New Bucs defensive coordinator might have fallen into their laps after latest head coach firing

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles is overseeing another defensive decline, in much the same way he did with the New York Jets. Bowles' concepts are great for reinvigorating a lackluster unit, but they often fade away as he refuses to make any major schematic adjustments.

While Bowles has been dealing with tons of injuries and a defense that is lacking in pass rush talent, the fact Tampa Bay has been shredded in the manner they have has been even more disappointing when contrasted to how well the offense has performed. Top assistants Kacy Rodgers and Larry Foote should both be on the hot seat.

Bowles is a great defensive mind, but he needs some help. Even after posting a 14-32 record as head coach of the Chicago Bears and losing six straight games to end the 2024 season, recently fired coach Matt Eberflus could end up turning the Tampa Bay defense around in the same way he did with the Bears.

Eberflus had a defense that was ranked 32nd in the league when he started on the job, and he had that unit playing like a Top 10 defense for most of his tenure. Someone will hire Eberflus for some season, so why can't Tampa be ahead of the curve here?

Bucs could hire former Bears coach Matt Eberflus as DC

Eberflus is a bad head coach, but he can cook up a defense. Between weeks 5-18 of the 2023 season, which coincided with Eberflus running the defense after Alan Williams was removed, The Bears allowed 20 points or less 11 times in 13 games. In 2024, Chicago allowed 20 or fewer points eight times (they allowed 21 in Week 3).

Everflus has proven to be a good identifier of defensive talent, as Tremaine Edmunds, Montez Sweat, and Kevin Byard have all been quality acquisitions. The development of youngsters like Jaylon Johnson, Gervon Dexter, and Kyler Gordon are all checks in the positive column for Eberflus.

Bowles will need to swallow his pride to make this move happen. Eberflus is a very strict adherent to running with four defensive linemen, which Bowles isn't. Furthermore, Bowles would have to give Eberflus more defensive control by naming him the coordinator, which he hasn't done with Rodgers or Foote.

Eberflus has value as an NFL coach, provided he is nowhere near a head coaching job. No playoff contender needs a more immediate change in their defensive structure than Tampa Bay, which could give Eberflus a terrific golden parachute.