t 100 percent sure Bowles will be forced to pay the price of such a monumental collapse.
(“Should” and “will” are two very different things. And please remember, Joe’s last name is not “Glazer.”)
In Episode 3 of “Raise the Flags,” Joe was struck by a comment from Bucs’ co-chairman Bryan Glazer. He spoke about Sam Wyche crowing in 1995 that the Bucs were “5-dash-2.” Glazer said, “And then the season turned to crap.” The Bucs finished 7-9. Glazer added, “At the end of the year, we had to fire Sam Wyche.”
Well, the Bucs this season started 6-dash-2 and the season has turned to crap and, at best, the Bucs will finish 8-9, perhaps 7-10. Joe isn’t sure the Bucs had as high of expectations 30 years ago as they did entering this season.
Again, it is clear from the phenomenal documentary of the history of the Bucs that since Team Glazer became stewards of the franchise, when high expectations are not met, someone has their head lopped off.
Over the holidays, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler noted that if the Bucs miss the playoffs after starting 6-2, “someone will have to pay.” The speculation centered around Bowles. However, Fowler added, could it be Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard instead of Bowles as the sacrificial lamb.
Apparently, chatter behind the scenes among NFL team shot-callers is looking at Grizzard as the man who may sleep with the fishes.
There is talk in some league circles about the future of Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. The offense has tanked of late, and Baker Mayfield has regressed in the second half of the season. Some level of change is needed after this year’s late-season collapse, which is at least somewhat injury-driven. The Bucs are playing with third-string offensive guards, and the running game hasn’t been quite the same. Grizzard is well respected and helped former coordinator Liam Coen with game-planning last season, but the Bucs’ offense can’t stop the slide.
Well, whoever it was that believed the Bucs could get by with “third-string guards” should have some ‘splainin’ to do for that. Why was a move not made at the trade deadline to bolster the injured offensive line?
It’s difficult for Joe to believe a decent second-string guard on the final year of his contract couldn’t have been rented out. That he would have cost so many coveted third-day draft picks that his ransom was unbearable.
One key to all of this is how badly Baker Mayfield’s injuries hurt the offense. Was he injured so badly that he couldn’t throw — is that why the past six weeks Grizzard transitioned the Bucs into a pee wee football passing attack?
And if Mayfield was hurt that badly that he couldn’t throw or at least throw accurately, then why was he even on the field? Very important games the Bucs needed to win to secure the NFC South were lost by one score because Mayfield was throwing fourth-quarter picks.
Did someone with the Bucs decide the team was better off sacrificing wins just so Mayfield could protect his tough guy image and stay on the field? Does the team not trust Teddy Bridgewater? And if not, then why is Bridgewater eating up a roster spot?
Seems as if Team Glazer will have to find answers to a lot of questions in the next few days if they haven’t found the answers (and solutions) already.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:20 am
We need to bring back Bruce Arians to coach the team and maybe groom a head coach replacement.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:29 am
Grizzard was supposed to provide continuity. Instead it looks like he has struggled to call the right plays after the scripted plays that they use as was illustrated in Miami when the O went stagnant after the first drive. Other teams seem to figure out what he is calling and counter it but like Todd Bowles on D, Grizzard fails to adjust on O. Maybe he is over his head though the injuries were a mitigating factor. But injuries happen in football (see the Niners), so that lack of adjusting could get him launched. If guys like Rick Stroud are right (he is a Bowles’ apologist), Bowles could survive and fire a lot of coaches, like Grizzard as conditions for not getting canned. A new HC will probably not want Grizz either, I wonder if Grizz has reserved his U-Haul yet.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:40 am
Considering that literally every single player has regressed this season, the entire coaching staff should be let go. This isn’t working anymore.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:52 am
All I keep hearing is “how much the Glazers ‘like’ and ‘respect’ bowles.” Well guys and gal, you’re not paying a 63 year old millions to date your daughter, right? Everyone wants to like and respect the people they work with, so I’m not saying it shouldn’t be considered. But it CAN’T be the top consideration! The top consideration is: can they get the job done? And unless you consider winning the worst division in the league (by a long shot) on the last game of the season, getting bounced wildcard weekend (in embarrassing fashion), and ending up with the 19th pick in perpetuity “getting the job done,” bowles HAS TO GO!
