Joel Glazer Talks 2026 Expectations For Team, Todd Bowles
April 1st, 2026
Yesterday, Buccaneers co-owner Joel Glazer directly addressed the faction of Bucs fans that wanted to see Todd Bowles relieved of his duties this year.
After Joe asked Glazer to speak to those fans, there was more discussion on 2026 expectations and Bowles.
JoeBucsFan.com: [General manager] Jason Licht said to Buccaneers.com last week that we feel like we’re the same 6-2 team that walked into the bye week. Do you feel that way and is that sort of the expectation of the franchise?
Joel Glazer: Yeah! I mean you saw what this team could do. But every story has substories. You know, it’s hard. It’s hard when you start a season and you think this is what your team is going to be. And then you get to the season and you’re missing a lot of the pieces constantly throughout the season. Again, everybody has injuries, but I think we had some significant challenges we had to deal with last year. Again, like I said, it was unfortunate down the stretch, frustrating down the stretch. But you see week in and week out, this team plays hard for Todd [Bowles] and nobody lays down. You’ll have the odd game where things don’t quite go your way, but every game til the final whistle, these players are fighting, fighting, fighting.
Joe liked the “substories” line from Glazer. There were an unusual number of those for the 2025 Bucs. Some were on the head coach; some were not. And there may be more that are unknown, like whatever led to Mike Evans sprinting out of Tampa more like he was a wanted criminal than the beloved community figure and franchise legend he is.
So, Mr. Glazer, has there been a firm goal, a win total — regular season and/or postseason — handed to Bowles by ownership for the 2026 season?
Glazer was firm that there is no set line in the sand for Bowles.
“Again, you gotta look at everything, the whole situation,” Glazer said. “You gotta look at your team. You gotta look where it is in the journey to where you’re trying to get to. You know, after we won the Super Bowl, everyone expected the floor to fall off for this franchise. So, it’s hard to win a Super Bowl and turn it around real quick and win it again. You got a salary cap and everything you’re dealing with. So there’s so much involved, injuries, that come into play. But [Todd] knows we have the highest expectations. We know he has the highest expectations. Jason [Licht] has the highest expectations. So we’re looking forward to this season. … Very optimistic.”
Later today, Joe will have more from Glazer’s billionaire-to-blogger chat at the NFL annual meeting in Arizona.
April 1st, 2026 at 5:02 am
Highest expectations?????? He said that with a straight face, and TODD BOWLES STILL HAS A JOB????? Hahahahahaha, okay.
April 1st, 2026 at 5:04 am
It’s obvious the Glazers think they can put this Bowles SLOP out on the field, and the fans are just supposed to eat the Bowles turd sandwich. No thanks.
April 1st, 2026 at 5:08 am
I expect the Glazers to watch the games, because there were defensive players who quit on the team in the second half. In their defense, the scheme was slop and they were gonna look bad whether they played hard or not…It’s perfect on April Fools that this story would be written, the Glazers take the fans as fools.
April 1st, 2026 at 5:19 am
More spin, more gaslighting. At least Bowles, Licht, and the Glazers are all telling the same lame story. Bottom line is what have you done for me lately in the Not For Long League? Not Much!
April 1st, 2026 at 5:32 am
He said injuries are no excuse, than used injuries as an excuse. No unit had more injuries than the O line, and the offense as a whole. Our three starting recievers, and our starting back. My question to Glazer boy would’ve been, than why fire Grizzard? If anyone deserved a mulligan you think it would be him, not Todd. As someone else mentioned, he stated the team never quit on Todd, which we all know isn’t true. The offense put up more of a fight down the stretch than the defense did. I guess Joel thinks we’re all fools. Don’t believe your lying eyes, believe us billiares. We know better than fans.
April 1st, 2026 at 5:42 am
Boy, oh boy. This smells like a 6 win team answer right here. We’re gonna be not good again, my Bucs friends and family.
April 1st, 2026 at 6:24 am
“”. But you see week in and week out, this team plays hard for Todd [Bowles] and nobody lays down””
Another liar in the Buc front office. No wonder why we suck so bad.
