Bucs All-In For Todd Bowles
August 20th, 2026
“Well done, Jason.”
Joe thinks it’s absolutely no coincidence there was a rare Team Glazer sighting on the practice field Tuesday morning and then news broke of a raise and a contract extension for Vita Vea a day later.
Joe is not saying co-owner Joel Glazer told Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht to fetch Sizzlis and Hawaiian Punch while he handles locking down Vea. But Joe is comfortable speculating that Team Glazer committed to ending the Vea standoff immediately, and with a personal touch.
The guys who write the checks always have a heavy hand in expensive, franchise-shaping decisions — and when those calls are made.
So was keeping Vea a franchise-shaping decision worthy of ownership involvement?
That’s up for debate. But in January, Team Glazer made the bold move to enrage a majority of Bucs fans by retaining Todd Bowles following a historic meltdown in the second half of last season. Not every NFL ownership group would wave off the angry mob as mere background noise.
Team Glazer planted a Bowles flag on Dale Mabry Highway and, Joe believes, they showed this week they’re prepared to defend it.
Losing Vea would have made the 2026 team worse and would not have fit with the decision to retain Bowles as the man ready to put the Bucs back in Super Bowl contention. Also, Vea moving on would have re-ignited the screams from legions of fans who insist Bowles is the reason Mike Evans sprinted across the country for less money, more taxes and Brock Purdy, and nobody at One Buc Palace wanted that. (When will Evans and/or the Bucs put a stop to that nonsense narrative? Who has the balls gumption?)
Bowles walked away from this offseason with improved depth and talent at defensive tackle, at edge rusher, and at inside linebacker, along with an overhauled defensive coaching staff, a seasoned offensive coordinator and a veteran offense dripping with talent, plus a highly respected new special teams coach.
It’s no stretch to say the organization is all-in for Bowles.
Flash poll posted at 4:27 p.m.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
Super Bowles Baby!!!!!
August 20th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
So, we are all good now with the bloated contract Vita signed? Will “Team Glazer” pay Mayfield and make the JoeBuscFan haters go crazy? Stay tuned!
August 20th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
It’s all-in for winning. Right now. That’s not just for Bowles. Some luck with injuries is more than due, so provided that happens this is a very good playoff team. Is it Super Bowl caliber? I don’t know. They will have to figure out how to beat a very tough Rams squad to get there most likely…
That’s going to be quite a challenge.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
I wouldn’t characterize this as an all-in move. I see the Glazers giving Bowles a fair chance by retaining Vita and drafting some good defensive players – and picking up vets like Anzalone and A’Shawn. So, at the end of the season, Bowles can’t say he wasn’t supported and didn’t have a fair chance this year. The Glazers will be looking very hard at Bowles to decide to retain him or not. The Glazers want flexibility if Bowles is gone and a new coach comes in – hence the short contracts.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Well see if that statement is the same after he wins 6 games. Next year it will be all in for Mike Tomlin
August 20th, 2026 at 5:23 pm
This is an “all in”, as much as can be, for a Championship push. Todd has no excuses now and as far as I can see the Glazers have played their cards very well by signing a key piece to make the defense jump while retaining a potentially top offense as well. The special teams should be more than special to actually “complete” the team. They are, in effect, saying that if we don’t get to the Championship game and beyond you’re history, while still keeping the option open for the next staff, if need be, to get their own QB while keeping the salary cap manageable for the future. I think these have been sound decisions all around by the Glazers, they certainly haven’t been cheap as some have said. I think they see the defense as growing this year and beyond. They also probably know the future cap projections in advance so that helps in their decision making. To me it shows their desire to win and be at the top. That is not only in business, which this is, but in everything they do.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
PS I’m pretty certain Evans left because his wife wanted to leave. It wasn’t Bowles or the Bucs or even chasing the HoF as I originally thought. It was more personal than that. And that’s sad but fine.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
Fire bowls. 3rd and 28. Never forget
August 20th, 2026 at 5:29 pm
Def was no coincidence and the speed at which things soon followed.
