Todd Bowles Talks Bucs “Just Taking Plays Off”
June 18th, 2026
Revealing words from the Bucs’ head coach.
The jury is back.
The verdict is guilty, if you heed the fresh words of Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, a man who chooses his words carefully.
YaYa Diaby saw it, and Bucs fans moaned about it late last season: the 2025 Bucs were soft and/or displayed some level of quit on the field.
Bowles stunningly confessed as much this week during his sitdown with Sports Day Tampa Bay. The head coach talked about getting ready for the regular season and acknowledged the Bucs weren’t wired to fight consistently in games last season.
“If we can prepare and we can execute, and we don’t look at the names on people’s helmets, and we can play the same every week and learn how to finish off games and close games out — instead of getting a lead and just taking plays off, or not having a lead and having to come back late,” Bowles said.
“You just want to play four quarters and you want to go out there. And I think we have those types of alpha dogs on our team right now that will make this team to elevate to that. When they start coaching themselves and don’t need too much coaching on the sideline, that’s when you know you’ve arrived.”
So Bowles thinks the Bucs needed new players “to elevate” others to not be “taking plays off.” Damn, that should make every Bucs fan nauseous.
How many times last season did Bowles say effort wasn’t an issue? Eight? Ten?
Team Glazer might want to revise its profound statement about how hard the Bucs played for Bowles.
June 18th, 2026 at 3:43 pm
lotta finger pointing going on and no one is being held accountable….
i remember when VHGIII was loafing during the TEN game…BA cut him monday…thats how you hold players accountable
GO BUCS!!!!
June 18th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
ARZ not TEN
GO BUCS
June 18th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Bucs don’t play for Bowles. There’s lots of reasons to play hard and Bowles is pretty low on the list. Love of the game, wanting to win, competitive nature are all far more likely reasons to put in effort. If you feel like you’re putting in max effort and still losing it can become demoralizing. The offense stopped being able to move the ball with 2 third string guards on the field. So the defense knew even if they got the ball back we were very unlikely to score or come back. That’s probably what happened and any players that did that need to go. And I’m sure they did!
June 18th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
“And I think we have those types of alpha dogs on our team right now that will make this team to elevate to that.”
Did he happen to mention the names of these alpha dogs?
“When they start coaching themselves and don’t need too much coaching on the sideline, that’s when you know you’ve arrived.”
So when he doesn’t coach as much on the sideline, then he’s arrived? This is why I hate coach speak, just a bunch of word salad with no specifics on what the plan is to get better.
Does Bowles reprimand anyone for “taking plays off” or for anything? Bowles is so easy, breezy he let’s everything slide.
June 18th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
They love to p*ss on our leg and tell us it’s raining
June 18th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
All the word salad! We ALL saw it. I don’t care what Todd or the Glazers say. We all watched it. We know.
June 18th, 2026 at 3:57 pm
“When they start coaching themselves and don’t need too much coaching on the sidelines”…….and my question is, what exactly do you think your job is you idiot? You are lucky our owners appear to be idiots too for keeping your rather large, lazy rear end here for anther year. But the more you talk and the more your layers talk, it becomes increasingly obvious you won’t be here very much longer. What a clown, have another Kitkat…..
June 18th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
About half the defense lost their starting jobs so I’d say this was absolutely addressed!
June 18th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
The team…its leaders are all a reflection of Bowles. He’s always trying to deflect the poor effort and execution to the players yet he can set the standard by benching guys until they get it right. Bowles doesn’t put fear in the players…or accountability….or motivate them and certainly doesn’t out coach opposing teams. Arians would have the same roster running through walls. I’m really over listening to Bowles rationale and reasoning….save it for tv commentary. Either produce playoff wins or get someone who can.
June 18th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
No wonder coaches and players don’t like talking to the press….