April 1st, 2026 at 6:28 am
Again, he’s tanking his team and there’s no way to sell that publicly. You can’t have high expectations and have Baker and Bowles on your team. This team is built for losing and thats what he’s counting on this year. 5-12 season loading!
April 1st, 2026 at 6:31 am
Don’t worry after this season goes bad the excuse will be well we lost 2 key players that were HOF players that you can’t replace overnight. Bowles will keep his job again at the end of the season.
April 1st, 2026 at 6:38 am
“But you see week in and week out, the team plays hard for Todd Bowles and nobody lays down”….anyone watching that 2-7 finish last season knows this is a bunch of b.s., he apparently thinks fans are idiots, or maybe he’s just an idiot!
April 1st, 2026 at 6:40 am
Thanks for my morning dose of negativity and depression boys! You guys never disappoint. How are you guys so mad this early in the morning?
April 1st, 2026 at 6:45 am
This is a w very weak group. They don’t know what the hell they’re doing and they are FULLUVIT. Tom Brady (and to some degree BA) has EXPOSED THEM of exactly who they are. It is a failing franchise with no end in sight, and they don’t even have enough SENSE to recognize it. And, you have nothing but a BUNCH of cheerleaders in the local media, who do not possess the balls to hold ANY OF THEM to account. They act like, they are literally SCARED TO DEATH. While, the others are only kool-aid drinking members of their good ole “Buddy-Buddy” system, who only make excuses for them, and are completely bought-in.
April 1st, 2026 at 6:50 am
Nobody lays down? I’m not sure we were watching the same games! There was a ton of quit by the players and the coaches. Statements made by both confirmed this. Now of course not everybody quit, but it only takes a handful of bad apples.
April 1st, 2026 at 7:06 am
Highest expectations? The whole world has seen Bowles flop in primetime every season including to back up qbs and mediocre teams. Are they blind?
April 1st, 2026 at 7:12 am
Joel Glazer … ‘But you see week in and week out, this team plays hard for Todd [Bowles] and nobody lays down. You’ll have the odd game where things don’t quite go your way, but every game til the final whistle, these players are fighting, fighting, fighting.’
Reading the comments above & to about every other article on Todd Bowles, Bucs’ fans obviously don’t share Joel’s belief in terms of how hard last season’s team fought. And seeing ‘3rd-and-28’ appear so often as the reason, it’s apparent to me that many JBFers choose one play (actually 2 plays … the subsequent 4th-and-14 was a lot more costly) as the summation for the defense’s fall-off-a-cliff last year.
But those 2 plays were just indicative of some very poor defensive plays last season. Our defense allowed multiple ‘explosive’ runs & long passes, and missed tackles far too often. That performance, combined with some of the most atrocious Special Teams plays anyone can imagine (Bucs’ S/Ts surrendered MORE actual kickoff return yards (1693 yds) than we did rushing yds (1684 rushing yds) last season) AND with an offense that seemingly fell off a cliff in the 2nd half of last season, hurt us throughout the season. Performances like that reflect poorly on any Head Coach, AND on the team’s Defensive Coordinator. And if that’s the same guy, sorry but it’s a double whammy.
But I’ve been a Bucs’ fan since the early 80’s through some VERY hard years. But some good years too. Not about to give up on them now. I’ve seen things turn around considerably from year-to-year for any number of reasons. For instance, a team’s injury situation during the course of a season can easily impact the final results. I agree that injuries can’t be used as an excuse, but only to the extent that teams SHOULD HAVE ADEQUATE DEPTH to compensate for injuries. If they don’t, then yes, injuries (especially to key players like our QB) can become a REASON for various losses. But it’s not really the injuries that caused the degradation in performance, it’s the LACK OF DEPTH.
That in my opinion is largely what happened to us last season. Our DEPTH sucked. Hurt us on offense AND defense, but those were also largely the same players on Special Teams. And that REALLY hurt us because many long returns by our opponents set them up with short fields, oftentimes at the very worst times. HOPEFULLY we never see a repeat of those types of performances ever again.