“When will Evans and/or the Bucs put a stop to that nonsense narrative? Who has the balls gumption?” – I kinda feel like the Joe’s have gained a much better or thorough understanding of the situation and reasoning behind the Evans decision in the last month and change or so by some of the wording/phrasing being used lately in articles
I’ve wondered since the decision to keep Bowles if Jason and Team Glazer were lockstep on that decision behind the scenes. The fact Jason & Greeny weren’t handing out fat new contracts – and def not long term – and then Team Glazer shows up and it’s done only makes me wonder that more. If you’re seeing it from JL’s perspective and hypothetically speaking, if Bowles were to be gone after the season, than having options/flexibility for new Head Coach (and DC) to keep or choose what is the centerpiece of both the Offense and Defense is pretty valuable and a great card to have to play when hiring or appealing to a new HC and DC. Especially if defense were to change to a 4-3 or the new HC didn’t want Baker leading the pirate ship or wanted a different flavor of QB, etc.
This has all been pretty interesting to say the least!
August 20th, 2026 at 5:31 pm
Glazer doing Licht’s job. Maybe he do Bowles job too?
August 20th, 2026 at 5:31 pm
Joe … ‘Vea moving on would have re-ignited the screams from legions of fans who insist Bowles is the reason Mike Evans sprinted across the country for less money, more taxes and Brock Purdy’.
That’s all pure speculation; no facts to back it up. To my knowledge, Mike Evans has never dissed the Bucs. Odds are far greater IMO that he saw the writing on the wall in terms of many fewer touches in Tampa with Egbuka, Godwin & McMillen all healthy, plus having to feed the RBs & TEs about 100 touches each per season. Plus I don’t think that ME13 had the confidence in Baker to get him the ball that so many JBFers seem to have.
Some day soon I hope we’ll get off this ‘Todd Bowles is a really nice guy, but he’s obviously responsible for everything bad that happens in Tampa Bay’ kick.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
Every one of our offensive linemen needs to challenge himself to try to play as well as Wirfs does. If that happens, the Bucs will dominate. Several of them have even more talent than they think. I think Mauch and Goedeke could play at All-Pro levels, and Bredeson and Barton at Pro Bowl levels. Keeping my fingers crossed.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
“ insist Bowles is the reason Mike Evans sprinted across the country for less money, more taxes and Brock Purdy “
Bowles is exactly that. Mike knows he sux. Be like Mike.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
Why wouldn’t you forget 3rd and 28 ,that makes no sense !! Beer is good…you know the rest..UGH!
August 20th, 2026 at 5:55 pm
It’s no stretch to say the organization is all-in for Bowles.
Further proof they’ve lost the ability to recognize a completely failed agenda.
2025 should have been a moment of clarity and a clear path forward.
Instead they’ve decided to douse the flames with kerosene and hope it works better than water.
Bowles is a loser as a HC. Always has been and always will be. A guru of mediocrity.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:57 pm
We are definitely NOT in a rebuilding phase. We are preparing to win NOW.
With some injury luck we should field the best Bucs team in years.
Nobody can accurately predict this sh$t but I see a path to a top 10 offense and defense, maybe even top 5 and 10+ wins.
We have a lot of new pieces and moving parts so it will take a minute for everyone to “gel” and create an “identity” but anyone who doesn’t think this years squad is (will be) GREATLY improved over last years needs to have their head examined
August 20th, 2026 at 5:58 pm
Awesome- how are ticket sales?
August 20th, 2026 at 5:58 pm
For those of us keeping score at home…this is the 2nd early extension for VV. North of 100 million of Glazer Gold.
What’s most important is that Licht can be friends with VV after VV clowned the Bucs on the sidelines, went to the media with his gripes and called in Big Brother Bully Suh.
Time will tell if it’s a win in the field. Team brass looks feeble for giving in and topping off.
