The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't admit it publicly, but they have to be thinking it. Fans are still unsure why Todd Bowles has lasted as long as he has. He is a good coach, but the team isn't progressing beyond the first round of the playoffs, last year excluded, of course.
Entering the 2026 offseason, there was a lot of speculation about the head coach's future. GM Jason Licht didn't address it because he felt there wasn't a need. Bowles is his guy, at least for this year.
The coach was dealt a blow with the departure of Lavonte David and Mike Evans, but even without those two stars, the roster is considerably better on paper. With Baker Mayfield's new contract finished, Bowles doesn't have any excuses for 2026. Tampa won't keep him around and waste the next three years of Mayfield's contract.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Todd Bowles officially lands on the coaching hot seat
With Mayfield under contract, there is one less distraction for the QB. There is one fewer distraction on defense after the Vita Vea extension. Do you know who that puts pressure on? Yep, the head coach.
The Athletic released its 2026 predictions, and lo and behold, the Buccaneers' head coach landed where he doesn't want to be. Bowles is listed as the third most likely head coach to be fired.
- Aaron Glenn - first - 15 of 30 votes
- Dan Quinn - second - 9 of 30 votes
- Todd Bowles - third - 7 of 30 votes
After Bowles, the Colts' Shane Steichen comes in at 4 with 3 votes. It's telling, but when you figure that Glenn is not likely to get fired during the season, given the fact that it isn't something Woody Johnson typically does, Bowles could be looked at as the number two.
Johnson has only fired one coach during an active season, and that was Robert Saleh. He recently reiterated his commitment to the direction that the team is going. Making it more unlikely is the fact that no one expects the Jets to be contenders.
That isn't the case for Quinn and Bowles. More so for the Tampa HC. The Buccaneers' biggest problems last year were injuries. That's a big reason why Licht wouldn't touch the matter during the offseason, but the Buccaneers are healthy heading into 2026, and the expectation is that they will win the division.
If the season turns toward the second half and the Buccaneers are underperforming, Licht could turn to someone else with the hopes of a late-season turnaround.
Mayfield was an obstacle. The QB may have taken more risks in a contract year to bolster his price tag entering free agency in 2027. Now, his focus will be on winning at all costs. If the offense does well and the defense sputters, there isn't anyone else to blame but the play caller on that side of the ball, Todd Bowles.
Add us as a preferred source on Google