Proving “Everyone Else Is Wrong” Is On Todd Bowles’ Agenda
March 30th, 2026
Do fans piling on Todd Bowles, blaming him for nearly every ill of the Buccaneers franchise, weigh on the head coach?
Joe talked to Bowles about that off the record this morning at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix. Unfortunately, the discussion has to stay off the record, but Joe has no problem pointing fans to something Bowles said soon after during the NFC Coaches Breakfast.
Jets reporters were hitting Bowles with questions about embattled Jets second-year head coach Aaron Glenn getting pounded by New York media and fans. Bowles addressed that and mentioned how Glenn can’t let it get to him.
Joe jumped in to ask Bowles if the backlash he endured during four years as Jets head coach got to him. Bowles didn’t hesitate. It didn’t get to him at all, he said.
So Bucs fans can imagine that a half season and an offseason of Bowles widely getting beaten up by Bucs media and fans isn’t under Bowles’ skin the slightest. (Joe has even seen Bowles be warm and cordial with Jets media at various big league events, and Joe has seen Bowles physically embrace Jets owner Woody Johnson.)
That said, Bowles hears the howls about his peformance and sort of went there when Joe asked Bowles about his new coaching staff.
JoeBucsFan.com: Have you been enjoying the new coaches? Does that bring you new energy and new perspective?
Todd Bowles: You bring your new energy every year because you’re trying to prove something every year. Again, you’re trying to succeed and you’re trying to perservere. And losing only makes it harder for you as a coach, but it’s also exciting at the same time to prove that you’re right and that everyone else is wrong. So you’re always going through it with that kind of energy. But we bring in different minds and different perspectives, and it’s good to learn from. They’re learning from me, I’m learning from them. It’s good chemistry so far.
Prove everyone wrong, Coach!
March 30th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
As a Buc fan, I can only hope Bowles proves us wrong and he wins the division and gets this team back in the playoffs where anything can happen.
As a realist, I dont believe Bowles is self aware enough to make big philosophical changes. He would rather “prove people wrong and be right” than realize he might be wrong on some things that need to be changed.
Only time will tell.
March 30th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
Nice diagnosis Fanofdabucs!
March 30th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
61-74 says maybe he should look in the mirror. Todd, maybe everyone else is right and you’re wrong…
March 30th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
The Bucs future actually looks bright
Then playing in a crappy division is their greatest strength
If Jason Licht can nail this draft, we can get this train moving
That’s the whole key to our success
March 30th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
“You bring your new energy every year because you’re trying to prove something every year. Again, you’re trying to succeed and you’re trying to perservere. And losing only makes it harder for you as a coach, but it’s also exciting at the same time to prove that you’re right and that everyone else is wrong.”
“Prove” “Try” “Prove” This is loser talk. No specifics on what he did wrong and what he fixed or will fix. You can tell someone is earnest when they point out their own faults, unprompted, and explain the solution in detail. Just more vague bs from the losing streak king. So happy this is his last year. Pretty soon the government will make being a Bucs fan cruel and unusual punishment.
March 30th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Todd is willing to fall on his own sword…let him!!!!
i would love to hear a sense of urgency in his tone or voice that was echoed from top to bottom…
i remember years back when rah was HC of the BUCS, he had a phrase, “The Race to 10!!”….we missed the playoffs but we won 10games and the message was heard, felt and executed….
you know you’re bad if folks are saying you should try something Rah did as an HC lol
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 30th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Kevin Stefanski 45-56
Dave Canales 13-21
Kellen Moore 6-11
Todd Bowles 61-74
This division isn’t the greatest division in the NFL
We can rule this division for a long time
It’s start with the draft
I wanna see how dedicated this franchise is to winning
Winning with a new quality of players
March 30th, 2026 at 2:51 pm
Love your last line here. Those who can exhibit some shame and humility would love to be proved wrong. If you’re a Bucs fan, you just want the Bucs to win.
I think at the very least, we will have a highly motivated Coach this season on a mission to prove everyone wrong. Whether he does or not is another discussion.
I don’t care if the Bucs win a SB with Barney Fife or Barney the purple dinosaur as the HC, Just win bayyyy beeeee and bring home the Lombardi!