Zero incentive for Mahalo VV to play hard or hurt during his 2 year severance/ farewell tour.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
Just like in politics, optics is everything. I wonder if Mike Evans leaving for less money forced the Bucs to pay VV.
August 20th, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Matt——
How are you “pretty sure” Evans left Tampa because of his wife?
Details? Evidence of this? Can’t wait to hear it.
The only thing I know about her is her Texas roots. Why the affinity for California?
I’m pretty sure he left for other, more obvious reasons.
My evidence? None.
Is your ‘pretty sure’ any surer than mine?
August 20th, 2026 at 6:17 pm
Last season the collective media narrative was the Bucs had a “Superbowl roster”. This season its “all in on Bowles”. Whew, the marketing needs a lot of work. Doesn’t matter how much lipstick you put on this pig, this roster pales when compared to the Rams, Eagles and Lions.
When the injuries happen can this “overhauled coaching staff” coach up the thin depth on this team? We’ll see….
August 20th, 2026 at 6:26 pm
Love this move! It restored my faith. And it allows for the young pass rusher and LB to have a quality beast eating up blocks in the middle. Everyone is better for it.
August 20th, 2026 at 6:30 pm
It’s not the 3rd and 28 that got us it was 4th and 14 on the next play that got us!
August 20th, 2026 at 6:39 pm
That last sentence is why the Bucs will NEVER amount to anything until a new HC is hired!
It’s a Bucs life….
August 20th, 2026 at 6:40 pm
“We are definitely NOT in a rebuilding phase. We are preparing to win NOW.“
Agreed and as much as people complain about what we do and don’t have in terms of personnel, Licht and the front office have done an admirable job re-tooling this team from the start of the ‘22 season to right now. We legit went from one of the older teams, to being a little younger but middle of the pack old to now having a great mix of young veteran and rookie talent. Do we have what we need to get us over the hump?
Maybe, if they can keep a high level of performance but we’re not far off from being a contender, and imo we’re closer to that than being bottom of the league or a team with a roster in limbo. Had we let Vea go; then I’d say we’re def trending away from what they’ve tried to build since the end of ‘22
August 20th, 2026 at 6:41 pm
Yes, the owners are all in for Bowles. Ultimately, they will come to regret it.
August 20th, 2026 at 6:43 pm
Where’s George Allen when you need him?
August 20th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
This roster could be a real contender with a good head coach. We have a glorified secondary coach who couldn’t lead a pee wee club. Bowles subbing out Dean to get Morrison reps ruined this team last season. They hate him now.
August 20th, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Well Joe you are saying what I have been saying both about Baker and Vea. If the Bucs really think they can get back and deep in the playoffs then they will sign both Vea and Baker. So other than scratching your head about the secondary it appears the Bucs are believing. Sighing Vea was a great sign on a few fronts. Believe me the players were watching. Signing Vea definitely pumped the players.
I would not be surprised if Baker is sighed before the season starts.
With that said can we get a real cb?. If that happens definitely watch out for this team.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Football1
“Signing Vea definitely pumped the players.“
Agree, now they think a holdout is the key to a big raise.
Vea is laughing all the way to the bank and the rest of the team sees dollar signs when they have a year left on their SIGNED contract.
Always thought the Glazers were great businessmen with poor football minds.
Now, I wonder.
Malcolm was far superior to his birth lottery winning sons.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
Yeah right the Glazers love Bowles what head coach would work for 3 million a year. Not many!!!!!!?
August 20th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
Sell those tix not much time left.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:11 pm
Winny Testaverde Says:
August 20th, 2026 at 5:58 pm
For those of us keeping score at home…this is the 2nd early extension for VV. North of 100 million of Glazer Gold.
What’s most important is that Licht can be friends with VV after VV clowned the Bucs on the sidelines, went to the media with his gripes and called in Big Brother Bully Suh.
Time will tell if it’s a win in the field. Team brass looks feeble for giving in and topping off.
Zero incentive for Mahalo VV to play hard or hurt during his 2 year severance/ farewell tour.