Great comment! When they talk, they’re talking to fans. The media is just the go-between. If players and coaches don’t want to communicate to fans, then maybe they’ve lost sight of that fact fans drive the business, which is an entertainment industry. Coaches and players don’t have to say anything they don’t want to say. Joe has no doubt Bowles wanted that message out on the street. He’s a smart guy; that’s why Joe noted Bowles chooses words carefully. –Joe
June 18th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Lazy, soft, bored, quitters, bad tackling, schematically challenged.
What in the world does Todd Bowles have on the Glazer kids???
Must be some skeletons in their closets that were captured on video.
When the coach admits he is incapable of coaching, you have a major problem.
Cheer up folks. Only three loooooong years remaining with this clown.
“Just gotta git betta” – Toad Bowels
June 18th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Some would say that the individual leading last year’s; s#$% show should have held those players accountable then, not AFTER the season. Still would like to know if we got rid of all said players. Obviously, we didn’t get rid of the individaul leading the team.
June 18th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
You don’t know what he means by “coaching themselves” and then jumping Bowles sheet, relax and have a kit kat. Players have to hold themselves accountable, this aint’t hold your hand day at romper room. It is that way at every level of play. College coach’s are famous for telling the team “we can’t do it for you, it’s up to you to put what we teach into play”. That’s one of the first things I heard and I didn’t have to be told that. These are grown men and should be held accountable for how they conduct themselves, how they practice, lift, study, and play, that has been going on for decades, THAT is what separates PROS from AMATURES. God help me Obvious invaded my caps lock for a second, but I digress. These guys just can’t say what they want or they wouldn’t be in this league for long and would be targeted and not hired by other teams, an un-written rule most outside the NFL don’t know or want to realize.
June 18th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
I’m not saying Bowles isn’t accountable in his part for what happened over last year, I was ready to eject him too but I know it’s not all his fault either. I can only imagine he would love to tell everyone about all the crap that went on and then let peeps make up their own minds but he does shoulder blame he doesn’t deserve. Now what part of that he does or doesn’t only the eyes know from what we see, we’re not privy to all the inside scoop.
June 18th, 2026 at 5:09 pm
I just cannot see this team competing for anything relevant at all, this season. Can’t See It. And, I’ve TRIED. But, I look at the schedule… And, I. Just. Can’t. See. It. That is UNLESS, “BAKER” morphs into a Top-5 Quarterback. Then, again… I can’t see that, either. There is a TON of ‘parity’ right now, too!!!! But, when I look at THIS Bucs Team when matched up against an actual real opponent, I see a ROUGH road ahead. And, with the Bucs being at the bottom of the spectrum. I cannot see them coming-out AHEAD, in the ‘majority’ of those games. There was A LOT of smoke last season in those first 8-GAMES, too!!!! LOTS of SMOKE.
June 18th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
@ LynchMob50 Says: “What in the world does Todd Bowles have on the Glazer kids???”
HE’s CHEAP. So, they’re going to give HIM every chance.
June 18th, 2026 at 5:29 pm
First off all you need a real quarterback not a pretender then you need a defense that can hit the other teams player hard have no mercy for the opponent because your opponent will have no mercy on you this ship is sinking with weed bowls as headcoach u wish they would just shit the f up and play instead of making excuses
June 18th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
“When they start coaching themselves and don’t need too much coaching on the sideline, that’s when you know you’ve arrived.”
—–
Joe Says; So Bowles thinks the Bucs needed new players “to elevate” others to not be “taking plays off.”
—–
The 2025 Defensive team captains were ;
Vita – Lavonte – Antoine
June 18th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
MelvinJunior Says:
June 18th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
@ LynchMob50 Says: “What in the world does Todd Bowles have on the Glazer kids???”
HE’s CHEAP. So, they’re going to give HIM every chance.
^^^^^^
I think the owners have remained loyal to Bowles because of the position he was in during and after the TB12/BA/ BL fiasco.
That and he doesn’t cost much.
June 18th, 2026 at 5:48 pm
One thing you can say about Baker, he’s not taking any plays off.