March 30th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
hard to dispute the results — not about right and wrong
the team has been awful to watch and painfully inconsistent gut wrenching to watch the D at the end of games
March 30th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
Gimme a break Todd-You are delusional
March 30th, 2026 at 3:06 pm
Everybody is wrong but Todd.
One of the primary definitions of insanity. Can’t take it anymore.
🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺
March 30th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
As long as Bowles is the HC I will support him…..
Exactly with every single former coach……..
March 30th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
Todd Bowles … ‘It’s also exciting at the same time to prove that you’re right and that everyone else is wrong.’
Good leaders are right more often than they’re wrong. Great leaders are right far more often than they’re wrong. Confidence in one’s self AND in your TEAM is the name of the game IMO.
I’ve worked for & been around many great leaders. Can’t remember one of them whose goal was to ‘prove everyone else wrong’. That kinda implies to me that Todd’s convinced already that his way is ‘right’ and everyone else’s ideas are ‘wrong’. Seems to imply a stubbornness that’s counterproductive to great leadership.
March 30th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
Good comment FanofdaBucs! I agree.
Same ol same ol from Todd.
March 30th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
I dont like to be negative, But… it is inevitable … at best he is mediocre
His mentor Bill Parcells said : you are what your record says you are
March 30th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Of course he doesn’t let the outside talk get to him. You know why? Because he is a bad coach and even HE knows it!
He knows his own head coaching record shows him that he is subpar. So he just stands stoic on the sidelines wondering what day/time does Golden Corral have the steak and ribs. And wondering if he doesn’t challenge any plays or call timeouts, he might just make it there in time!
Heck during the historic slide last year he said it himself, “we’ve done all we can do as coaches, now it’s up to the players”. That’s him waving the white flag. Imagine a High School teacher telling the parents, “I’ve done all I can do, I’ve reached my potential and my knowledge is tapped out, now it’s up to your son to succeed on his own”.
If I was the team owner, I would have handed Todd ‘the buffet slayer” Bowles his pink-slip right after that comment!
March 30th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
At the end of the day, just win and the fans will come around again.
I have my criticisms but some of the attacks have gone far beyond personal. It’s just a game.
March 30th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
No question Todd knows way more about football than the people posting on here. So yeah, he’s likely right.
March 30th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Remember when the hype train came thru Tampa??? No sign of it anywhere
March 30th, 2026 at 3:56 pm
We can have faith, but not expecting anything.
March 30th, 2026 at 3:58 pm
Prove me wrong. I will expire while waiting most likely.
March 30th, 2026 at 4:04 pm
When Todd Bowles did his Cusing outburst last season we all saw a guy who let the media get under his skin.
We are all human and at times things can simply get under your skin. The media was out of control with their negativity. He can’t address the media because the media is relentless whether it true or not. Get him a punching 👊 bag to let out his frustrations.
March 30th, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Amen to that Kit
March 30th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
Yes Joe we realize you have to play nice
But Bowles doesn’t have it PERIOD
With His record He would have been FIRED FROM ANY OTHER TEAM
He has done nothing
Winning the division Please Name one other team that celebrated that
I Bet He Is terrible again
March 30th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
Why should he care what we think? All that matters is what the Glazers think. According to all reporting, they love him. Apparently more than their fans.
March 30th, 2026 at 4:31 pm
What exactly are we wrong about, Todd???
If he thinks that his way is correct and his critics are wrong, elaborate on the subject.
Todd Bowles couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.
A career loser as a HC that fails upwards no matter the results.
Great work if you can find it. Everyone one else is at fault. Except for Todd.
March 30th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
Its amusing some still hold out hope…
If he could have he would have!….
He is NEVEWR going to be a better Hc…
March 30th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
Funniest story I read all day.
March 30th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
Everybody on here conveniently forgets the almost 20 years recently when this team actually *was* bad. It lasted from a couple years after we won our first Super Bowl all the way to a couple years before the second one! Yet they think the team is bad now with near constant playoff appearances??? Yikes.
March 30th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
If you’re constantly in the playoffs all you need is your team to get healthy at the right time and on a roll to go really far in them. We have had no luck with injuries lately and it’s time for that to change. Also a bit more talent on defense especially for a slightly more balanced team and we will go far.