_________
Good take.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:34 pm
The Glazers cut a deal for Vea. It was face saving for themselves should Bowles fall on his face…….again.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Can someone tell me why Mike Evan’s did not want to stay with the bucs his whole career but everyone else does. Even hall of farmers wanted to end their career with 1 team. Vea says he loves Tampa, his teammate and the bucs. Same thing with Lavonne. Strange isn’t it.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:42 pm
So, I’m glad Vita isn’t leaving this year…but…by caving to him, the team sent a message that they can basically he blackmailed by their players.
August 20th, 2026 at 8:44 pm
Removing all excuses for Bowles – its a classic management maneuver.
He has everything & everyone he wanted. When he fails again, there is nothing to point to other than himself.
7 – 10, here we come!
August 20th, 2026 at 9:00 pm
Idk man, I’d think if we still had Dean we wouldn’t be worried about Morrison nor worried about the CB depth.
Funny thing is, the mix of talent at the position is very similar to what we had when Bowles showed up.
Zyon is the elder like CDIII
Morrison is clearly Dean minus the speed and lesser physical presence, but is a better man corner in comparison
Parrish is a shorter, but way twitcher/athletic SMB
Don’t think we have a Hargraves
I’d say Pepe Williams would be our MJ Stewart, but Garnes imo is a wild card we didn’t have as a cover corner. Remains to be seen if he can give us what Ryan Smith did on special teams covering kicks
August 20th, 2026 at 9:11 pm
@ Itzok Says: “Next year it will be all in for Mike Tomlin.”
For a REBUILD!? And, developing a young QB!? Yeah, that would be THE ‘Stupidest’ Thing EVER. Talk about sitting us back. NO. MORE. RETREADS. There are waaaayyy too many HOT young coaches out there, with GREAT minds, coaching the MODERN GAME. How bout Gruden then, or McDermott LoL… It’s like they’re the only coaches these people have ever heard of. Would be just a HORRIBLE MOVE for the direction of this franchise. People will go NUTS. Pittsburgh Fans will Ltaoooo.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:14 pm
Sounds like the entire Buccaneer organization, owners, front office management, coaches and players are locked in to make this Buc team a winning organization. They have addressed everything. That’s impressive.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:17 pm
WR’s do not just walk-away from and leave ELITE Quarterbacks. Especially, an organization they’ve spent 12-SEASONS WITH, and for LESS MONEY. Wake up, People. And, they don’t leave because the DEFENSE was bad.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:18 pm
All BS. Bowles does not DESERVE to continue to serve as HC & DC, yet he is. Whatever “might” happen to him at the end of this season absolutely should have happened at the end of last season.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:19 pm
Kyu Blue Kelly ‘27, it’s only right.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:32 pm
Nothing changes until Bowles and Licht are both gone.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:36 pm
The biggest regret players may have is who Bowles chose as his 2026 OC. Todd gets fired if Zac Robinson’s offense is as predictable and poorly executed as it was the last two years in Atlanta
A lousy offensive system in one city will still be rotten in another. Some of you remarked that because Atlanta had bad personnel Robinson’s scheme was doomed to fail. My belief is his system didn’t work and it made the personnel look worse.
I am not looking forward to seeing Mayfield line up in the pistol formation over and over this year. Robinson is out to prove his concepts work and if early indications are true he hasn’t changed a thing from 2025.
August 20th, 2026 at 9:50 pm
MelvinJunior Says:
WR’s do not just walk-away from and leave ELITE Quarterbacks. Especially, an organization they’ve spent 12-SEASONS WITH, and for LESS MONEY. Wake up, People. And, they don’t leave because the DEFENSE was bad.
******************
You could look at it that way, but there’s also this:
Evans has made over >>$166M<<< in the course of his career, just for football and nothing else. Not every decision for him is about football money at the very end. He gets the exposure as the best WR in a major market, got new endorsement deals, isn't on a WR by committee team (Godwin/Egbuka/McMillian/Johnson etc), got a pitch from the 2nd best offensive coach in the business and more.
