Todd Bowles Friend Talks Todd Bowles Hotseat
July 7th, 2026
Can Todd Bowles get off the head coach hot seat on which he sits?
A friend of Todd Bowles, who acknowledges Bowles’ seat is indeed hot, dove into that subject.
Joe’s referring to former Jets executive and assistant coach, and current SiriusXM NFL Radio host Pat Kirwan.
Yesterday on the airwaves, Kirwan seriously and sarcastically addressed Bowles’ hot seat status. Joe talked to Kirwan at the NFL annual meeting privately, and rest assured he absolutely does not believe Bowles deserve a hot-seat designation. But he recognizes that’s where the situation lies.
Kirwan said yesterday Bowles can have a “recovery year” to get off a hot seat, but he believes Bowles is more firm than fans think because of Team Glazer.
“Sometimes it’s the owner [who] has fired coaches so many times in a row that they decide we can’t keep doing this,” Kirwan said. “I wish more owners would do that, but they don’t. So this year everyone’s talking about our friend down in Tampa Bay. He’s had nine lives according to the media.
“I think the [Bucs] ownership and the general manager have figured out this guy motivates players, but all he has to do is win the division. Oh, that’s right. He does that all the time. He just didn’t do it last year.
“If [Bowles] wins the division [in 2026] — I might be taking them to [win] the division; we like their quarterback quite a bit and he may be the best of the [NFC South] group, he’ll get an a reprieve on this firing business.”
Kirwan, who regularly has Bowles on his radio show, went on to discuss multiple hot-seat head coaches and stated Bowles is the best coach of the bunch.
He also took a shot at owners who aren not all-in on a head coach but still keep him.
“Let me tell you something. If you think your coach is gone, don’t let him be involved with another draft,” Kirwan said. “Get him out of there before the draft because now you got players that he wanted and that means that the next coach may not want them, which I have plenty of experience in unfortunately.”
As Bucs fans know, Team Glazer and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht made several moves to set Bowles up for success in 2026. And yes, Joe is confident Bowles had a strong hand in that process.
July 7th, 2026 at 9:27 am
imo, its not only about winning the division, its about making a deep run in the playoffs….can bowles get the BUCS to the NFC Championship game?
this division doesnt have sean payton or riverboat ron to compete with…we should sweep the division…bowles needs to have a sense of urgency or he’ll be coaching HS with Teddy next year
GO BUCS!!!!
July 7th, 2026 at 9:35 am
Bowles is not a good head coach. If the goal is to win a Super Bowl then he cannot be the Bucs head coach.
July 7th, 2026 at 9:39 am
I really like Kirwan but his friendship with Tdod ruins any credibility on this subject. He doesn’t watch the Bucs, he sees stats.
The clear regression of the team and its players has been accelerating during his tenure. Last year’s 2-7 finish is a better winning percentage (.222) than the Bucs final record in 2026. It’s physics. It’s inevitable.
Mike Evans knows why. As do all the other veterans who bolted.
July 7th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Considering the availability of McDermott and Tomlin next year-both of whom have exemplary W-L records-this season is make or break for Todd and quite frankly for Baker as well and possibly Jason Licht as high profile coaches often want “their” guy as GM.
July 7th, 2026 at 9:58 am
Pat’s comments reek of bias and are borderline insulting to the fans.
“I think the [Bucs] ownership and the general manager have figured out this guy motivates players, but all he has to do is win the division.”
Motivates the players?! We had the biggest collapse in the league last year because his players quit on him. And Pat basically says out loud winning the division is this team’s ultimate goal. Pathetic.
July 7th, 2026 at 10:16 am
The cupcake bakers will point to this and wave their Pom Poms in glee.
You are what your record says you are, and how you practice.
Todd is a Loser, even with the Bucs.
8-9
9-8
10-7
7-9
1-3
35-36
Mike and the other departed veterans all know
July 7th, 2026 at 10:24 am
F that can baker take us pass the first game he needs to lock tf in and and make everyone lock in with him all the offense needs to be on the same page back ups 1st team everyone and like it was said in another post health is a big thing got us
July 7th, 2026 at 10:46 am
You had the retirement of Brady then reversal, then you had the retirement of Arians. You knew you had the financial cliff coming post Brady so promoting Todd was an okay way of trying to keep stability within the organization. And if you take that into account it was somewhat successful. You hand picked a good starting qb, Jason drafted plenty of good players and the team didn’t collapse while the financial position stabilized.
Those are nice accomplishments to hang your hat on. But the division title thing is purposefully obtuse and this guy knows it. If we were in any other division there would be at best one division title (‘24) and that’s a stretch in some divisions.
Todd has served his purpose. This is the top of tops for him: 7 to 9 wins and maybe squeezing out a division title the last week of the season in the worst division in the NFL.
