Bucco Bruce Arians Weighs In On Bucs’ 0-4 Start
October 7th, 2026
Thoughts on Bucs.
In these difficult times that try a Bucs fan’s soul, we need a voice of reason and wisdom from trusted counsel.
And that voice is none other than Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians.
Speaking with Yahoo! Sports as he is promoting blood tests for men as a measure to help prevent prostate cancer, Arians was asked about his successor’s proverbial hot seat.
Arians didn’t discuss Todd Bowles’ job security. But Arians doesn’t believe it’s time to throw in the towel. Arians did caution that the Bucs have to get their act together quickly. As in this month.
“It’s a long season,” Arians said. “You know, they’re 0-4. That’s just September. You know, October is going to be a big, big month for them.
“Hopefully, get Baker [Mayfield] back [and] get him healthy, get the defense back healthy.”
Arians is a big fan of the Bucs’ offensive line but he is not a big fan with how they have been playing. He suggested they are much better than what they have shown and if they can improve, it would be a monster step in keeping the pirate ship from listing.
“Right now, their offensive line’s got to play better,” Arians said. “I think they need to run the ball better, and that offensive line is intact, and they’re really, really good.”
The easy way for the Bucs to start winning for Arians?
“I’d like to see them improve right now.”
Don’t we all.
The clock is ticking. Just one team in NFL history has made the playoffs after an 0-4 start. Since, the playoffs have expanded to 14 teams and of course the Bucs play in the rotten NFC South landfill.
The way the Stinking Panthers and Dixie Chicks looked this past weekend, the Bucs have dug themselves the mother of all holes.
October 7th, 2026 at 4:30 am
Bruce Arians : “Blah, blah, blah .. blah, blah.”
October 7th, 2026 at 4:32 am
The first shovel hit last year and has just gotten progressively worse…
October 7th, 2026 at 4:45 am
the first real chance for a Bucs win will be the Chargers at home Week 13 .. if the Chargers don’t improve – then maybe Saints at home Week 15 – and this assumes that by then the wheels have not come completely off
October 7th, 2026 at 4:53 am
“a voice of reason and wisdom from trusted counsel.” LOL Sorry, but the last person that should be asked to weigh-in on the current situation is the man responsible for it. You’re never going to get an unbiased take from BA, as he obviously cares more for Todd & his reputation than he does about the franchise at this stage. Sadly, he has the Glazer’s ear & has been filling it with this same BS for the last few years. The sooner he heads off to permanent retirement, the better off this franchise will be. You’d get a more honest answer by asking the custodians that clean the toilets at RayJay. It is also obvious BA completely dismisses/ignores todd’s now 9+ year .433 (and dropping weekly) career win% as a HC. If he lasts until the end of the season, that number is likely to be closing in on .400. It takes a special brand of incompetence to pull that off.
October 7th, 2026 at 5:09 am
Just have to laugh when going back and watching the majority of both the local and national media rave about the talent on this team prior to the season, with most projecting a playoff appearance at a minimum & some an NFC Championship game. Every one of them evidently completely dismissed the fact that the man “leading” that talent was the same one who oversaw Brady’s only losing season, carried the career win% mentioned above, and oversaw last season’s collapse. Sad that we had to waste another season for everyone to finally understand what’s been glaringly obvious just by watching his team’s underperforming, inconsiatent, lifeless performances year after year. Thankfully the end is coming soon.
October 7th, 2026 at 5:13 am
Fire Todd now,don”t wait,Glazers,if your reading this post.That is what your fans want.This season is toast.Rebuild.
October 7th, 2026 at 5:24 am
lol. They ain’t going to improve BA
October 7th, 2026 at 5:44 am
Arians is the reason we ended up with Bowles
October 7th, 2026 at 5:44 am
October? Well, they are 0-1 in October so far…lol.
October 7th, 2026 at 5:49 am
It’s his fault for giving Todd the head coaching job.
October 7th, 2026 at 5:53 am
Unless Bruce is coming back as HC, he’s not very relevant anymore.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:00 am
Play it better…um, who else says that every week?