Whether or not the Bucs are doomed in 2026 matters a lot less to Evans at this stage than the positives he's getting to play for SF. Apples and oranges comparison really.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:06 pm
So Mayfield should have tweaked his back and refused to practice Say what you want but that’s the message. Joe has been telling us for weeks that the Bucs weren’t going to be bullied, well? and honestly their defense sucks with him or without him
August 20th, 2026 at 10:08 pm
For 2026 they are. Agreed it be hard for that team to hit its potential without vea.
Veas extension is a nice compromise. He stays for the next two years and Todd gets his best chance at doing something he’s never done.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:09 pm
The South Florida (USF) Recruit has made TWO MONSTER PLAYS during the first 3-minutes of the ballgame… A HUGE HIT for a BIG LOSS on the very first play, and then an INT right off the bat, AND he’s hurt (doubtful for the game). No way in HAIL he was missing “THIS ONE,” and being on ESPN. He looks REAL STRONG. I knew South Floduh had a Baylor School (TN) kid.., I was looking at their class just the other day!!!! God, hope they can keep him.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:10 pm
JA several different posters over the past 5 months or so have hinted around about it. Some have stated it directly. And if you read Joe’s post carefully he seems to always be hinting around it was some kind of personal reason. I know a little more too but don’t want to share it in case I’m wrong. But I don’t think I am…if it’s not Bowles or Baker or Licht or the organization or money what is left other than personal reasons?
August 20th, 2026 at 10:10 pm
“So, I’m glad Vita isn’t leaving this year…but…by caving to him, the team sent a message that they can basically he blackmailed by their players.“
Nobody on this defense as of today has the cache that Vita has, and not many on offense who haven’t already been paid do either.
Also a report about Wirfs from the summer of ‘24:
“With only $18.44 million in salary for 2024, he’s been looking for a new deal all year. He showed up at mandatory minicamp. Again, that’s no guarantee he’ll show up for training camp unless he gets a contract offer that prompts him to sign on the dotted line”
-or-
“Wirfs got the big contract based on several factors. His play is the most important, clearly. Then there is Wirfs the person. A better teammate you will not find. And he just makes everyone around him a better player. Complete pro.”
-Joe
Sound familiar?
Why isn’t anybody saying Vita is following the example Tristan set?
August 20th, 2026 at 10:11 pm
#9 in the home reds.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:14 pm
Resigning was huge and best legitimate chance for a playoff run.
Longterm or short term so seems up in air for now.
Reading Bowles haters twist pretzel style is pretty darn funny.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:17 pm
The Glazers: The team played hard for Bowles!!!!
Fans: Hahahaha! You know we watch the games, right?
The Glazers: Well, we love Todd Bowles and don’t care what anyone thinks!!!
Fans: Obviously, and you must not care about winning football games.
The Glazers: But, but, but…The Bucs ALMOST made the playoffs!!!
Fans: 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
August 20th, 2026 at 10:30 pm
Nah, they just eliminated an excuse for him.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:35 pm
CRAZY. And, he seriously just SCORES a TD on Offense LoL. FRIGG. Gonna be awfully hard holding onto him all the way through until December. Geez. Get that NIL READY. Someone, PLEASE.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:41 pm
Let’s face it. The PUSSIFICATION of America will ultimately trickle down (or up) to the NFL. Still some of the baddest dudes that walk the planet, but it’s all relative. Divas, Crybabies and Whiners are chalked up as “ just trying to get what they deserve”.
Now..with the way that the NCAA is feeding and spoiling these athletes, their motivation to succeed and excel at the next level will deteriorate. The quality of the product will suffer as will the fans of the sport.
August 20th, 2026 at 10:55 pm
The Glasers might be all in for Bowles and the team now but that doesn’t mean they have been all along. I think they have been on the fence all summer until training camp happened. They see now what that defense has the capability to become with Bain, Trotter, and Scott plus the addition of Anzalone and the return Kancey. The passion these guys created is plain for all to see. They finally realized they will need Vea, so they acquiesced, not simply because they love Vita and want him to be a Buc for life, but because they think they might actually have a chance to win. If they are all in now, they better not stop until they sign another good corner.
