Ira Kaufman Talks Season Finale, Evaluating Jason Licht, The Elephant In The Room, And More

January 4th, 2026

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The autopsy on the 2025 season begins!

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19 Responses to “Ira Kaufman Talks Season Finale, Evaluating Jason Licht, The Elephant In The Room, And More”

  1. Matt Luckett Says:

    Good Riddance to the all time collapse. can’t say I’ve enjoyed it but I’ve enjoyed the Joes and Ira! Thanks for all your coverage and insight into our Buccaneers. Falcons have fired Raheem and Gm… let’s see what glazers have in store for us…

  2. Told You Says:

    It’s past 9pm, has Bowles been fired yet?

  3. Dew Says:

    Atlanta fired Raheem

  4. Rob5 Says:

    You guys {joe} do remember they were playing in the rain for
    most of the game right? so much so that ME took off his gloves..

  5. DailyRich Says:

    Still seems like we got worse the healthier we got.

  6. Tucker Says:

    Todd isn’t getting fired wtf it’s a bucs life incredible.

  7. BayouBullet Says:

    What the hell did I just listen to. More arguing about Kancey than about the biggest collapse in buccaneers history. Unbelievable
    That’s not what you listened to. –Joe

  8. Aqualung Says:

    PS – referring to Todd as “The Elephant” has more than one meaning in this case.

  9. Herbiebuc Says:

    The same excuse the joes give shanahon how come Bowles don’t get that beneifit of the doubt? Todd won a Super Bowl as well
    ?? Joe refernced that Kyle Shanahan has been head coach in 2 Super Bowls. He’s got an 8-4 record in the playoffs.
    Bowles is 1-3. –Joe

  10. MelvinJunior Says:

    At least the Falcons GM’s last draft made him look like a friggin GENIUS when compared to LICKT’s entire offseason. 💯 You can’t continue giving him a PASS just because he HAPPENED TO have a close ‘personal’ relationship with B.A. and the BRADY came in an entirely changed the CULTURE. Because, that would be RIDICULOUS. 12-YEARS is plenty long ENOUGH. 93-104. This franchise is in desperate need of brand new leadership, beginning at the TOP. It’s time to MOVE-ON from the PAST and this whole “Buddy-Buddy” System. It’s OVER. They completely BOTCHED the entire Cohen situation, THEN EXTENDED Bowles. It’s time for this franchise to finally, do something BOLD. Or, we will just continue getting the same results, AND the rest of the division will leave us by! Then, they’ll LOSE all their fanbase to Jacksonville, especially in and around the Orlando Metro Area. Just THINK… When The JAGS start playing their home games at “Camping World” Stadium for an entire SEASON (or two), while they are renovating their home stadium. They’ll be calling “ORLANDO” home, and they’re going to take FULL-ADVANTAGE of it, too!!!! GUARANTEED. And, you already KNOW-IT. So, as “John From St. Louis” would say on PAWL Finebaum… “Wake Up And Smell The Coffee.”

  11. MelvinJunior Says:

    It’s been nothing but all “Smoke & Mirrors” living within this current, ‘historically’ WEAK NFC South Division. Most Fans really don’t even have a clue, just HOW BAD it has been over the past 4-SEASONS. It’s TIME to wake TF UP and snap out of it! Some of us have NOT been fooled (for the most part LoL).

  12. Joe in Michigan Says:

    The last game of the season, I see Yaya Diaby out in coverage, not only does he give up the reception, he misses the tackle. Typical Todd Bowles boo-boo defense.

  13. heyjude Says:

    “Coach watch” for sure! And not just ours. It is already heating up.

    The last game was more excitement. I think most of us felt the vibe early on.

    Unfortunately, when a team has to wait to count on another team losing or winning to make the playoffs it isn’t a great way to operate. Disappointed; I was another one that thought we would win eleven games.

    Reddick was a mistake. He was not the answer, but he isn’t alone.