October 7th, 2026 at 6:05 am
FlBoy I agree regarding BA. Is he still employed with the Bucs? I noticed he referred to the team as “they” and “them” and not we.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:12 am
Protecting his boy Bowles. Don’t listen to him. Go back to your scotch and golf Bruce. Enough.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:15 am
@Tampa3
I caught that as well. He was spitting a lot of we and us in that article Joe posted last week about Mayfield.
I guess he wants to distance himself from hanging Bowles around the Buc’s neck so that sweet “senior consultant” money keeps flowing.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:22 am
I would like to address those who boast about the four Bucs division titles 2001-2004 and who beat their chests and screech nonsense about a Bucs “dynasty” – poppycock – the whole point of a division title is not to be the best of a weak subset of the NFL but to host home games and move on to the Super Bowl – in none of those four years did the Bucs move beyond the divisional round – in fact when the Bucs won it all in 2020 they didn’t win the division – so any of the fig-leaf-wearing Todd-Bowles-apologist Bucs fans who prattle on about those four division titles – stop it
October 7th, 2026 at 6:24 am
I guess this is the organizations idea of bringing out the big guns to do damage control. News flash: not working!
October 7th, 2026 at 6:29 am
I really don’t care what he thinks it’s partly his fault this is happening
October 7th, 2026 at 6:29 am
Good ole Bruce. Buc legend because of Tom Brady. The same guy that screwed us by sticking us with Bowles with a quick exit right before the start of the season. Bowles learned well, as he knew he was lame duck this season and hired a weak OC knowing that the Bucs brass would not fire him mid season without having an interim coach in house. Brilliant.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:30 am
What is the down side of Bruce is fired right now? I see only upside. He clearly is not the solution.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:33 am
Todd Bowles has a regular season record of 35-36 and a postseason record of 1-3 as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 2-15 this year.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:33 am
He’s in DENIAL fire Bowles
October 7th, 2026 at 6:34 am
Didn’t licht hire this guy that’s right he did. It’s time to retire Bruce
October 7th, 2026 at 6:36 am
its about coaching period/ look what a good coach can do in a few months ( liam cohen in Jax) we have the bassic same team as when cohen was here buut we had a number one ranked offense/ chew on that reality/ have a nice long season I think joel glazer should give control of the team to his sister/ she is more likely to make the tough decisions because and joel snd brother are affraid to excercise their authority/ give i tto me/ ill clean it up in 1 day.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:38 am
its about coaching period/ look what a good coach can do in a few months ( liam cohen in Jax) we have the bassic same team as when cohen was here buut we had a number one ranked offense/ chew on that reality/ have a nice long season I think joel glazer should give control of the team to his sister/ she is more likely to make the tough decisions because joel and brother are affraid to excercise their authority/ give itto me/ ill clean it up in 1 day.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:38 am
This was their plan all along. Lose the first 4 and throw off the entire nfl. Make them all think they cant play offense or rush the qb and that’s precisely
when they strike! You’ll see. Stay the course. Go Bucs
October 7th, 2026 at 6:43 am
I just hope this is the week. Everyone including us fans are expecting us to lose pretty handily Thursday. But this is the nfl. And it just wouldn’t shock me if we put it all together this weekend and beat the cowboys. Then the hole narrative changes. Did the Bucs finally put it all together. Looking at there schedule they still play 6 division games so being only two back still our destiny is in our hands. But if we lose Thursday like everyone is expecting and get three games back in division. We should play for the future draft picks. I hate saying that but what really is the point of going 4-13 and getting the 5th pick versus 1-16 and getting a generational talent t in smith from Ohio state. That puts us in a better position next year with competent coaching to do a patriots type of turn a round. In that scenario this will be a highly sought after coaching job.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:53 am
What kind of coach tells its players they don’t have to do anything extra or play harder to help a rookie QB? Remember when Dean finally got a pick forget where and Bowles said drug test him? Huh what kind of coach says crap like that?
My take is TB is not a good teacher or good enough to run a team go back to being a good DC and be happy you got your shot at HC and failed.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:54 am
Who?