April 1st, 2026 at 7:17 am
They will only blame the players. They NEVER have any problem with doing that, at ALL. But, they always preface their questions to and about them with “some fans may say,” while NEVER taking any REAL stance of their own, when it comes towards the coaches or management. In other markets, their major media members do not hold back when it comes to scrutinize their FO’s every move. And, they just let it RIP. They are not scared to hold THEM to account.
Now, Colin and ESPN (those guys) are too close with everyone, or they are begging to be. So, they won’t say anything either, until they get the “ok” that it is SAFE to do so. They are all WEAK AF. It’s why I like, and watch PAWL (Paul Finebaum) everyday! Now, HE doesn’t care. HE is “loyal” to NO ONE. Not even ESPN. Life needs to be made to feel VERY ‘uncomfortable’ to anyone associated with the BUCS right now, after EVERY misstep they’ve ALL made post Brady (and pre). ESPECIALLY, when it comes to LICKT and this ownership group. But, oh yeah, I almost forgot that “Lickt” is NOT responsible, though LoL. NOT for the hiring or firing of head coaches, or with signing and extending players, orrrrr with drafting the current talent level of this team… THAT, would all be on Todd Bowles. Lmaoooo. No, there’s ALWAYS an excuse. It’s always someone else’s fault. No. We Jonny have a bunch of cheerleaders here. No one, who is willing to stand on their own convictions. But, maybe they are just blinded!?
I mean, WDAE is almost a complete waste of time, and not even worth listening to anymore. It’s all just the same sh!t EVERYDAY, with no one held to account. I mean, NONE of it is even REAL, and you can tell. It’s AWFUL. And, I don’t listen very often anymore. It’s pointless, and it just makes me angry. These guys are all WEAK. They say absolutely NOTHING. And, every interview is the same… “Ya know, some fans might say that…” NO. WHAT THE HELL DO “YOUUUUU” THINK, DUDE!? Don’t be putting it off on “The Fans.” Go find YOUR BALLS, Dude.
April 1st, 2026 at 7:26 am
Others commented since my first post… Wen I say “They” – I am referring to our local TB Sports media. Ya know, “they” are not scared whatsoever to trash players, but when it comes to the FO and management, though… Now, that is a completely different story! They COWAR. They preface their ‘questions’ with some fans might say that… Blah, blah, blah. NO. How bout YOU, Dude!? WTF do YOU THINK!?
April 1st, 2026 at 7:29 am
DELUSIONAL excuse for “The Debacle” that was last season.
April 1st, 2026 at 7:32 am
Joel Glazer Talks 2026 Expectations For Team –
Make Money!!!
This is a money year!!
Got to make back that Brady pay out.
Winning a Super Bowl cost a lot of money.
Being Mid, Pays the owners
April 1st, 2026 at 7:43 am
Once the division improves, and 8 or 9 wins doesn’t guarantee a home playoff revenue check you’ll see the urgency for change.
Started this past January. If it continues next Jan the next words you’ll hear out of Joel’s mouth are “we need a HC who is accountable and the drive to be great” as he announces the kick off of a search.
April 1st, 2026 at 7:51 am
If your expectations are not winning the Super Bowl, you’ve set the bar very low….
April 1st, 2026 at 7:56 am
Team plays hard for Bowles. This guy has glaucoma. They quit some where near the Rams game.
They won early on the last play or close to it.
They were probably the worst team in the league down the stretch.
They clearky are thinking emotionally, and not logically. Look.at this statement, lots of excuses. Maybe, like I said last year, they are back to being cheap.
April 1st, 2026 at 7:57 am
GARBAGE
April 1st, 2026 at 8:24 am
NO SENSE OF URGENCY!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
April 1st, 2026 at 8:24 am
Tank strategy I see…
April 1st, 2026 at 8:26 am
Well, wtf do you expect him to say at this point?
April 1st, 2026 at 8:35 am
Bowels, #6 and Licht, have to Go!!!!!
April 1st, 2026 at 8:39 am
I know this especially hurts all the Buc fans who’ve made their fandom more about hating Todd Bowles than caring for anything about the roster or performance of the team, lol
April 1st, 2026 at 8:41 am
Another perfect example of saying one thing BUT doing the opposite!
