Mike Tomlin Talks Bucs Coaching, Baker Mayfield
November 2nd, 2026
Joe would say a healthy percentage of Bucs fans would love to replace Todd Bowles with former Steelers legendary head coach Mike Tomlin.
Heck, a healthy percentage of Bucs fans are eager to replace Bowles with any viable candidate.
Now an analyst for NBC Sports, Tomlin isn’t ready to throw dirt on Bowles’ coaching career. In fact, last night Tomlin handed Bowles his “game ball” for Week 8 play in the NFL. But Bowles will have to share the honor.
“I give [my game ball] to a combination of Todd Bowles and Zac Robinson,” Tomlin said. “Zac Robinson going against his former [Falcons] team; it’s one thing to have a good plan, it’s another thing to be adaptable enough to pivot when necessary. The weather conditions dictated that they do that today. They did it. They sold it to their guys.
“They just did a contract extension with Baker Mayfield, and somebody had to go tell Baker that we’re not going throw the ball today. And I’m sure Baker was like lukewarm at best with the idea. But it was the right decision. They played behind their running game in the conditions and they won the game.”
The Falcons had no answers for the Bucs in any phase of yesterday’s game. Oddly, the Panthers had no answers for Tampa Bay.
Bucs coaching has been eating a buffet of Ws the past two weeks.
November 2nd, 2026 at 4:40 am
Sorry Mike, I slightly disagree, and it could be why you’re out of a job.
The Bucs had 6 punts yesterday.
There were times, especially in the second half when the rain subsided, when Baker was instructed to hand off on a 3rd and 7 when a short, safe pass was the call.
Proof being … we were sweating a bit in the 4th until Penix, who played awful, threw his last pick. Never should have come to that. Six punts defines a lack of creativity, no matter the weather.
Robinson went into prevent offense throughout the second half. Yes, it worked, but you have to wonder if he wasn’t counting on the defense too much.
There is the famous “Monsoon Bowl” played in 1979 in a downpour that never let up for a second. Bucs won 3-0 against KC for their first playoff appearance. Point being, even Doug Williams threw for 51 yards in that mini hurricane. I sought out the stats after watching yesterday.
November 2nd, 2026 at 4:46 am
I haven’t jumped back on the Bowles bandwagon, but if he is replaced my LAST choice would be Tomlin.
November 2nd, 2026 at 6:11 am
J.A. I too was at that infamous 1979 game. The weather that day was far worse than yesterday, but when the sun finally broke through, and the Bucs had won 3-0, the players rolled around in the mud. I was young enough to join them in those days. Not anymore, I wouldn’t be able to get back up.
November 2nd, 2026 at 6:32 am
Scubog—
I remember the raging rivers of water flowing down the steps, Jerry Eckwood fumbling a sure TD with nobody near him, and the inability to afford rain gear, making garbage bags with holes ripped open for heads and arms being the only protection possible. Ah, to be young and poor!
November 2nd, 2026 at 7:12 am
yesterday wasn’t really a monsoon…it was like “monsoon light”…
the 1979 chiefs game…and the 1982 redskins game…were much more monsoonie…
if you know…you know
November 2nd, 2026 at 7:37 am
Sat thru a few of those monsoons during Rowdies games too. The aisles were torrential floods.
November 2nd, 2026 at 7:52 am
The Bucs played patient,the Coaches used the weather to their benefit . We will take the win ,move on. The next game it will probably take a little more than patience to beat the Bears on the road.
November 2nd, 2026 at 8:07 am
Conditions in our next game against Atlanta will be 180 degrees different. Z Rob better start planning now!
November 2nd, 2026 at 8:32 am
‘replace Todd Bowles with former Steelers legendary head coach Mike Tomlin.’
A lateral move that means 5 years of more of the same… HE** NO!
Tomlin’s last years were mediocre… Bucs have an abundance of those…
A young Quality OC turned HC is what they need!
November 2nd, 2026 at 8:34 am
While Bowles is certainly no Vince Lombardi, there is no “lock” when looking to upgrade your head coach. The Giants lucked into John Harbaugh but the list of failed or failing “superstar coordinators” as head coaches is a long list. And if you don’t have a quality QB, the coach doesn’t matter.
