Thanks to a disastrous collapse to end the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially missed the playoffs for the first time this decade.
After starting hot, being the consensus No. 1 team in any significant power rankings, and Baker Mayfield hearing MVP chants in Raymond James Stadium, the historic collapse ensued. The Bucs lost seven of their last nine and missed the playoffs because the Falcons beat the Saints.
With the drama finally over, the dust hadn't even settled before the NFC foe, the Falcons, cleaned house immediately. Mere hours after completing a four-game win streak and defeating the Saints to end their season, owner Arthur Blank fired HC Raheem Morris, GM Terry Fontenot, and CEO Rich McKay.
This dramatic turn of events won't directly affect the Buccaneers until draft day, but it poses immediate, important indirect implications. Should owner Joel Glazer decide to move on from Todd Bowles, the rival Falcons already have a head start. With the Browns firing Kevin Stefanski early Monday morning, he, among current coordinators, will be prime targets the Bucs are missing out on.
Todd Bowles' time in Tampa Bay must come to an end immediately, before the division rival steals their thunder
Through four seasons in Tampa Bay, Bowles has struggled to turn mediocre into excellent despite winning three straight NFC titles (and tying for a fourth in 2025). The Bucs have a 35-33 record over those four seasons, and just one playoff win.
Despite the aging but still successful Mike Evans, Lavonte David and emerging stars Emeka Egbuka, Baker Mayfield, and Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay hasn't posted an elite season under Bowles leadership.
One reason could be Bowles' relentless grip on the defensive coordinator position. A position he held in Tampa Bay for three years full-time before being named the head coach. If he hired a full-time defensive coordinator, this might improve his focus in other facets of the game, but he's never been an elite head coach, regardless.
Through eight full seasons between the New York Jets and the Bucs, Bowles has a 59-73 record with just three winning seasons. His recent success in the NFC South is solely due to inept and inferior opponents, not Buccaneers' dominance.
For the Bucs to return to the glory days of Tom Brady and the 2020-2021 team, they must make a move immediately. Every day without so gives the Falcons more of an edge in hiring a better replacement. It's not yet clear whether Bowles will be moved on from this offseason, but the decision better be made quickly, or we're in for a long offseason.