Does Todd Bowles Need An Active Mentor?
July 22nd, 2026
Interesting stuff from Jaguars head coach Liam “El Serpiente” Coen today.
Bucs fans know Coen as their 2024 Tampa Bay offensive coordinator who did a hell of a job — before bolting Tampa after saying he wouldn’t. New Bucs offensive coordinato Zac Robinson may be Coen’s best friend.
Coen had huge success in his first season as Jaguars head coach last year and talked about that with Peter Schrager of ESPN. He noted how he’s tight with Jon Gordon, the renowed motivational speaker.
Gordon has consulted with Coen many times, Coen said, and much of the crafting of Jaguars culture has been assisted by Gordon. He’s also addressed the Jacksonville team.
That got Joe wondering who Todd Bowles has as an active mentor.
It seems Bucco Bruce Arians is mostly disconnected from the Bucs now. He worked last season in media (The Pat McAfee Show), wasn’t at One Buc Palace and no longer hints that he does much of anything in his role as senior advisor to general manager Jason Licht.
Bowles talks weekly in-season to Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells, but it’s unclear how detailed those chats are — and what kind of fastball Parcells has left at 84 years old.
Last year, Bowles said of advisor Tom Moore, “He’s such a valuable piece, we can’t do too much without him.” Moore was 87 last season and left the Bucs for a three-game stretch during the season (all losses) when his wife was ill. Moore left Tampa Bay altogether after the season. So he’s out of the picture.
Does a head coach need a go-to mentor/sounding board? Many good coaches have them.
Arians brought in Moore for just that reason. Bowles seems to be on his own with a lot of new coaches around him.
Of course, Joe realizes it’s possible Bowles has multiple mentors that haven’t been revealed.
July 22nd, 2026 at 3:44 pm
chat AI is my suggestion-AI can freaking game plan!!!!!!!!!!!
July 22nd, 2026 at 3:54 pm
I really doubt he has a mentor at all. He’s too prideful.
July 22nd, 2026 at 3:56 pm
No need to make this more complcagred than it really is. All Bowles needs to do is retire.
July 22nd, 2026 at 3:58 pm
After Arians was kicked off the sideline he basically said you guys are on your own. As far as Bowles goes why wouldn’t he bring in a young defensive coordinator to challenge him on a daily basis? In real life you surround yourself with people that make the team better.
July 22nd, 2026 at 4:06 pm
Does 63 year old Todd need a mentor? No, he’s supposed to be a mentor. But that’s clearly not the case as none of his defensive coaching tree has had any success.
All these conversations about Todd needing a mentor, an in game specialist, a time clock manager, a DC…it’s crystal clear he’s simply not the guy.
We need to move and find a leader that doesn’t need a team to lead a team.
July 22nd, 2026 at 4:07 pm
I sure miss Monte Kiffin! That man, as defensive coordinator, didn’t need no stinking mentor. He on his own was a trailblazer in the NFL.
Joe, regarding Toad Bowels, it’s obvious that he has an unrevealed mentor. It has got to be Joel Olsteen. Because every defensive game plan is built on a foundation of Hope & Prayer!
July 22nd, 2026 at 4:21 pm
I’m sure Bowles just rolls out his Magic 8 Ball for advice.
… Concentrate and ask again …
… Reply hazy, try again …
… Most likely …
… Outlook not so good …
July 22nd, 2026 at 4:45 pm
Jenny Craig?
July 22nd, 2026 at 4:55 pm
StretchOMatic Says: It has got to be Joel Olsteen. Because every defensive game plan is built on a foundation of Hope & Prayer!
________________________________________________________________
ROFL!!!!!!
July 22nd, 2026 at 5:00 pm
Bucnjim Says:
July 22nd, 2026 at 3:58 pm
After Arians was kicked off the sideline he basically said you guys are on your own. As far as Bowles goes why wouldn’t he bring in a young defensive coordinator to challenge him on a daily basis? In real life you surround yourself with people that make the team better.
————————————————————————————–
Bowles is old school/stubborn. These guys, like Mike and Lovie Smith, and the following:
Mike Zimmer — excellent defensive résumé, but often criticized for relying too heavily on older pressure and coverage structures without enough disguise or flexibility.
Vic Fangio — still highly respected, but some critics argue that his two-high shell system became overcopied and, at times, too passive when offenses learned how to attack it.
