Buccaneers may have to find a replacement for Todd Bowles

From comrades to rivals?

Losing Bowles to Atlanta would be a major mistake by the Buccaneers’ front office. Everyone knows that Bruce Arians’ time in the league is limited, and the Tampa Bay head coaching job will be an attractive vacancy.

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If Bowles isn’t already a favorite to be the next head coach, there are some significant issues with this process. If he is a favorite, which he should be, the front office has to make that very clear to Bowles now. Otherwise, a Todd Bowles-coached defense could be on the schedule twice a year for the foreseeable future, and no one wants that.

Bowles constructed a competitive defense in a very short period, and he could do the same thing in Atlanta with ease. In addition to drafting players, Bowles already has a relationship with the Buccaneer defenders, which could make them easier to poach in free agency. We all saw how former Jets players were tied to Tampa Bay just because of Bowles.

Bowles leaving would severely hurt the defense, and Tampa Bay would fall back to the same spot they were before his arrival. The Buccaneers need to appreciate what has been built for their roster, but that comes with the cost of showing loyalty to Bowles now.

At this point, all Bucs fans can do is cross their fingers and wait with bated breath to see what happens. Todd Bowles will be a huge story to follow in Tampa this offseason.

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