October 7th, 2026 at 6:56 am
hey how about this – @ the Bucs games at RayJay every time the opposing team scores a touchdown the song “Sweet Georgia Brown” is blasted over the loudspeakers – maybe that could be the “identity” that the Bucs are seeking – the Washington Generals
October 7th, 2026 at 7:00 am
Malcolm would be very disappointed,fire Todd now!!
October 7th, 2026 at 7:05 am
Sadly, I can see this team 0-8, maybe 1-7, on November 1st.
October 7th, 2026 at 7:05 am
Flboy, thanks for saving me a lot of typing. Arains is the last person I trust when it comes to the Bucs. He helped win a SB, but he’s responsible for Bowles being here going on 5 long years. Arains, Licht, and Bowles need to go away for good. You’re like relatives that visit for a weekend, and stay a year. Leave already, don’t let the door hit you in the rear on your way out.
October 7th, 2026 at 7:20 am
Pass protection is not the problem with this offense
The problem is run blocking
Luke Goedeke
16th ranked OT in pass protection
63rd ranked OT in run blocking
Tristian Wirfs
1st ranked OT in pass protection
58th ranked OT in run blocking
Graham Barton
6th ranked Center in pass protection
32nd ranked in run blocking
Cody Mauch
24th ranked Guard in pass protection
73rd ranked Guard in run blocking
Ben Brederson
37th ranked Guard in pass protection
32nd ranked Guard in run blocking
These grades are from PFF
I believe there’s a problem somewhere with run blocking schemes
But, there shouldn’t be an issue with the passing game
There has to be a huge disconnect between the players and the coaches
October 7th, 2026 at 7:29 am
Just “improve.” What a clown show.
October 7th, 2026 at 7:31 am
He should be shown the door for the simple fact that he recommended TB. Give him credit for winning a Superbowl but that wouldn’t have happened without Brady. TB has led the team back to the laughing stock of the league…along with JL and team Glazier!
October 7th, 2026 at 7:35 am
This is his fault.
October 7th, 2026 at 7:40 am
Wisdom? He is the one with the white guilt that forced Bowles on the Glazers? Don’t need to hear anything he has to say.
October 7th, 2026 at 7:43 am
Bruce told us Byron Leftwich was a great O F ?????
What the F@#k
October 7th, 2026 at 7:47 am
i appreciate arians as a coach during his time here but what self serving bs. another former buc great that is soiling himself in the media and thinks nobody is wise enough to see him for who he is now.
October 7th, 2026 at 7:54 am
Snake oil hustler
October 7th, 2026 at 8:00 am
Get a Cognitive Reasoning test old man
October 7th, 2026 at 8:03 am
Lakeland, very interesting stats. Didn’t Robinson change up the run blocking scheme? I’d be curious to see if he did because normally you don’t see a good player (in the past) all of a sudden play poorly.
October 7th, 2026 at 8:05 am
Tomorrow night is Halloween Horror Night for the Bucs in Dallas.
October 7th, 2026 at 8:19 am
We were told 3 times he was on another show and it was Baker’s fault. Now the defense needs to get healthy . He wants Baker back and healthy . On top of that the offensive line isn’t playing like they should be?
Which story is correct.?
October 7th, 2026 at 8:26 am
This “voice of reason and wisdom” is personally responsible for saddling us with this albatross of a coach. Miss me, BA!!!
October 7th, 2026 at 8:26 am
“Get the coaches healthy. Heck, get the whole front office healthy. Owners healthy. Water boys and girls healthy. Trusted counsel healthy…”
Words of wisdom.
October 7th, 2026 at 8:31 am
Who cares hat Arians has to say already please Bruce for the love of god stfu about Tampa ! Your guy Todd sucks and can’t coach stop sticking up for his sorry pathetic ass already he blows !
October 7th, 2026 at 8:31 am
Lakeland Says:
October 7th, 2026 at 7:20 am
Pass protection is not the problem with this offense
The problem is run blocking
———————————————————————————–
As you probably know, pass blocking is schemed. That was one of Cohen’s best attributes. The blocking scheme isn’t working. Why not go back to 2024 film, see what was working and implement it? Oh, I forgot, coaches are egotistical and must have their own devised schemes that they don’t deviate from no matter what.