On a side note, again not the most important thing, pretty sure you don’t end up owning 2 pro teams by not caring about money. And if the Glazers think the money is gonna keep flowing next year when 90+% of the fan base (I’ve seen this number on THREE big Bucs content creator polls now) wants him (and his WHOLE staff) gone, they need to go back to business school.
January 2nd, 2026 at 5:59 am
I hope he has inspired change.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:07 am
Comander … ‘We need to bring back Bruce Arians to coach the team and maybe groom a head coach replacement.’
BA has already groomed TWO HC replacements; they’re named Todd Bowles & Byron Leftwich. Do you really want to bring him back to shoot for a trifecta?
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:15 am
Well if we are counting there have been three collapse’s. It’s happened every year only this time we didn’t snap out of it. Three times isn’t a coincidence it’s a pattern of poor coaching.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:15 am
Sure, Mayfield has had a rough 2nd half of the season behind 3rd string guards and Wirfs missing multiple games, but the offense wasn’t on the field for 3rd and 28 or 4th and 13, weren’t the ones giving up multiple 50+ yard touchdowns in the same game, and haven’t given up almost 300+ yards of passing on a regular basis. Fire Grizzard if it makes you feel better, but the horrendous defense and the “genius” DC are the real issue that needs to be addressed.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:33 am
If the Bucs would have had a quality backup, they would have rested Baker, but the don’t and didn’t! No, the “leadership” was not protecting Baker’s tuff guy persona, perhaps it was a money issue? New contract was under review, success for Baker and the team, big payday for him but a total collapse of both, no big payday and team moves on keeping current head coach and finding a “quality replacement for Baker! It’s not personal, it’s business!
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:34 am
BOWLES Has to go,
FIRE THE
D
E
I
HIRE
GRIZZ is gone too
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:36 am
Well, Joe, you rightly bring up the undeniable fact this offense stinks. You won’t get an argument from me. At the start of this year, though, we played with a banged up offensive line also. And with guys shuffled like a deck of cards. Still…just good enough to squeak out quite a few wins.
You leave out the defense has also gone straight down the Todd Bowl too. Same story. At first they played just barely well enough to win. They too have circled the Todd Bowl and are well on their way out to sea. Firing Jizzie Grizzie won’t help the defense…much.
You also left out “special” teams. Blocked kicks. Blocked punts. Regular 40+ yard kickoff returns. No firings? Instead we just kick it through the end zone every time. Maybe Todd feels sorry for the guy because he can’t say “Do you want fries with that” in English so he might not be able to find a more appropriate job to match his skill level.