March 30th, 2026 at 6:07 pm
this means pick 15 will have to be able to drop back in coverage
March 30th, 2026 at 6:22 pm
JustOneGame Says
“61-74 says maybe he should look in the mirror.”
I don’t really care what he has done with other teams. Including that just discounts his ability to improve as a coach.
35-33 is what he is as head coach for the Bucs. Still a winning coach, even if just barely.
Jon Gruden was 57-55 for the Bucs. Only 2 games over .500, just like Bowles.
Before last year, we were mostly improving annually under Bowles. INJURIES were the biggest culprit last year…if we had had a regular number of injuries, we might have gone all of the way. Especially if Mike Evans and the OL didn’t have too many injuries.
This year, we will hopefully begin with a healthy OL. and improved DL, our Secondary will be more experienced and at least two will improve. We have Godwin and EE starting, and we have younger WRs who got valuable experience last year.
Aside from injuries, even with Bowles as head couch, we should see a repeat of before the Bye last year. That’s a superbowl contender, folks.
Again, dependent on how bad the injuries are…and how good our new OC is.
March 30th, 2026 at 6:28 pm
Would I like it if Bowles ended his career here with around 54-42 like Dungy?
Of course I would…and he might, we’ll see. It’s a difference of 8 games for Dungy.
If Bowels can have a winning season here this year, he might top that record. IF.
Personally, I’m choosing to believe in Bowles until he gives me more reason not to. I did not feel that way when last season ended…and I needed time to calm down and become reasonable. But now that I have, I realize there was more to blame than just Bowles last year. He wasn’t even the worst thing.
If I were the owner, I don’t know if I would have fired him or not. On the surface I would have, but when I considered the whole picture, giving him another year makes sense.
March 30th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
Oxycondomns Says:
“this means pick 15 will have to be able to drop back in coverage”
Just like Edge rushers on EVERY OTHER FOOTBALL TEAM.
March 30th, 2026 at 6:33 pm
Click my name to see how many NFL teams have Edge Rushers drop back in coverage.
So really, even mentioning it shows ignorance.
March 30th, 2026 at 6:35 pm
I think Stpetematt conveniently forgets WHY the Bucs had losing seasons from 1983 to 1996 – Doug Williams was the QB from 1978 – 1982 when the Bucs had some success – he gets fired and the Bucs sucked thereafter – then Dungy / Kiffin arrived in 1996 and turned the team around – in 2002 Gruden arrived with the Raiders playbook under his arm and a full dossier on Rich Gannon – then he rode it for a while until he got fired – the Lost Decade ensued – Brady arrives and gives us two good years and a SB – he left and now we are back to mediocrity – Williams Dungy Kiffin (Rich McKay too) Gruden kinda, and Brady are the ONLY reasons why the Bucs have not been complete losers for 50 years – the Mayfield era so far is not impressive – not even as good as the Gruden years after the SB – and with no prospect of getting better
March 30th, 2026 at 6:37 pm
Get-Rid-of-Licht Says:
“he left and now we are back to mediocrity”
That is simply not true. We have 3 division titles and some winning records since then, and we didn’t during the lost years.
March 30th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
@Bonzai, hopefully you’re right and I’ll be there every Sunday hoping for the best but I just don’t see it with Bowles.
My reasons for pessimism begins with the failure to hold anyone accountable, He basically quit on the special teams, he’s afraid to make the tough decisions (bench Baker because he was “hurt”), in game time management, player evaluation, over compensation to what didn’t work the week prior and understanding his players strengths & weaknesses.
Hopefully I’m eating crow this season but the schedule predicts a long year for the Bucs.
March 30th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Bonsai and I are in agreement. He gave lots of much-needed perspective there. Only 14 teams make the playoffs. 18 teams sit *every* year. We haven’t typically been one of those in a while. Injuries have hurt this team more than anything else in the past few years. They need to drop by 80% or more and stop striking our highest paid players. No more 100 million dollars in the training room!
March 30th, 2026 at 7:06 pm
au contraire Buccaneer Bonzai – Raheem Morris had a 10-6 record in 2010 during Josh Freeman’s first full year – Dirk Koetter had a 9-7 record in 2016 during Winston’s second year – Mayfield has won TWO division titles (Brady won two of the four recent titles) – my point is that Bowles is more like Morris and Koetter than Dungy or Gruden and we should expect similar results
March 30th, 2026 at 7:07 pm
Mayfield is a top 4-6 QB if you protect him. With a solid team, that’s plenty high enough to win a Super Bowl.