October 7th, 2026 at 8:33 am
What did Arians offer to this conversation that any Pee Wee coach or a quick,man on the street interview could have said? I was expecting something- anything out of the man. Just click bait. Nothing Nada Zippo! He is just a parrot of Bowles. Need to run better. Need to block better. Need to get healthy. Need to play better. Blah blah blah.No sh!t! What a waste of a read. When you have nothing to say- say nothing. Just go home.
October 7th, 2026 at 8:49 am
I absolutely appreciate this fella…as much or more than Chunky Gruden for his contributions to the franchise.
But there’s a little bit of blood on his hands here. Almost blindly loyal to his lieutenants. Leftwich can’t even get an arena league coaching gig these days and Bowles is a disaster as a head coach/coordinator combo. History has proven this beyond a doubt.
Forcing the Bucs to promote Bowles is borderline unforgivable. The damage had already been done though…missing the golden opportunity to go back 2 back in 2021 because Bowles was distracted and dumb the week leading up to the divisional playoff game vs the Rams.
October 7th, 2026 at 8:50 am
Drunk Uncle Bruce needs to go away. Just play it better he says.
He never wants to throw in the towel. All the while we’re getting beat like Mohamed Ali is turning our faces into mush.
Cut me Mick!
October 7th, 2026 at 9:09 am
BA states the obvious about the O line…Backing Todd to the bitter end though. Wonder what his real thoughts on the offense are? No expert here but I would be willing to bet he has some suggestions on what he would do.
I would love to hear them.
Also, I understand losing Mike hurts but but there has to be more to this.
Go Bucs!
October 7th, 2026 at 9:13 am
So now we blame Arians instead of Licht? What the hell does Licht do if everyone else is to blame for the organization’s mistakes?
Licht regular season record as GM 93-108 and still counting.
Oh Arians 31-18 take that out of Licht’s record and it is 62-90
October 7th, 2026 at 9:14 am
Step up n in bruce.
Take the O over already 4 games in. Help your boy out you stuck on us
October 7th, 2026 at 9:15 am
He said it was Mayfield and our offense line was the Best.
For God’s sake this guy can’t remember who to blame from show to show . One thing for sure is he will never blame Bowles.
Now post the Up and Adams post in a hurry again
October 7th, 2026 at 9:18 am
Arians comments since quitting are irrelevant, he values his friends and former players success more than the organization’s success
He’s a BS artist
October 7th, 2026 at 9:26 am
Another passenger on the Brady Express. SMDH
GO AWAY!!!!!
October 7th, 2026 at 9:34 am
Voice of reason? In a pig’s eye! It’s a voice of ZERO credibility.
October 7th, 2026 at 10:13 am
He is the reason we have Blowes.
October 7th, 2026 at 10:13 am
If we go 0-the first two months of the season, then I’ll expect a change and for the owners to fire the coach. There is only so much we can take.
October 7th, 2026 at 10:23 am
Just have another bourbon and sit down BA.
October 7th, 2026 at 10:34 am
Arians put the Bucs in the situation, but ownership and the GM kept us here. Firing Bowls isn’t a knee jerk reaction. Arians stepped down so late in the process the Bucs didn’t have a lot of choices. However, Bowles has proven to be an uninspiring and unadaptable head coach that on his best day is below average. Ownership and Management deserve this season, but the Bucs fans and players do not.
October 7th, 2026 at 11:08 am
Arians is a joke. He had a big mouth. He wagged his finger a lot.
And he forced Bowles on this team.
He’s not a voice of reason. He’s a voice of betrayal.
And if Tom Brady had not come on, he’d have never won a SB.
Stop lionizing the guy. The current state of incompetence is his handpicked successor.
October 7th, 2026 at 11:18 am
@Lakeland: thank you for sharing those telling stats on difference between pass and run blocking success. Concur 💯 there must be a disconnect.