August 20th, 2026 at 11:37 pm
After Bowles starts 6-2, Glaziers will offer a two year extension
August 21st, 2026 at 2:18 am
Warren, thanks for the comment about the cache of certain players. It’s exactly right and it’s why I’m not the least bit worried about other players trying such tactics. Only a very select few players could get away with it. He was one of them. And I still think it’s a fair deal for both parties. He didn’t reset the market by any stretch. And he likely could be the straw that stirs the drink for the front seven with all the new faces.
August 21st, 2026 at 3:21 am
Bowles is worthless. Anyone thinking otherwise is an idiot.
His record of failure speaks for itself. 1-3 in the postseason out of the worst division in football.
Meaningless NFC South titles. He’s done nothing with them.
I can’t wait to laugh the lemmings out of this here blog.
4-13 is coming
August 21st, 2026 at 6:05 am
First, I’m so happy for Vita Vea. He deserves the extension and raise. The two issues I have are that this should have happened way sooner. We are now nearing the start of the season with one of our most valued players having zero reps….predication, he pulls a muscle and misses a few games due to sitting the sidelines all offseason. Either way, kudos to him for the raise. On the other hand, Baker has stayed on point and focused on getting in shape, building chemistry and preparing to win all offseason and preseason…no extension. So we rewarded someone who stood on the sidelines and dissed the leader who never missed a beat and stayed focused on winning. Doesn’t set a good example for others when you have different rules for different people.
August 21st, 2026 at 6:51 am
Cards are dealt. It’s time to play.
August 21st, 2026 at 7:15 am
“Warren, thanks for the comment about the cache of certain players. It’s exactly right and it’s why I’m not the least bit worried about other players trying such tactics”
That’s my thing, guys are talking like Vita pulled some unprecedented Oceans’ 11 type of heist, when all he did is what alot of players have done in the modern NFL trying to get a new deal. The thing is, it’s not even some cap crippling deal in the least.
Trent Williams & CeeDee Lamb in ’24
Chris Jones & Zack Martin in ’23
Aaron Donald held out in ’17 for an extension
Trey Hendrickson did it, and got dealt instead of paid by the Cincy
These aren’t like Tom, Dick or Harry type players. That’s some of the cream of the NFL crop and yes, Vita is up there with them.
August 21st, 2026 at 9:39 am
Evans leaving because Bowles is a statistically incredibly average coach (literally barely .500 in four years as Bucs coach, and below .500 as a HC) is only a nonsense narrative in the absence of information otherwise.
Evans wants another ring and he took less money, much higher taxes, and a mid QB but a much better head coach over a guy that’s the very picture of the Peter principle to have a chance one.
Now… for God’s sake… Joe is *still* pining for Evans like a teenage high school boy whose smoking hot girlfriend just left him. She’s gone, Joe. Time to move on.
August 21st, 2026 at 9:41 am
^^^bad edit. That line could have read either:
“Evans leaving because Bowles is a statistically incredibly average coach (literally barely .500 in four years as Bucs coach, and below .500 as a HC) is only a nonsense narrative once we have information otherwise.”
-or-
“Evans leaving because Bowles is a statistically incredibly average coach (literally barely .500 in four years as Bucs coach, and below .500 as a HC) is not a nonsense narrative in the absence of information otherwise.”
August 21st, 2026 at 11:40 am
In about 5 months the Bowles era will come to a merciful end, thankfully
August 21st, 2026 at 2:32 pm
Yes bowles sucks as a head coach…mile left cause of baker simple and plain
August 21st, 2026 at 2:45 pm
Who cares ,hes the HC nuthn i can do about it..Other then that looking forward to football!!
August 21st, 2026 at 7:25 pm
Extend the man. He’s won a SB and defeated the Mahomes Machine.
He will again Saturday!
2-0!!!!