All Respect being flushed down the toilet.
April 1st, 2026 at 8:48 am
Lot of team suffered injuries, the 49ers had significant injuries too, but made it into the playoffs.
Another issue was coaching where Bowles had to let go several coaches including the rookie OC Grizzard for poor 😕 play calling.
Hopefully these new coaches can right the 🚢
April 1st, 2026 at 9:03 am
He’s just trying to sell tickets. That’s his job as the owner. Hoping that his positive outlook and weak justifications are enough to convince the minions to come to games. Every owner says the same thing, very few believe it. Unfortunately Tampa is “cursed” with warm weather and a draw for visiting team fans. There won’t be many “ home games” this season. It’s really sad that they don’t care about their performance as indicated by their support of Bowles and Licht , so why should we???
April 1st, 2026 at 9:48 am
They quit on todd last year, anyone who says differently is lying or didnt watch the rams game and the games after that.
April 1st, 2026 at 9:49 am
Todd is one of the illegitimate offspring of Daddy Malcolm..nothing else jives.
April 1st, 2026 at 10:24 am
Defense Rules spreading the gospel here. Lifelong Bucs fan here, born & raised in City of Tampa. Our current circumstances are not remotely close to 80’s, most of 90’s and the most recent JBF dubbed “Lost Decade”. There is zero doubt in my mind that Glazers want to win as bad as everyone here. Night and day difference from Culverhouse era.
April 1st, 2026 at 10:54 am
The team got worse as our injured players got healthy. He lost the team. Several players have been vocal about it. Once you lose them, you aren’t getting them back. 2026 is all prep for the 2027 draft and new coaching staff.
April 1st, 2026 at 11:25 am
If ANY of that oral diarrhea were even remotely true, ME13 wouldn’t have taken a lesser deal and moved his family across the country.
April 1st, 2026 at 11:34 am
What the hell is this guy talking about?
Everyone thought the floor was gonna drop out after the SB win?
Nope! Everyone thought we had a chance to go back to back.
In 2024, WITH A LEGIT COACH, we were a 10 win playoff team that was 82% Licht drafted players! That was starting Josh Hayes and Funderburk in the secondary!
In 2025 after the legit coach left… the team went backwards… hmmm, why might that be!? Once again I feel like I am taking crazy pills!
April 1st, 2026 at 11:42 am
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
April 1st, 2026 at 8:39 am
I know this especially hurts all the Buc fans who’ve made their fandom more about hating Todd Bowles than caring for anything about the roster or performance of the team, lol
^^^^^^^^^
You consider the performance of the team up to your standards last year? If so, you have awfully low standards, brother.
April 1st, 2026 at 11:50 am
Winless in ‘26.
April 1st, 2026 at 12:03 pm
Joel needs to watch an endless loop of the 1st half of the Ram’s game. Pin his eyelids open like in Clockwork Orange. Then tell me they didn’t quit on Todd. FO is delusional.
April 1st, 2026 at 8:47 pm
This gives me no confidence in the Glazers commitment to win. They enable underperformance or are lying to us to be nice to Todd. Neither are becoming.
They don’t care. The seats will fill with the other teams fans since it’s FL. LOSERS.
April 1st, 2026 at 10:45 pm
Jay Glazer does many things and one of them is the National HC day drinking coverage.
Can you imagine Todd Bowles sitting there with Shanahan, MvVay, Siriani, etc?
70% of what they’re talking about, he has to Wikipedia.
But as an added bonus for them they get to maybe hire Todd as a defensive assistant in ‘27.
April 2nd, 2026 at 7:59 pm
What a sack of manure, thats about as though BSing the fanbase as he could do. I realize we had alot of serious injuries last season, more than the other teams, I don’t know , I don’t really follow other teams injuries. But he just danced around things . Like why were our players so SOFT & easily hurt . We had injuries even when the brain trust was trying to prevent injuries. ARe our medical team & team trainers not able to get our players into good enough shape to take the pounding? He may as well simply said the Bucs fans will believe any BS i tell them