Go back to Coen’s blocking system, Zac. Or even Grizzard or Canales. Clearly adjustments are needed to save your job (+ my sanity).
October 7th, 2026 at 11:19 am
No fan that wants Bowles fired is wrong. What some are wrong about is the need for a total rebuild, which means tearing it all down first. Everyone has talked about the considerable talent on this roster and that talent level has been getting better every year since 2022. Many of these players are in their prime(offensive line) or younger, many still on first year contracts. The problem is that that talent is not being brought out. There are lots of coaches right now in the NFL that are getting more out of less than what the Bucs have. People are so mad they want to blow this all up. If they do that, the disappointment and anger you are feeling now will only be prolonged. The offense proved in 2024 how good they can be and almost all of them are still here with the exception of Evans.That’s a big exception, yes, but they proved in 2024 they could still produce without him, and would have been even better if Godwin hadn’t been lost for the season. As for the defense, the rebuild of the front 7 and the db’s is already more than 50% complete. I think any prospective coach would recognize the level of talent on this roster.
October 7th, 2026 at 11:30 am
I think BA is right. Believe it or not the Bucs will improve. The question is whether or not it will be too late when they do.
I’m hoping the improvements start tomorrow night against Dallas. That would be a huge win !!
Go Bucs !!
October 7th, 2026 at 11:32 am
Lakeland Says:
October 7th, 2026 at 7:20 am
Pass protection is not the problem with this offense
(insert meaningless stats vs run block)
I guess those guys pouring through our OL are figments of our imaginations.
October 7th, 2026 at 11:42 am
Why would anyone around here listen to Bruce Arians right about now? the NFL is a proof it league. Pontificating after the fact and after you forced the Bucs to hire your own hand picked replacement is just plain silly. I expect a total clean house as soon as humanly possible.
October 7th, 2026 at 11:49 am
The voice of reason and wisdom is not Bruce Arians. He is the cause of Bucs fans pain and suffering because he gave us head coach Todd Bowles and he has criticized everyone except him so he’s a liar
October 7th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Bruce created this mess when he quit so late in the offseason and stuck us with Bowels. At this point he should keep his mouth shut and disappear.
October 7th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
Arians is no different than Belichick…..he benefited from Brady but he’s no guru. Gruden won a SB with Brad Johnson at QB, he made Rich Gannon into a Pro Bowler. Arians did exactly what with Winston? Arians could have vetoed the blitz by Bowles against the Rams but he didn’t. I’m really over hearing about Arians and his perception on a coach he’s obviously biased towards. Bowles is what he’s always been….an ok DC but incapable HC. Arians raved about Leftwich….where is he coached since being here? Has he found any work in 5 yrs? Arians opinion holds no more weight in my opinion, he benefited from Brady which Licht deserves more credit in that situation than Arians. Licht built a roster that Brady believed was capable of going far….Arians just happened to be here.
October 7th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
Lord, I hope the Glazers have stopped listening to this clod when it comes to identifying coaching talent. His coaching tree has no branches. Just some rotting sticks lying around.
October 7th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
I’m still mad he extorted the Glazers to make Todd Bowles HC instead of having a real coaching search. Just so Brady could come back and stink. 5 years of damage.
October 7th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
The only two head coaches he produced are Todd and Freddie Kitchens. Ooof. Todd is the coaching equivalent of the ugly kid you have give a t-bone necklace to so the dog will even play with him. Literally no one was pursuing Todd to be their head coach. Bruce knew it, and backed the Bucs into a corner with the stunt he pulled.
October 7th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
FU BA. Admit that you’re crony should’ve been put out to pasture long ago or you have no credibility.
October 7th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
Brady (well his wife at the time) caused Brady’s final season- not Bowles. So let’s at least get that right. His heart wasn’t in football at all and I don’t blame him.
October 7th, 2026 at 3:56 pm
I’m sure that had a big impact Stpetematt, but don’t you think having Leftwich as the OC had an even bigger impact?
As awful as Bowles is, Leftwich was even worse.
October 7th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
Shut up Arians. You are also to blame for this mess.