Fire ’em all and let the job market sort them out.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:41 am
And their little dog too
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:41 am
If the Glazers fire Todd, seems like a foregone conclusion that all of his coaching staff will leave with him. The incoming HC always gets to pick his staff. If not, he’d be a fool for taking the job.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:46 am
Football is fun. Our team seems to have lost their way. Nobody seems to be having any fun. 3 days after Christmas my wife and I got out of the car with breakfast casseroles and a few dozen donuts at my son’s house. Three of my sons were in the backyard playing football and 2 of my grandsons were playing catch with their own football. The three boys, aged 37 to 40, were running routes. One QB, one receiver, and one defensive back. All three work out and still play hard and fast. They were loud and competitive but man they were having fun. I joined the grandsons since I was closer to their speed. We were throwing and then those kids were punting. I got to field a few punts. Man, it was fun. But it’s more than fun. It’s traditional and runs deep. Millions and millions of folks just like us around this great country. Football and baseball have been bonding families since before we were born. To see our team then makes me feel sad. Somehow this team which always seemed to be having fun has been playing football without the joy, the passion for the game. How did that happen? Sure, Baker couldn’t scramble for 4 or 5 weeks and his arm strength was compromised. That’s no excuse. But there’s no excuse to have lost the joy of playing football, the fun that is the game. Something happened to this team that caused that. It’s more than Bowles, or Grizzard, or Baker. I have no idea what kind of changes will happen this offseason. All I want to see is these guys having fun this last game. I’ve seen this team play for each other and for the love of the game. But it’s been awhile. And I miss it. Please guys, one more game. Go out there and have some good fun.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:55 am
Not really Defense Rules, the incoming coach could choose to retain key coaches like Gruden chose to keep Monte and a lot of the defensive staff on board. In this team’s case I would guess that OL coach Kevin Carberry might be retained if he is still under contract after this season given his work in 2024 OL. Coen sure wanted to sign him this past spring. Of course, 2025 happened and now Carberry’s star is not so bright but is that due to injuries or Grizzard and are the injuries due to the training camp regiment or poor strength and conditioning?????? Lots of questions for sure but I will be interested to see where Carberry ends up if/when Bowles and Grizz get launched.
January 2nd, 2026 at 6:59 am
The Bucs had a great defense under Dungy, went to the playoffs, and they fired him. That had to be harder than firing Bowles who’s defense is a big part of the problem. Bowles won’t be coaching for his job Saturday. The Glazers won’t fire him over one game. Bowles has been coaching for his job the last 16 games. He will have a losing record for the second time in 4 years. That’s not winning. The arrow isn’t even pointing up. We asked Atlanta, N.O., and Carolina for their lunch money, instead they punched us in the nose, and rubbed dirt in our face. We are nothing in our own division. I think we’re in shock to how really bad we are. The time to rebuild was when Brady left. Way past due. This bringing it back has run it’s course. Time for maior change.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:03 am
DR didn’t say a new coach had to fire everybody. They just usually do. Kiffen being a good example of that. All three phases of our team stink. Even the trainers are questionable. A new coach probably wouldn’t even keep the waterboys
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:06 am
After watching the Raise the Flags docuseries, it’s amazing the parallels between past periods in the Bucs’ 50-year history and this year’s team. The 2011 season with Josh Freeman under center springs to mind. If past is any prelude to the future, the Glazers are likely to fire Bowles no matter how much they love the man. They loved Tony Dungy and he was fired, even after several years of good teams. But they love the Bucs more than they love any person, and they want the team to win. No way they will abide by this year’s total collapse.
Another thing that jumps out from the docuseries is how many coaches and players have passed through the Bucs organization and gone on to have great careers.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:08 am
PS. The Glazers will look like total hipocrites if they don’t fire Bowles!
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:12 am
Fred McNeil … ‘At the start of this year, though, we played with a banged up offensive line also.’
Admittedly we started off like gang-busters, but that 6-2 start could’ve just as easily been a 2-6 start if not for Baker leading FOUR 4th qtr comebacks (actually last MINUTE wins against the Falcons, Texans, Jets & Seahawks).
Baker performed MUCH better in the wins than he has in the losses. Example: in our 7 wins, he’s completed 140 of 207 passes (67.6%) for 1596 yds (average of 228 YPG), throwing 11 TDs against ZERO INTs (Bucs’ offense also fumbled ONCE in those 7 wins). Baker’s also taken 13 sacks in those 7 wins.
But in our 9 losses, the figures change considerably. He’s completed 187 of 314 passes (59.6%) for 1894 yds (average of 210 YPG), throwing 14 TDs against TEN INTs (Bucs’ offense also fumbled FOUR times in those 9 losses). Baker’s also taken 21 sacks in those 9 losses.