Last year, we didn’t protect him.
2 years ago, our entire secondary was in the tub.
Identify correctly the real reasons you aren’t getting further. We certainly aren’t struggling overall. We have a very good football team. We can turn it great with 1-2 more excellent drafts.
March 30th, 2026 at 7:26 pm
Bucs had a 8-9 record Brady’s last year (Bowles’ first year as HC and his 1st division title) – Prescott carved up the defense in the playoffs – not auspicious – Mayfield shows up with moxie and wins a playoff game with a 9-8 record – ok good – next year loss in the WILDCARD round – last year 3 and 28 – arrow pointing down
March 30th, 2026 at 7:26 pm
“I’m right and everyone else is wrong”… said no great leader…ever.
What an awful mindset.
He brought in one new defensive coach from outside the organization. What kind of different mindset and perspective is he talking about?
What a load of BS.
March 30th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
In 2023 I enthused about Mayfield to a neighbor from Ohio who was a lifelong Browns fan – he said, “don’t get too excited about Baker. There’s Good Baker and there’s Bad Baker. Sooner or later Bad Baker will show up and that’s what you’ll get.”
March 30th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
Yet, he continues to prove everyone else to be right….over and over and over again.
March 30th, 2026 at 8:37 pm
Kit Says:
March 30th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
At the end of the day, just win and the fans will come around again.
I have my criticisms but some of the attacks have gone far beyond personal. It’s just a game.
************************
Go Bucs!!
March 30th, 2026 at 8:42 pm
By everyone, he must mean Licht and the Glazers. They are going to be proven wrong for keeping around the guy they like. We just need to endure the next 20 games and then we can start over.
March 30th, 2026 at 8:49 pm
“So Bucs fans can imagine that a half season and an offseason of Bowles widely getting beaten up by Bucs media and fans isn’t under Bowles’ skin the slightest”
Might want to think about that Joe……..alot of posters here been bi#ching since Kupp ran into the end zone with nobody within 20 yards of him.
March 30th, 2026 at 10:13 pm
Not sure why media even take the time to interview the dude. Zero self reflection & insight & no answers as well. Even just one time saying “it’s on me to get this thing turned around” would seem to be an acknowledgement that he gets what’s required from a HC. Don’t believe he’s ever unttered that line in his life.
March 31st, 2026 at 12:06 am
Unwarranted giant ego with supreme stubbornness that refuses change. Concentrating on proving himself right instead of finding and fixing what is wrong. His record is barely middle of the road yet he refuses to hire a competent DC. His defense has been exposed, but he won’t relinquish the reins to someone qualified because he has to prove himself right. He can’t accept that his system no longer functions in today’s NFL.
March 31st, 2026 at 7:14 am
“”Unwarranted giant ego with supreme stubbornness that refuses change.””
I think it’s worse than that. I don’t think he’s capable of change.
March 31st, 2026 at 8:55 am
Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles bemoans lack of Black head coaches in the NFL
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles didn’t shy away on Monday from discussing the NFL’s head coach hiring practices.
“That’s the billion-dollar question,” Bowles said at the league’s annual meeting when asked how the NFL could increase diversity amongst its head coaches. “I wish I could answer that. I don’t know what to do about that. It’s depressing, it’s sad. You want better. We have to do better. It’s not a lip service thing; it’s an action thing. I don’t know what that action is at this point.”
[Sorry man, had to cut it off there. Nothing wrong with the article but copying/pasting an article in the comments without at least citing the source and the author can legally get Joe in hot water. (You can google “Fair Use” for more info. — Joe]
Interesting.
March 31st, 2026 at 11:12 pm
I’ll be rooting for us to win. Doesn’t matter who’s at QB or who the HC is or the GM. REAL FANS don’t root for their team to lose. Plain and simple. Let’s go Bucs. Let’s go Bowles let’s go licht let’s go baker let’s go glazers. IF YOU WANT THE BUCS TO LOSE SO YOU CAN HAVE SAID PLAYER/COACH FIRED YOUR NOT A REAL FAN.