Todd Bowles — aggressive and experienced, but sometimes criticized for sticking with blitz-heavy approaches even when his secondary cannot hold up.
Ron Rivera — often viewed as traditional, conservative, and slower to embrace newer offensive, analytical, and game-management ideas.
Mike Vrabel — strong culture and leadership coach, but critics have questioned whether his offensive philosophy and staff choices were modern enough.
Matt Eberflus — associated with a traditional Tampa-2-style philosophy and criticized for being too predictable and conservative.
Jack Del Rio — frequently cited as an example of a defensive coach whose concepts and adjustment speed did not keep pace with modern offenses.
Leslie Frazier — respected, but often characterized as conservative schematically and less aggressive with pressure and disguise.
Dom Capers, late in his career — once innovative, but his defenses were often described as overly complex while simultaneously becoming predictable.
Rex Ryan, toward the end of his coaching tenure — his pressure packages were once cutting-edge, but offenses eventually became better at identifying and exploiting them.
July 22nd, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Yes. I think the Buccaneers hired a consultant to take over the on-field red flag challenge calls and when to go for it on 4th down or kick a field goal
July 22nd, 2026 at 5:14 pm
Wtf mentor lol Todd doesnt need that when he has the tenets of we got to coach it better and play it better mentor that got a laugh at me joe.
July 22nd, 2026 at 5:29 pm
Todd Bowles needs to win..Period. He is on the hot seat. If he does not deliver this season? Dump him into the Bay.
July 22nd, 2026 at 5:45 pm
How about a financial retirement counselor. Or maybe a real estate salesman for overseas houses.
July 22nd, 2026 at 5:59 pm
Geez let’s beat a dead horse. Todd is done, finis, and this season will be his last as HC. The guy is the definition of stubborn and mediocre. The only mentor Todd needs is a retirement mentor.
July 22nd, 2026 at 5:59 pm
If the team stays relatively healthy, we will win. We have plenty of talent to win lots of games.
July 22nd, 2026 at 6:02 pm
Bosch Says: “All Bowles needs to do is retire.”
Amen to this! How about tomorrow!
July 22nd, 2026 at 6:27 pm
BA would be the perfect mentor, but he got called a racist by the media and ran off the field a few years ago for trying to be an active participant again. I still SMH over that. What a shame.
July 22nd, 2026 at 6:53 pm
Deputy Dog?
July 22nd, 2026 at 7:08 pm
A mentor? He’s 64 and coached forever. If he does not have it by now, a mentor isn’t going to do anything.
It’s show time, Bowles. This is the Final Cut. Either you do it this year, or you will be home in 2027.
July 22nd, 2026 at 7:09 pm
…..OMG………just give Bowels a pink sippy cup with a pink umbrella
July 22nd, 2026 at 7:11 pm
hearty good point
none of his defensive coaching tree has had any success.
July 22nd, 2026 at 7:15 pm
Magic 8 ball, I hurt myself laughing. Did Joe come up with this mentor thing just so dudes on this site could vent? Todd better find his best abilities, inner strength and hire a motivational mentor or else he’ll be walking the plank. Period.
July 22nd, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Maybe zac brings back the offense from two years ago and we actually keep the right guy this time?
July 22nd, 2026 at 7:46 pm
StretchOMatic Says
“I sure miss Monte Kiffin! That man, as defensive coordinator, didn’t need no stinking mentor. He on his own was a trailblazer in the NFL.”
And he was a blast to watch on the sidelines.
July 22nd, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Mike Tomlin prefers 3-4, right?
We left the 4-3 behind because people figured it out…but I liked watching it more when it was good.
July 22nd, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Hahahahahah.
That is all. Only five more months of this amateur show, hopefully.
July 22nd, 2026 at 8:11 pm
He consults with the DC
July 22nd, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Bowles is on his own because he chased away anyone with any experience. Hard to justify dumb decisions to knowledgeable people, but if you surround yourself with inexperience and ignorance, then you’re always the smartest guy in the room.
He said it himself, he’s just out to prove the doubters wrong. Can’t have people around you that know better if you want to be right all the time in your own meetings and be able to claim the doubters are just haters.
At 60+ years old, people have already tried to mentor you and failed at the job if you’re still unsuccessful. That’s why they’re no longer associated with a failed project.