Baker Mayfield truly has been a Jekyll & Hyde this season. How much of that is due to his still playing while being injured versus how much should fall on our OLine problems, our new OC issues & our loss of various ‘weapons’ this season is anyone’s guess.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:18 am
Bowles sucks, his defenses have ALWAYS SUCKED(CHECK HIS ACTUAL TRACK RECORD NOT THE WHAT THE MEDIA SICKAFANTS SAY ABOUT HIM). With the jets…..garbage with the dolphins….garbage with the bucs…… HIS WORSE DEFENSE YET A TOTAL DUMPSTER FIRE! I WILL NOT GO TO ANOTHER GAME AS LONG AS BOWLES IS COACHING IN TAMPA PERIOD! ITS LIKE WATCHING A LIFELESS MUPPET BABY ON THE SIDELINES!
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:18 am
“Very important games the Bucs needed to win to secure the NFC South were lost by one score because Mayfield was throwing fourth-quarter picks.
Did someone with the Bucs decide the team was better off sacrificing wins just so Mayfield could protect his tough guy image and stay on the field? Does the team not trust Teddy Bridgewater? And if not, then why is Bridgewater eating up a roster spot?”
This Joe is asking some important questions. It all boils down to Bowles leadership and horrific personnel decisions. Keep in mind Bowles once had AW at nickel, even though he played safety in college. When they finally moved him to his natural position, he became an all-pro.
Whoever the new coach is, he will want his own roster since his career is at stake. Expect a lot of starters on both sides of the ball to not be here next season.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:21 am
FortMyersDave … You’re right that the new coach might choose to keep some of the current coaching staff. But it seems that most (like BA when he arrived) tend to want to bring in their own guys.
In the case of Tony Dungy, Chucky would’ve been a fool to fire Monte Kiffen. The defense was the heartbeat of the Bucs, and Monte knew how to run it better than anyone on earth. If Chucky had been able to do for the offense what Monte continually did with the defense, we’d probably have won several more Super Bowls.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:21 am
Maybe they should have let him call plays from the booth which was his comfort zone
It’s all such a sheet show that it’s impossible to separate the good from the bad.
We don’t know if he has had pressure from Bowels formulating the game plan
Too make things worse,I just realized that today is Friday, I thought it would all be over by 7 PM tonight…. Grrr … the torment continues
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:33 am
@itzok, you must have lost your job. LMAO! Maybe you weren’t good enough, just like you boy baker!!! LMAO!!!!
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:40 am
I don’t believe in scapegoating the bottom of the totem pole
It starts at the TOP, and it ends at the TOP
Blame Ownership and the PATHETIC Front Office for this mess
These Gullible Bucs fans can’t see the Forest for the Trees
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:42 am
SB~LV. Hahaha. Losing track of the day of the week. Shlt happens.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:48 am
How can you possibly hold Josh Grizzard accountable for anything?
He didn’t hire Todd Bowles, he didn’t put this roster together
He don’t make any personnel decisions
He didn’t sign Baker Mayfield as a free agent
Blame the people actually in charge
The Glazers and Jason Licht
They are responsible for this Crap show
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:50 am
Todd’s 3-4 defense should be put away like the throwback uniforms. and maybe not even then. Thinking back to when it was effective, we had 3 good safeties who were cross trained to play at slot, safety or even as a hybrid linebacker. But we also had very good edge rushers to harass the QB like they did with Mahomes in the
Super Bowl. Todd has been slow to recognize he doesn’t have the personnel for a 3-4
defense.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:56 am
This year’s Bucs team started 5 dash 2 as well……Fire Bowles.
January 2nd, 2026 at 7:59 am
I also think Todd is meddling in the offense. I agree too that if Baker is that hurt he shouldn’t be out there, but Bridgewater couldn’t win you a marbles game and that’s a huge problem too. Trask had to be better than that guy. Right?
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:05 am
The glazers know the answers, its their team.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:08 am
‘The notion some folks have that Team Glazer doesn’t really care about the team and that winning isn’t a priority, well, those same folks are sadly mistaken.’