November 2nd, 2026 at 8:40 am
I was at the Monsoon Game. Ekwood had broken free when he fumbled a sure touchdown. He was squeezing the ball so tight it slipped out and popped ten feet straight up in the air.
November 2nd, 2026 at 8:50 am
Why is the media looking ahead to whether Bowles will survive? Just win this week. Then the week after.
This Defense is playing better than any since the SB. Robinson is a fantastic addition. Anzalone looked bad the first few weeks but suddenly is everywhere. Trotter is always around the ball. Zyon looks good. Tykee Smith is outstanding. Parrish is swatting balls down. Bain made some great moves yesterday and may have contributed to a pick.
Yesterday was dominant without a sack.
November 2nd, 2026 at 8:51 am
Bowles is gasping for air, searching for a life ring thing or something. I threw it in the garbage a few years ago. Especially after the Washington wildcard game. I have low hopes for Robinson at this point. So here’s my theory, the run game took off last week, there was rain for sure yesterday, this guys plays were made up with an in dome mindset and a qb who likes to throw interceptions. What caused the Washington Huskies to lose the National Championship? Penix.
November 2nd, 2026 at 8:52 am
Chucky & Bruce were offensive coaches = SBs won
How many defensive coaches have won one for the Bucs?????
November 2nd, 2026 at 8:57 am
JA= jagoff ANALYST
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:04 am
MHK
Even Winfield was doing some flying around and hitting. He wasn’t perfect ( the 76 yarder), but he wasn’t a stiff.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:21 am
JA, Continuing with the game plan was the right approach until Atlanta proved it could either stop the run or could score more than a field goal. Even if our defense was a middle of the pack defense, it would still have been the best approach. On top of that, this defense looks to be better than a middle of the pack defense.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:21 am
For those saying that Tomlin wouldn’t be an upgrade or a “lateral move at best”, Tomlin NEVER had a losing season and most of his years he didn’t have even a half-arse QB. Big Ben was his best QB and I always considered him above average at best.
Sure Tomlin’s had a great defense and some guy named T.J. Watt (you know, J.J’s little brother that Licht passed on drafting and chose TE O.J. Howard instead. That will always be Licht’s biggest blunder).
Have we turned the corner? I hope so, but the Bears aren’t the Falcons or Panthers. Also, Caleb Williams is a better QB than Penix and Young combined. Biggest thing that impressed me yesterday was holding Bijon Robinson to under 60 yards while our 2 backs both ran for 140+ yards.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:30 am
Baker didn’t play like a guy who was lukewarm to the idea of this game plan. He wouldn’t have been running downfield looking to make blocks if he wasn’t on board with the plan!
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:35 am
Those who believe Tomlin is going back to coaching are crazy. Dude seems to be hitting retirement like a seasoned teacher.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:38 am
bowles continues to prove that mediocrity is tolerated in the NFL Coaching ranks
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:44 am
Please Joe…Eating Ws? That made me spit out some pretty danged good coffee…LOL
No to Tomiln BTW. Not sold on Zac by long ways but he does get some credit for getting our RBs going. I think we may be done with the zone blocking scheme…again.
Go Bucs!
November 2nd, 2026 at 10:35 am
Bowles’ best coaching move was talking all week about the rain, preparing his team for a Mud Bowl. Atlanta seemed clueless without a dome over their heads. Having the security of a franchise quarterback’s contract made it easy for Baker to settle for strutting his stuff as a ballhandler and blocker instead of having to, once again, “prove himself” to the blind and the mindless. something his opposing quarterback still had to try to do, with predictable and catastrophic results.,
November 2nd, 2026 at 11:09 am
BRAVO TODD AND ZAC!!!!
KEEP STACKIN Ws
GO BUCS!!!!
November 2nd, 2026 at 11:55 am
What BS? Really, you were sweating up 16-0 in the 4th quarter when the win probability was 95%. What game were you watching? That game was total domination. Bucky retired from the game with 9 minutes left.