July 22nd, 2026 at 8:44 pm
Bowles has his magic 8 ball he consults with .
July 22nd, 2026 at 9:45 pm
Only the haters would think Todd needs any mentoring or help.
July 22nd, 2026 at 10:00 pm
For anyone interested: if the glazers don’t get their home playoff check and/or get tired of Todd and he wants to keep coaching, do you know where he’ll be coaching?
The UFL. That’s right. There’s not one NFL team that would entertain that idea. He’s Jeff fisher.
Let that sink in
July 22nd, 2026 at 10:07 pm
I think the comment about none of Bowles disciples getting hired is telling.
We are on our 2nd or 3rd offensive coordinator from the same tree but defensively there isn’t even a tree.
And that is what we decided the backbone of the team should be surrounded around.
Just unfathomable.
July 22nd, 2026 at 10:08 pm
He’s got it all under control.
Fans are lucky to have him.
July 22nd, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Will we survive (with dignity) — or possibly even thrive — with Todd Bowles this season?
I kind of lost a lot of respect for ownership for not making a change at the end of last season. It was really (past) time to do so.
Kind of like me and AI. You know, “old dog, new trick”.
July 22nd, 2026 at 10:27 pm
@ gotbbucs – Are you KIDDING ME!? “Failed Project!?” LoL. SERIOUSLY!? So, THAT’S WHY all his past mentors left him!? Hmmmm… Because, HE “Failed” at his job. Well, that is absolutely RIDICULOUS. Just SO ABSURD. So, how many “Coaches” do YOU BELIEVE, ever make it to THE ‘PINNACLE’ of their careers!? Just what would YOU SAY THEN, would be the percentage of “COACHES” in this country, who ever “make it” to THE NFL!? Much less, as a HEAD. FRICKING. COACH. For what now, 8-SEASONS… EIGHT. Won a fricking SUPER BOWL as DC (and basically HC ‘in-waiting’)… PLUS, a run of 3-STRAIGHT ‘Divisional’ TITLES, that coincided with 3-trips to the PLAYOFFS. And, YOU are going to sit here and try to say that “HIS MENTORS” think for EVEN A ‘SECOND’ that “HE” has not been a total success, and are like ‘disappointed’ in HIM, or something!? That, THEY believe that HE is a “FAILURE!?” Pssstt… PuhLEASE. GTFO. So, what is it that YOU DO then… Since, “YOU” are calling “HIM” a FAILURE!? Have YOU ‘accomplished’ anything EVEN CLOSE!? Or, anything at ALL!?
July 22nd, 2026 at 10:31 pm
The lack of promotions on the defense doesn’t actually concern me. The NFL is an offensive league. Owners that get this don’t hire from a defensive staff. They want young innovative offensive minds.
But your point is still valid: out of any of the def coaches hired it want Todd’s. He actually canned them.
July 22nd, 2026 at 10:38 pm
“The Man” has made it all the way to being a HEAD. FRICKING. COACH. in THE NFL. And, we got some guy in here trying to say that TODD has been SUCH a HUGE “FAILURE” in life, that all of “HIS MENTORS” have left HIM. LoL. Just won’t have anything to do with him anymore Lmao. Ummm, Yahhhh… OhhhKayyy!!!!
July 22nd, 2026 at 10:50 pm
MelvinJunior: It’s how you finish that counts. Isn’t that right? Isn’t it all about wins?
July 22nd, 2026 at 10:51 pm
Hoping for the best, expecting the same. I don’t see successful coaches just stand there and play scared all the time. Times have changed, but not our HC. Where is the energy and ability to adjust to the modern game?! We don’t have that here, the Glazer boys let it bolt to the Jags. No wonder we have admittedly bored loafers! Sure hope new personel and a healthy OL can get us out of our yearly dumpster fire. And sign our QB please. God help us 🙏
July 22nd, 2026 at 11:51 pm
Son of a Buc: Well said! Strong second from me — couldn’t have said it better!
July 23rd, 2026 at 9:40 am
Just a guess here, but Incredibly Average Todd Bowles probably has the same “mentor” as Coach Klein of the South-Central Louisiana State University Mud Dogs: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Coaching Football.
July 23rd, 2026 at 10:46 pm
So this is his issue, he has no mentor.😂 WHERE IS ARIANS?