June 18th, 2026 at 5:50 pm
Well spoken MelvinJunior. I place part of the blame on Bowles for the bad ending to last season but just part of it, injuries were another part, and player performance was a part of it as well. It’s easy to scapegoat a coach and if injuries are better for the team this year then he has no excuses in my opinion. I feel a lot like this team like the year before Brady came in that they are just a couple pieces away.
June 18th, 2026 at 5:53 pm
So now the players are supposed to coach themselves? I’m pretty sure COACH is in his title. Shouldn’t everyone’s favorite “Draft Guru” have figured out they need alpha males before now?
June 18th, 2026 at 6:08 pm
“ When they start coaching themselves and don’t need too much coaching from the sidelines, that’s when you’ll know that you have arrived.” To get to that point requires constant coaching and it never stops. If some players, young or old, don’t respond to that coaching there has to be consequences! If there were players loafing or just flat out making mistakes, that’s on the coaching! If you’re waiting for the players to coach themselves, you’ll be waiting for a long time.
June 18th, 2026 at 6:22 pm
Bowles just needs to stop. He has already proven to be the Bucs greatest liability. It is nauseating to hear him or prove it again and again.
June 18th, 2026 at 6:23 pm
Stpetematt is a Bowles burner account. Gotta be.
Last season he said coaches had done all they could do but he didn’t have the right guys to lead and elevate each other… so the coaches didn’t do all they could do then?
I don’t know how some of you, like StPete can keep defending this guy.
I’m glad you are happy StPete, that it was addressed after the season! Didn’t need to address anything when we were sliding towards 2-7 finish and a playoff miss.
ST coach was safe, every loafer was safe… why wouldn’t you take it easy and collect a cheque. Make people accountable! ST coach should have been fired mid season. Players should have been benched to send a message.
June 18th, 2026 at 6:28 pm
Even older players still need to coached. Whether it’s a pat on the back, a kick in the ass or even a temporary benching if necessary. Veteran players even after the age of 30 can still have a lot to learn.
June 18th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
lol he literally said it…
“When the players can do our literal job titles for us, we’ll be great”
Speechless
June 18th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Nobody’s defending crap! Alot of us like to move on ! Bowles and mayfield are here crying just makes you look like idiots… Nothing you can do other then change your team and dont watch! UGH!
June 18th, 2026 at 7:13 pm
At least we have two wins guaranteed by Baker, and both against Atlanta.
On game day and the week prior the ATL locker room thought fodder will be a ubiquity of posted news reports from when Baker said he couldn’t wait to shove the football in Stefanski’s face after he was hired to run the show in Atlanta.
Seems Stefanski holds no ill will toward his ex QB, and from what I’ve read Kevin played no part in Baker’s kick to the curb in Cleveland. Seems upper management chose the “happy ending” guy over Baker. Big mistake! Gotta side with Baker on this one except …
Why the ill will from Baker, especially after all this time?
Is it another episode in the soap opera, As The Stomach Turns, starring Baker Mayfield as Baker Mayfield?
Good news for Baker: after this article his Boi Club will have another excuse to fall back on if the Bucs lose. “Baker played his heart out, but too many other players took plays off!”
I’ve mentioned this drama before, but it bears repeating as I’m still puzzled as to why Baker wouldn’t let his arm do the talking when facing his former coach.
June 18th, 2026 at 7:18 pm
Bowles chooses his words carefully because he has no idea if he will be able to fix the game lapses and lack of killer instinct the team had last year. Baker is going to give his all and get hurt by week 9. Then we will limp to seasons end with a team that will not fight if Baker is hurt and throwing ducks.
June 18th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
You guys might be missing a key point. When the players coach themselves it usually means players only meetings or having a Tom Brady that keeps everybody on their toes. The 49rs are such a team. I saw little of that last year >>>>>3rd and 28 being a cry for that. But the 49rs have Kyle Shanahan as the HC. And he coaches the hell out of them. That’s the difference. Successful teams have both kind of coaching. Last year they had neither.
