No matter what happens in the final two games of the 2025 NFL season - and there is still everything to play for - the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan base has collectively given up on Todd Bowles as the answer at head coach for this organization. You will scarcely find a single soul defending Bowles and what he is currently doing as the Buccaneers head coach, because there is a clear lack of leadership, vision, identity, accountability, and culture in this building.
Bowles has undone a lot of what Tom Brady brought to this organization in terms of winning and ambition, and all it takes is watching this ill disciplined defense blow coverage and missed tackles to see where a key root of the problem lies.
Here are three head coaches the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can hire in the 2026 NFL offseason to replace one of the most underwhelming leading men in the league today.
Seattle Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak
If the last Thursday Night Football matchup was an audition, then Klint Kubiak passed it with flying colors. He outmaneuvered a devilshly good Los Angeles Rams defense - the same one that cooked Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. Seattle had all the answers to the questions another great coaching candidate, Chris Shula, posed to them.
Kubiak's play designs in key scenarios like red zone plays, third downs, and those clutch two point conversions were beautiful, and he has dialed up an offense that suits the strengths of his MVP candidate quarterback Sam Darnold to a "t". The upgrade from Bowles to Kubiak offensively would be a gift from above for the Bake under center.
Los Angeles Rams DC Chris Shula
With Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard alienating the fan base nearly as much as Bowles, there is likely a temptation to go with an offensive mind to help this talent laden unit fulfill its full potential.
However, anyone who knows ball can see that the real issues the Buccaneers have are on defense, and a defensive minded coach to replace Bowles, who has clearly not been the defensive savant he was advertised as, may be the move.
Shula's team may have come out on the losing side, but he played a nearly flawless ball game as a play caller on that side of the ball, dialing up blitzes that had the Seahawks offensive line completely fooled. And he even had Darnold dead to rights until a pivotal return touchdown, forcing two baffling interceptions from the star quarterback with his disguised coverages.
Detroit Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard
The last name on the list is another defensive mind, but that's not because the Buccaneers should lean in this direction. No, former NFL linebacker Kelvin Sheppard is the pick because he is an incredible coach who has all the tools necessary to be the perfect leader and everything that Bowles is not.
Sheppard is charismatic, bold, and someone the players clearly rally around. The Detroit Lions defense is so much better than their record shows. They are hungry and keep this team in games by forcing turnovers and producing blanket coverage. Sheppard is so good at getting the most out of his players and building a hungry, angry, and disciplined defense. He would be an injection of hope to this floundering Bucs unit.