    Agreed, owners do want a solid culture, no drama queens in the locker rooms. We have had that culture for a long time. However, I remember the disruptive ones. AB being one. And he helped us get a Super Bowl. What would have happened if we did keep him?

    Houston Texans will be the team to watch too. What worries me is that they could use a great wide receiver though. I am worried we could see Mike leave.

  14. Kenton Smith Says:

    Coen and Canales in the playoffs. And we’re not. Ooh. Ouch. Looks like Bowles has an amazing coaching tree. To think we lost to the Saints, Panthers, Falcons, and Dolphins. In a row. Wow. Not worth debating whether it was the offense or defense. Total team effort. Or lack of I should say. We had a good team and then we didn’t. We weren’t even good our last game. I’m gonna take a break from commenting on my favorite website and podcast. But I’ll be reading most everything you guys write, and me and Junebug are hooked on our podcast. I really thought Baker had found a place to call home. Thought Bowles was the best fit. But this last month he has tried everything he can to keep his defense off the field. And to keep his special teams off the field. And finally fear of losing with our offense on the field. Every time he gets a chance to play aggressively he punts. That these last 5 games they have all gone down to the final drive. I think Sage and DR are probably right. We just don’t have the horses. Especially in the trenches. We have gotten our a$$e$ whipped on both lines of scrimmage for the last 6 weeks. Won’t win many games like that. And it’d be nice to know the unknown with what went down with this team somewhere along about the Detroit game. Thanks for the great reporting this year, all 3 of you guys are great. Patience is hard earned. And this season tested that.

  15. Ed Says:

    “If we don’t have the horses”? That’s on the GM. “The Glazers are paying Mike Evans and Chris Godwin millions of dollars and they only have one catch”? That’s on the play caller and head coach. These coaches are paid to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers.

    Bowles failed in every way possible to do the improvable. Lose 4 consecutive games in December when one more win and you are a playoff team and your job is safe.

    There is no way the Bucs organization can sell this team to the fans without major changes from the top. Glazers have been too content with mediocre product since Brady left. Fanbase is eroding away. They have to add some freshness and optimism to their product. Status quo will not change. Make the hard changes the way the other clubs in the NFL are. No improvement, go a different direction with coaches and talent evaluators that can turn things around.

    Jags, Patriots and Lions were all bottom feeders only 3 seasons ago and made the changes and now they are winners. Bucs stay pat, no more unless they are willing to ram a poor organization down the fans’ throats. There are a lot of good teams to watch on TV or stream so just because you live in Tampa doesn’t mean you have to watch sub-standard football. Will be watching their moves to see if they have urgency or status quo.

  16. Test Says:

    Test

  17. AlstottNumber1 Says:

    Sounds to me like Ira wants Bowles to stay.

    Every time Steve or Lee tried to give specific examples of defensive failure or offensive meddling by Bowles, Ira rushed in to blame anyone but Todd.

    He’s close to the Glazers and is likely setting the stage for what will come later today.

    After Bowles returns we will get a ton of propaganda from Ira on why it was the right move.

    I like Ira a lot and enjoy his podcasts. But he is too close to the power structure to be truly honest with himself and the fans.

  18. Oneilbuc Says:

    Man all they do is make excuses for Baker Mayfield and Jason Licht the bucs will never win or get to a Superbowl with Baker Mayfield. That’s why the Joe’s keep talking more defense than offense. What about the games when the defense held teams to 20 points or less and the offense sucked and Baker Mayfield throwing late 4th quarter picks.

  19. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Oneilbuc Says:
    January 5th, 2026 at 1:05 pm
    Man all they do is make excuses for Baker Mayfield and Jason Licht the bucs will never win or get to a Superbowl with Baker Mayfield. That’s why the Joe’s keep talking more defense than offense. What about the games when the defense held teams to 20 points or less and the offense sucked and Baker Mayfield throwing late 4th quarter picks.
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^

    That was a problem too, Oneilbuc. From what you saw of the defense this year, were you happy with what you saw?

 

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