Those words WILL ring hollow and ALL hype if Bowels is retained…
Absolutely pathetic and the ‘buddy system’ is the ONLY reason he keeps his job….
NO WAY any respectable, winning organization keeps a guy whose produce this poorly on the field …
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:12 am
Bucs need to address the backup QB position in the offseason. Trask was not a competent backup and Bridgewater is a washed up, jelly armed, career backup who did nothing but collect a pay check this year.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:14 am
Bring in Mike McCarthy
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:31 am
Farewell game for Josh and bowles
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:34 am
Bob in Valrico … ‘Todd’s 3-4 defense should be put away like the throwback uniforms. Todd has been slow to recognize he doesn’t have the personnel for a 3-4 defense.’
You nailed it Bob; Bucs don’t have the personnel to run a 3-4 defense.
Looking at the top defenses in the NFL this year, 7 of the Top-10 defenses run a 3-4. Of the next 10 though, it’s evenly split … 6 run the 4-3 and 5 run the 3-4. And of the last 12 NFL teams, 5 run the 3-4 and 7 run the 4-3. So overall that’s 17 teams using the 3-4 and 15 teams using the 4-3. Fairly evenly split.
One weird thing I noticed is that in the NFC South, ALL 4 teams currently use the 3-4. In the NFC North, ALL but 1 use the 4-3 (so did we when we were members of the NFC North).
Your point about having the right personnel is the key IMO (plus good coaching of course). It all starts with the pass rush, and having the ‘beef’ to keep pressure on opposing QBs. The Bucs don’t, and we’ve paid for it. You give any NFL QB time to throw, and he’ll pick you apart.
Todd’s biggest problem though has been his inability to limit Red Zone incursions to FGs as opposed to allowing TDs. When he took over as HC in 2022, our Red Zone TD % Allowed was 62.5% … our defense ranked #13 (allowed 358 pts) & we finished 8-9.
Did a lot better in 2023; our Red Zone TD% Allowed plummeted to 42.6% … our defense ranked #7 (allowed 325 pts) and we finished 9-8 even though our offense ranked #20.
Then the slide started in 2024; our Red Zone TD% Allowed rose to 54.4% … our defense ranking fell to #16 (allowed 385 pts) but we finished 10-7 because our offense ranked #4.
Our defensive slide worsened this year; our Red Zone TD% Allowed skyrocketed to 68.3% … our defense ranking has fallen further to #23 (allowed 397 pts in 16 games) and we’re sitting at 7-9 because BOTH our defense AND offense have disappeared.
The slide isn’t just ONE year, and this coaching staff has no answers. Time for a change.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:38 am
Nobody trusts Teddy.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:43 am
Kenton, nicely written about the holiday tradition of tossing the pigskin around! Fun!
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:44 am
It doesn’t take a football genius to see that this team is very poorly coached.
If the Bucs don’t make the playoffs then the Glazers need to clean house.
And lets also not forget Jason Licht’s culpability in this mess either.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:45 am
@Outrigger! Agreed. You and I are one of the few that realized that Trask wasn’t that good. He had ample time to prove himself. As far as Baker is concerned, many want to flush him out into Tampa Bay, he proved himself to be a franchise QB when he had a quality OC last year in Coen. Grizzard is over his skis clearly, in fact I consider him Byron Leftwich 2.0 with all the runs up the middle with no results. Bowles needs to be canned also. Team has become him, no fire and no passion. When you stand at podium and admit you have to kick touch backs because your coverage sucks and yet do nothing about it. McVay fired his ST coach after they lost to Seahawks couple weeks back.
January 2nd, 2026 at 8:49 am
Grizzard should have never been given the position of OC. He can’t deviate from his scripted plays and it shows later in games. Seriously, how can a guy who has never called a game in his life at any level be promoted to OC of any NFL team. It’s the pinnacle of stupidity and arrogance for Licht and Bowles to promote this guy. I can’t believe the Glazers will be able to trust Licht after this season. Grizzard needs to go.