Hes on the hot seat for legitimate reasons and to think he’ll turn it around in his 60s and year nine as a HC is not being truthful with yourself.
July 7th, 2026 at 10:47 am
“This” Joe idolizes Bright Licht as much as the Glazers do. I find it strange/misguided. Loved that he talked Arians into coming to Tampa though.
July 7th, 2026 at 10:56 am
Liam Coen should have been the head coach at the end of the 2024 season…
July 7th, 2026 at 10:57 am
Most fans wanted him fired and by mid October of this year we will all be able to say we were right.
July 7th, 2026 at 11:22 am
He will stay because his cost to ownership is low. Cheap is Cheap
July 7th, 2026 at 11:22 am
He will stay because his cost to ownership is low. Cheap is Cheap
July 7th, 2026 at 11:36 am
At seasons end the Bucs will have to make a decision on Bowles. If the offense rebounds like I think it will, Robinson is good as gone. Do the Glazers let another young offensive minded coach go to keep Bowles? The Bills got rid of McDermott who’s done better than Todd as HC. They promoted their young OC, and S canned Shaun. I can see the Glazers doing the same.
July 7th, 2026 at 11:38 am
Yea. I’ve been hoping for the best from him the past few years, but now I can’t get that sinking feeling out of my gut that this will be another wasted year. What really has me over the edge is all these reports of loafing, being bored and so on. That’s 100% on coaching! We may not have a great roster on defense, but not giving full effort is unacceptable and it affects the whole team. I hope the new OC, healthy OL, and a better front seven is enough to get us back in the playoffs. Agreed SB~ Coen should be HC right now!!
July 7th, 2026 at 11:53 am
It’s always been a question of talent on the team, not the coaches. In crucial playoff games like against the Commanders, Jamel Dean got hurt and cost the team the win. Talent wins football games far more than anything else. All the commanders had to do was start targeting his backups and win.
Last season everyone was out. This season they are more than due for some health. When healthy, this is an extremely talented football team. They will win the vast majority of their games unless and until injuries start to mount.
July 7th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
SB – agreed 100%. It’s difficult to be that good your first year calling plays in the NFL. Then he confirms it with his complete turn around of JX in one season. I expect there to be a bit of a drop of there this season but Todd would never come close to winning 13 games.
This is all on the glazers. They have to get with the times like Hodad alluded to. This is not a league for 60s conservative 1990s era head coaches.
It would be great to find another coen in Robinson but I watched a lot of falcon games last year and I’m not so sure he’s that type of talent. Hopefully I’m wrong.
July 7th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Todd’s record is exactly .500 as a HC in Tampa.
His playoff record is 1-3 for a .250 record.
In eight years of being a HC\DC he has one playoff win.
And that was against the Eagles who were missing both starting WRs and were circling the drain since the bye week.
He’s only serviceable against weaker and wounded opponents.
Last year he wasn’t even up to that standard after the bye week.
Four straight years of long sustained losing streaks. That is what he will always be.
A loser.
July 7th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
What I love ❤️ about Robinson is he uses a lot of 2 tight end offensive and the way he has his offensive running the football 🏈 and getting his backs out in space to catch passes.. I think he’ll use both backs in at the same time which will put a lot of pressure on the linebackers and I don’t think there’s too many linebackers that can keep up with two good and quick pass caching backs at the same time which will take pressure off our Quarterback which in turn keep him healthy and upright..❤️
July 7th, 2026 at 1:25 pm
It took a while to reassemble a team with sufficient talent. And once you have the talent, they have to stay healthy and actually *play*.
If the Football Gods smile upon us again like they did in 2021 and our team is virtually injury-free heading into the playoffs, we will win. That offensive line is too good. We will run on any team and even the most stalwart pass-rush will be largely ineffective. If Cody Mauch continues his trajectory he will be one of the top 2 or 3 guards in the league and the number 1 run blocker. Wirfs isn’t as known for his run blocking but this year he also will be. Barton will have a huge year next to Mauch again.
Barring a ton of long term injuries again, this is going to be a HUGE year! A totally different team than what we had on the field last year.
July 7th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Todd Bowles has been the HC now for 4 years. Record: 35-33 with 3 NFC South titles & 1-3 in the playoffs.
o 2019-2021 (BA as our HC) … Record: 31-18 with 1 NFC South title, 6 playoff games (5-1) & 1 Super Bowl title.
o 2015-2018 (Lovie & Koetter as our HCs) … Record: 25-39 with 0 NFC South titles & 0 playoff games.
o 2011-2014 (Morris, Schiano & Lovie as our HCs) … Record: 17-47 with 0 NFC South titles & 0 playoff games.
o 2007-2010 (Gruden & Morris as our HCs) … Record: 31-33 with 0 NFC South titles & 1 playoff game (lost).
o 2003-2006 (Gruden as our HC) … Record 27-37 with 0 NFC South titles & 1 playoff game (lost).