November 2nd, 2026 at 12:18 pm
100% with Buddha. I was out there in rain and when we scored Bucky’s TD, I knew the game was over—and I’ve seen my share of collapses.
Consider the logic: there was never an offensive snap where we had to “respond” or “react” after Atlanta’s possession. Even the long run after the catch—we called no offensive plays until we got the ball back, right? —and when we did, ATL still had bupkis.
Never in doubt.
November 2nd, 2026 at 12:28 pm
That play that Baker made when Bucky fumbled into the endzone was amazing. Baker was locked in, you could tell. All that dude cares about is winning.
Heck, he would have had a TD pass in that weather if Ted Hurst doesn’t drop that TD!
Yesterday was crazy, but the Bucs looked good for what they had to play in.
November 2nd, 2026 at 1:54 pm
Did Tomlin see Baker’s 3 passes?
November 2nd, 2026 at 2:17 pm
It’s a Win enough said! GO BUCS!!!
November 2nd, 2026 at 2:33 pm
Baker gave Tomlin his worst playoff beating of his career. I don’t expect Tomlin has any good memories of Baker. Wonder if Baker smack talked him during game?
Don’t think he smack talked Stefanski. I believe he might be growing up.
November 2nd, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Chief. Baker took the Jesse Bates problem into his own hands. I think the photo of Baker is him blocking Bates. That guy has made a career out of punching the ball loose. And I’m sure the whole offense spent the whole week preparing for Jesse Bates.
I’m hoping next time we play them that everyone on the offense can hit him high, low from the front, sides, or back! Heck with a clip(block in the back)! What he did to Bucky just wasn’t right, and that punch drunk sneaky safety needs a good dose of comeuppance, and I ain’t whistling Dixie!
November 2nd, 2026 at 3:33 pm
Bowles is like all of us guys from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s. He remember when we were good. Now just like the rest of us. What to us was really good is now the old stuff. But he, just like the rest of us. We are going to hang in there as long as we can. They are going to have to pull the rug out from under us to get rid of us. Why would I willing give up being able to hang out with these young men, to go home and sit around and get fatter. Why would I give the pay, travel, socializing to sit home and look at four walls and listen to Bobby Blue Bland, Herbie Hancock, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston. They would have to drag me out and I would be like Bowles scratching the floors, walls , door knobs and everything else. Hang in there Bowles.
Go Bucs. Go Bowles.
November 2nd, 2026 at 4:53 pm
Bakers first pass should have been a TD hit the receiver in his hands. Great throw, tough catch but it should have happened. His 3rd pass was dropped, hit him in the hands, but all I hear is that he was 0-3 like he was terrible should have been 2-3 in terrible conditions. 0-3 doesn’t tell the real story
November 2nd, 2026 at 7:59 pm
Since baker came to tampa we have started hot to trot then we peter out this year was just the opposite peter out now balls to the walls i like this version
November 2nd, 2026 at 8:20 pm
I think the way they sold it to Baker is the less throws the better.
So if the run game is working, it’s just another week to heal up on the thumb.
When he came back we knew he wasn’t 100% and the Panthers game and the Falcons game gave us two additional weeks for him to rest up.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:03 pm
Was great to watch but that isn’t going to happen again this week, unless it’s pouring rain in Chicago on Sunday night.
November 2nd, 2026 at 9:18 pm
A few complaints about the lack of passing but I agree with Tomlin. It was brilliant and a complete beat down of the Falgoons missed by most of the national media and many fans. Nothing more dominant in football than the other team knowing you’re going to run the football and not being able to do anything about it. Still most are just talking about no competed passes. But following this team I know Baker can throw the football. What may be a joke to others might end up biting them when the play action passing game punches them in the face. I’m highly optimistic for future games based on Sunday’s beat down of ATL.
November 3rd, 2026 at 2:23 am
Tomlin has as many playoff wins as Bowles this decade, so tell me exactly why that would be a coaching upgrade over Bowles?
November 3rd, 2026 at 5:04 am
Not only are many on the this site smarter football guy than Bowles, they are also smarter football guys than Tomlin. I’m going with Todd and Mike. They are both smart coaches.