June 18th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
The Bucs had neither.
June 18th, 2026 at 7:31 pm
‘Joe has no doubt Bowles wanted that message out on the street. He’s a smart guy; that’s why Joe noted Bowles chooses words carefully.’
Fascinating comment Joe, since Bowles can’t control HOW his comments are interpreted in the media. The way your article interpreted it (in the ‘bottom line’) seems to cast dispersion on the motives of both Bowles AND the Glazers … ‘Team Glazer might want to revise its profound statement about how hard the Bucs played for Bowles.’
Still though, after several months, I have yet to see any articles in the media that provide concrete evidence of WHY the Glazers retained Todd Bowles as HC for another year. Tons of innuendo, but no concrete evidence.
Bobby Dylan apparently had it right … ‘The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.’
June 18th, 2026 at 7:35 pm
🔥🤡
June 18th, 2026 at 7:37 pm
Bowles wants the players to coach themselves. Even he knows he’s not good at his job.
June 18th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
100 percent Defense F. , Bowels knows better and had many seasons to take a lessson ( he learned from Parcells)from the Great Bill Parcells who wouldnt take shit from anybody……
Now we suffer the same Bullshit year after year…..
They could of cut somebody , anybody …… do something …. NOPE !!!!
June 18th, 2026 at 7:42 pm
100 PERCENT DEFENSE R.
Bill Parcells is rolling in his grave…..
June 18th, 2026 at 7:51 pm
@Ballwasher
You’re welcome.
Sometimes you REALLY NEED to get That Meaning’s “STRENGTH” across in a Very Specific way at the “Exact Needed” time to be able to Truly Emphasize your thoughts and feelings the way you want them understood. (Though I admit I’ve noticed a couple of guys giving it a try, but … “like I had to learn to realize”, they are sometimes putting it on a bit thick and it Can become grossly overused and lose it’s effectiveness).
I see it as a new style of writing… And thanks for the (I’m going to see it as a good thing when used “properly”) ,… shout out.
June 18th, 2026 at 8:16 pm
The HC/DC openly admits “his guys” didn’t listen, loafed, and were bored….wow
June 18th, 2026 at 8:31 pm
I think Dean was benched when he had his late season “injury”. I don’t remember seeing Reddick on the field as much either late in the season. I think they were the two worst- and a surprise Lavonte who really was too injured to be playing in the first place. I mean- c’mon you need your knee drained every week to play? Probably should have had surgery and called it a season instead!
Those guys are all gone now. Most likely candidates. I sincerely doubt they kept any of the people that did it. That’s not on Bowles unless he kept playing people he was already aware were doing it. I don’t think he did.
June 18th, 2026 at 8:35 pm
There are several concerning things with this acknowledgment:
1) we’re told that they draft “I am that man”. If that’s the case why are guys loafing?
2) depending on your definition of “coaching” the real issue seems to be management which entails managing emotions, motivating people or helping them get motivated by pushing the right buttons and having certain weekly/daily habits that lend themselves to success.
I think that’s Todd problem. He certainly knows football, albeit not modern football, but it’s the consistent management that makes him inadequate for this position.
That’s not to forgive the players who make millions to loaf. Too bad they had no shame.
June 18th, 2026 at 8:46 pm
Given how much loafing has gone on since BA retired, you’d think the Glazers installed a bakery at One Buc.
June 18th, 2026 at 8:54 pm
Reddick was constantly loafing and yet he was still on the field?
I am talking about loafing during the first 8 when they were 6-2?
Bowles and or Licht are guilty as sin for allowing Reddick to play.
If you think that did not effect the entire defense-you are just wrong.
June 18th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
And when your Leader was an Aging Washed up LVD it is obvious that the Putrid Pass Defense was the Achilles heel of this team. New Faces-alot of them and this Bain should shock the league.