Bucs have been thru a lot since our first Super Bowl victory in 2002. Does anyone recognize how many NFC South titles the Bucs won from after 2002 until Bowles took over in 2022? Yup … exactly ONE (with BA as our HC in 2021). And how many NFC South titles has Todd Bowles got under his belt? Oh ya, 3.
But let’s make sure as ‘fans’ that we caveat those 3 titles. You know, the NFC South is weak, Bowles was just lucky, etc, etc. Don’t caveat the ONLY other NFC South championship that we won in the previous 20 though. For sure it was very well planned out well in advance to have Tom Brady become our QB, and bring with him guys like Gronk & Brown & Fournette. Ya, let’s go with that … well planned out. No luck involved.
July 7th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
I’ve started to agree with Rod Munch, every game the Bucs have won in Todd Bowles tenure as HC has been from his outstanding coaching, the only games the Bucs have lost in that time frame was 100% Baker’s fault, if not 110% of it.
I think if Bowles would’ve had Kyle Trask as the starter, they would’ve won all of their games. There may have been teams that wouldn’t have even bothered showing up, just forfeited instead of getting totally humiliated by the God Of All Caches, Thee Todd Bowles.
July 7th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Just sat down- and read this. It has been a mighty rough stretch, that’s for sure. Didn’t quite remember it being that bad- no wonder so many of you fans are so doom and gloom. D.R. great stuff as always.
July 7th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Referring to Defense Rules comments.
July 7th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
Tom Brady had one losing season in the NFL.
Toad Bowels was the HC\DC for the Bucs that season.
Final record was 8-10 including a home playoff loss to the Cowboys.
Bowles is so inept he makes the Cowboys look good in the playoffs.
Not many coaches can say that!!! He’s a guru!!! Defensive genius!!!!
In reality, he sucks out loud at any job he does. A complete fraud.
July 7th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Munch is halfway there. Bowles is a really good coach *and* Baker is an excellent QB. Due to a variety of circumstances usually involving injuries, we haven’t (lately) gotten as far as our team talent would indicate. Let’s hope this year is a far better indicator of the overall talent of our intrepid Buccaneers.
July 7th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
Todd Says:
Considering the availability of Tomlin next year
^^^^^
Tomlin is NOT available next year. He resigned so Pitt holds his rights. Any team that wants to hire him has to compensate the team. I doubt the team would stand in the way but you never know. He played that totally wrong.
July 7th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
Tom Brady wasn’t focused on that season. Not at all. He had far too many personal problems going on. So stop blaming Bowles for it.
July 7th, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Geez DR, who won our division in 2005 and 2007!? You OK, man?
July 7th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
the subtle bigotry of low expectations is alive and well.
July 7th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
Floormatt you are stuck on stupid.
Bowles is going to try and prove his worthlessness to you yet again in 2026.
Sadly even a 0-17 season would not change your mind.
You have a weird man crush on him.
It’s quite disturbing.
July 7th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
Communicating with you I am stuck on stupid.
July 7th, 2026 at 3:07 pm
Bowles doesn’t need a “recovery year.” He needs a breakthrough year. The excuses are gone. The roster is here. The expectations are here. Win in January not just the NFC South. Otherwise, that hot seat isn’t media hype… it’s earned.
🚨
It feels like there’s a silhouette standing just outside the stadium lights at Ray Jay. That silhouette? Mike Tomlin. A coach whose NFL roots trace back to the Tony Dungy coaching tree in Tampa. A Super Bowl champion. A leader who’s never had a losing season. If the season falls short… ✌️
🔥 LFG!
💍 ME!!
🧔🏿♂️ Tomlin in the shadows!!!
July 7th, 2026 at 3:10 pm
5-12.
July 7th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
4-13 Floormatt blames everyone else except Toad Bowels
July 7th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
Bowles, Mayfield a healthy team fresh faces! They’re gonna run the ball and play defense make the playoffs and the trolls will be signed on for next off season ,Please don’t lose any sleep!
July 7th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
Trolls are looking more and more desperate. 😭
Todd’s the coach, Bakers the QB, Mike is gone – tough titty 🤣
July 7th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
Nothing the fans can do at this point. The die is cast and Bowles is chief cook and bottle washer this season. I can only hope that the defense is better and Zac is a lot better at OC. Winning the division is a realistic expectation. Winning the SB is not. Glazers must be OK with just winning the division while the fans are not.
July 7th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Trade Baker and Vea now get what you can and set McDermott up with extra pics and let him pick who he wants 😉
July 7th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
Harold – hope you’re right. Looking forward to watching!
