The Tampa Bay Buccaneers failed to make the playoffs, months after they looked like locks to make the playoffs. Even though they defeated the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, the Buccaneers still lost the NFC South title to them due to the Atlanta Falcons defeating the New Orleans Saints. So, the Buccaneers are now left picking up the pieces trying to figure out what went wrong and how they could fix things.
Vocal Buccaneers fans have let it be known they are not thrilled with head coach Todd Bowles. As the losses piled up, the louder fans got. Even with the displeasure, the expectation was that Bowles would be retained for another season. Things could change of course, but fans didn't get an immediate answer on his status on Monday.
Bowles spoke about his job security with reporters on Monday, and he brought up his three division titles since taking over for Bruce Arians in 2022. Bowles responded to fans who are calling for his job.
More Todd Bowles: "I don't really have a message to fans, other than true fans are true fans. We're going to try our best to go out there and win for them. They're going to feel how they feel, but that's not the coach's problem. The coach's problem is to make the team better."
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 5, 2026
"I don't really have a message to fans, other than true fans are true fans. We're going to try our best to go out there and win for them. They're going to feel how they feel, but that's not the coach's problem. The coach's problem is to make the team better," says Bowles.
Todd Bowles responds to Buccaneers fans calling for his firing
Fans who have already made up their mind about Bowles aren't likely to change it. The reality is that it's up to the Glazer family to come up with a decision regarding the coaching staff. will Bowles stay? If so, how many changes to the coaching staff will be made?
Bowles revealed during his press conference that he has not yet met with the Glazer family, but he expects to do so later in the week. Buccaneers fans, that's when you can expect some clarity on Bowles' status with the team.
After replacing Arians as head coach in 2022, Bowles helped coach the team to three consecutive NFC South titles and playoff trips. During that span, the Buccaneers went 27-24 in the regular season, and 1-3 in the playoffs. Then, this season happened, as injuries and lack of production doomed the team when all they really needed was nine wins to easily clinch the division. Instead, they went 2-7 after starting the year with a 6-2 record.
Bowles hears the displeasure from fans, and he gets it. But he's setting his focus on improving the team. There should be a definitive answer on Bowles' job status by the end of this week.