June 18th, 2026 at 9:12 pm
Following extensive peer-reviewed research, our faculty has concluded that taking plays off is generally considered suboptimal for winning football games. We thank Coach Bowles for independently arriving at our findings.
June 18th, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Has anyone asked the question, “what was boweles doing on 328”
June 18th, 2026 at 10:35 pm
I guess a better question is: Did the players reflect a 328 attitude from their head coach?
June 18th, 2026 at 10:38 pm
Todd just day things so strange. Its luke he forgets hes in charge. Can you ever imagine Bill Parcells saying the things he says?dur dur well if guys would pay attention amd do their jobs and do it for 4 quarters as they are paid to do. We may have us a ball club. No.NO NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Sit that lazy bum down immediately. What a weak pathetic leader of men. We will lose because of this man’s attitude. I cant stand we brought this getting great sleep before games not worried about anything attitude.
June 18th, 2026 at 10:41 pm
Why is my comment awaiting moderation? Is it because I called Todd Bowles a pathetic weak leader. Who allows his players to just take plays off as he happily admits it might get better if players do their job for the entire game. Would Bill Parcells ever jave e er allowed this crap. Todd is not a leader. He sleeps fantastic before games. He’s got it made. He’s rich for lige and hes lazya
June 18th, 2026 at 10:42 pm
Why is my comment awaiting moderation? Is it because I called Todd Bowles a pathetic weak leader. Who allows his players to just take plays off as he happily admits it might get better if players do their job for the entire game. Would Bill Parcells ever jave e er allowed this crap. Todd is not a leader. He sleeps fantastic before games. He’s got it made. He’s rich for lige and hes lazya
June 18th, 2026 at 10:42 pm
You just erased 2 of my comments calling todd Bowles weak and not a leader. Why?
June 18th, 2026 at 11:13 pm
I guess theres a difference joe between effort and fitness.
I think bowled is talking about body CAN DO IT.
You seem to be critiquing “body can mind is bored”.
Effort is not the same thing as fitness.
June 18th, 2026 at 11:19 pm
I have a genuine hate for Bowles.
June 18th, 2026 at 11:24 pm
🤮
June 18th, 2026 at 11:35 pm
Win in the Trenches…fyi Parcells is still alive.
June 18th, 2026 at 11:49 pm
To me, it’s ass-backwards. If the players truly love football, they should not be “rewarded” with a day off from practice when they play well. That could be the attitude carrying over into games.
June 19th, 2026 at 1:57 am
The answer my friend, is blowzoing in the wind.
June 19th, 2026 at 2:02 am
This KitKat gobbling capon is still twocoaching the Bucs. Inblievable.
June 19th, 2026 at 2:26 am
So I see the Haters are pretty active in this one. That’s okay, even Haters need an outlet. A few things though…
“Players coaching themselves” does not mean anything but that the player know the scheme well enough to hold each other accountable and they are helping each other get better.
Buc1987,
I 100% agree about the trenches. I don’t “hate” Bowles…but I wanted him fired. Here’s the thing though…I have the belief that he would have been fired if Tomlin wanted to coach this year. I suspect Licht at least spoke to Tomlin to see what his plans were, and perhaps upon hearing Tomlin wanted a year off, he probably told the Glazers something like “If you fire Bowles this year, we’re commited to a new coach for at least 2-3 years…but if you keep Boles one more year, we might have a shot at Tomlin.”
As to the comments that Bowles is still here because he’s cheap, see above. Also, the Glazers are not cheapskates. They’ve proven that they are willing to spend when the time is right tor it.
June 19th, 2026 at 2:32 am
On the topic of players taking plays off, consider that after the bye, we had a lot of 2nd – 4th stringers on the field. They are not starters for a reason.
And several good players were playing through injuries (Baker, Lavante, etc) so that affected their gameplay.
I’m sure several 3rd – 4th stringers took plays off. I’m sure several 1st – 2nd strings were hurt enough to “loaf” a bit.