DR – while I appreciate the trip down memory lane that’s what it is, memory lane. Just because the franchise has traditionally been downtrodden doesn’t mean it can’t develop into an elite one. We have a pretty good GM and an ownership that’s committed to the region. Those are two great rocks. Now I’d like to see those two rocks develop a good offensive HC and a franchise qb that will make us a deep playoff threat for a decade plus. The latter won’t happen w/o the former.
And if you think it can’t happen because of decades of incompetence, just ask the fans in KC who said it would never happen…..until it did.
July 7th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Mikadeemas … Yea verily, you’re right. We lost the Wildcard game both seasons, and instead of going back 1 more screen (to see who won the division) I assumed we were the Wildcard (playing in the Wildcard game?). Bad assumption; good catch.
We thus had 3 NFC South titles to our credit between in those 20 years between our first SB win and when Todd assumed HC in 2022.
July 7th, 2026 at 4:20 pm
LynchMob50 … ‘Tom Brady had one losing season in the NFL. Toad Bowels was the HC\DC for the Bucs that season.’
I was wondering who was gonna be the first in with that tidbit LynchMob, and you won.
July 7th, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Obvious … ‘Now I’d like to see those two rocks develop a good offensive HC and a franchise qb that will make us a deep playoff threat for a decade plus. The latter won’t happen w/o the former.’
I’d love to see us draft a bonifide franchise QB one year, but that’s hard to do unless you’re drafting near the top. The curse of Todd Bowles is that we’ve been ‘middle-of-the-pack’ every year, and the good ones are gone by the time we get our 1st pick.
The only exception to that in my recent memory is 2018 when we traded away our #7 pick to Buffalo and they grabbed Josh Allen, while we drafted Vita Vea at the #12 pick we got in return. And yes, I do consider Josh Allen to be a franchise QB.
In terms of wanting an ‘OFFENSIVE HC’ however, I’m in the boat of NOT wanting our HC to also be a coordinator, either offensive OR defensive. In my opinion, any HC can’t effectively serve 2 masters; eventually it catches up to them and they have to choose where to put the majority of their time.
I think that BA learned that lesson out in Arizona, because he wasn’t the OC here. Byron Leftwich didn’t succeed here UNTIL he got Tom Brady as the QB (he was 7-9 with Jameis in 2019). Byron won big in 2020 & 2021 with Brady (with BA’s Red Pen ‘oversight’ more than likely). Leftwich faltered in 2022 when Bowles assumed HC because (1) Tom Brady stayed 1 year too long, like so many professional athletes do; and (2) Byron no longer had BA looking over his shoulder (Todd presumably let him ‘do his own thing’ and that was not a good move).
July 7th, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Obvious … ‘Now I’d like to see those two rocks develop a good offensive HC and a franchise qb that will make us a deep playoff threat for a decade plus. The latter won’t happen w/o the former.’
I’d love to see us draft a bonifide franchise QB one year, but that’s hard to do unless you’re drafting near the top. The curse of Todd Bowles is that we’ve been ‘middle-of-the-pack’ every year, and the good ones are gone by the time we get our 1st pick.
The only exception to that in my recent memory is 2018 when we traded away our #7 pick to Buffalo and they grabbed Josh Allen, while we drafted Vita Vea at the #12 pick we got in return. And yes, I do consider Josh Allen to be a franchise QB.
July 7th, 2026 at 4:38 pm
Obvious … In terms of wanting an ‘OFFENSIVE HC’ however, I’m in the boat of NOT wanting our HC to also be a coordinator, either offensive OR defensive. In my opinion, any HC can’t effectively serve 2 masters; eventually it catches up to them and they have to choose where to put the majority of their time.
July 7th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Brady had no help as far as a run game in his 3rd year while the D was in the top 10 go figure?? Im thinking football is a” TEAM “sport
July 7th, 2026 at 5:15 pm
Yes Steve I’ve been trying to make that point for a long time now. You can’t win the Super Bowl without a complimentary football TEAM. We may very well have that this year if we can stay healthy.
July 7th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
We really need Robinson to be 100% self sustainable in this offense and Bowles to stay away from it. Maybe if he solely uses his manager hat and defense he will have a better product. He signed a three year deal and Coen only 1 so hopefully Baker can settle in.
Not sure how a contract works if we own his rights or what, should he be offered a HC position.
July 7th, 2026 at 6:48 pm
Step,it was such a disastrous 2nd half of last season, im so ready for this healthy ball club,they were playing so well early on! With the changes they’ve made i really do think they’re really gonna make a nice run this season plus with a nasty chip on their shoulders I’d love to see some smash mouth football out of them!
July 7th, 2026 at 8:52 pm
Considering Kirwin’s background and experience, his opinion is worth more than all of us armchair GMs combined.
July 7th, 2026 at 9:50 pm
Steve, Cody Mauch is coming back and he’s a master of smash mouth football. Cannot wait to see the run game this year with that massively powerful and nasty offensive line.