June 19th, 2026 at 9:34 am
He gotta go.
June 19th, 2026 at 9:52 am
@Bonzai
3rd and 4th stringers loafing should be cut or immediately and demoted for practice squad guys who want a spot on the team. Guys getting a chance to play due to injury should be playing their butt off. Only bad coaches would allow loafers to continue to play. Guys playing hurt are a little different story but depending on the severity they should be on the bench too. Taking plays off is not acceptable under any circumstance. Players and coaches that allow it should be let go. Only guys who want to play hard should be on the field, regardless of their status as starter or backup. Letting loafing players on the field is how you lose a team – as we saw in ’25. No good coach would stand for it. Bowles should have been let go. Licht and the Glazers can sugar coat it all they want or blame the quality of the players but Bowles needed to stand up and hold them accountable. Bench starters if needed. He took the easy way out. Loafing too maybe?
We’re stuck with Bowles for this year at a minimum. We can only hope the players can coach themselves as Bowles put it. It’s just not the type of comment you expect from the leader of the team. The “we got this” attitude is laughable considering the results during his tenure. Hopefully, he can turn it around this season.
June 19th, 2026 at 10:58 am
what happened to the so called “culture” of the bucs? wow.
bowles problem is he keeps talking.
no wonder evans left this train wreck.
June 19th, 2026 at 11:55 am
I think A LOT of ou guys are missing the “Reality”. It’s not so much that they were loafing and Bowles wasn’t calling them out AS MUCH AS ….. THEY “ACTUALLY QUIT on Bowles” and THEN there was loafing Team Wide on purpose.
The players, “INCLUDING” the WELL ESTABLISHED leaders WANTED everyone to look their way. And boy Did we!
Think about…… we went from a SERIOUS contender to a clown show ….. Immediately, and mid way through the season! WE ARE ALL STILL WAITING TO HEAR… waiting to hear WHAT HAPPENED? What did this guy… this “genius” say to a large group of large men that enraged them so? What was found out???
Was it the FACT that he picked (a bit harsh to call a guy who was never qualified in the first place), a Severely Unqualified, GREENER than grass, OC that he KNEW would fail? YOU KNOW WHY! It’s “OBVIOUS” isn’t it? ….. Liam Coen, anyone… Would he Dare challenge his own job again? SO SOON?! …. Your answers lays somewhere right there.
Bowles KNEW he wasn’t being genuine to the team and the fan base. It “sure” seems that he “may Have” thrown the 2026 season on purpose to protect and save his job. Gizzard didn’t perform AS PROMISED! He didn’t emulate Coen at all, AS PROMISED.
I believe they are keeping THAT quiet. If people realize the possible reality in what I say…. O BOY!
What Else did Bowles do? The guy is a Hot Mess! No Confidence is still my vote.
June 19th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
I miss Bruce Arians. He was not afraid of making a Head Coach decision.
Last year we would have at least won the division with BA as the HC.
Baker would have been benched until he was ready to attack again. The defense would be firing in all cylinders. Effort would not have been a problem. Because if a player lacks effort he would not be on the field.
All I know is that the defense had an upgrade in the off season. Bowles is cornered and he must deliver this season. No excuses!!!!
June 19th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
This is exactly why the NFL needs to stop with giving guaranteed salaries to players and coaches and make their contracts purely performance based, then all of this nonsense would stop.
June 19th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
…aaaannnddd, the clown show continues.
This is the first time in my life that I genuinely have zero excitement over the upcoming season. Could care less at this point if they win or lose with this imbecile coaching the team.
Death by a thousand paper cuts.
June 19th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
8-9 at best.
June 20th, 2026 at 12:14 am
Front seven gotta get some hard hits, at least a couple sacks and constant pressure or Burrow and those receivers gonna torture our DBs. Bowels is gonna be on the hot seat soon. I hope I’m wrong and they have a great season. Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst.