Former NFL executive and current league insider Joe Banner believes Todd Bowles will remain head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers regardless of what the Bucs do in the playoffs.
“Ownership is not likely to make a change after one year, but it’s been a disappointing season relative to expectations,” Banner said for The 33rd Team about the Bowles-Buccaneers relationship. “The Bucs were supposed to be a Super Bowl contender. Instead, they’re 8-8 with Tom Brady and won a division where nobody has a winning record.
“Much of the criticism has been focused on the coaching staff, particularly head coach Todd Bowles, and I understand. Though I actually would’ve been comfortable hiring him, he hasn’t done as well in Year 1 as I would’ve thought. Still, it’s rare that anyone makes a coaching change after reaching the playoffs.”
Bowles was serving as Tampa Bay’s defensive coordinator when he earned a promotion after Bruce Arians stepped down as head coach this past March shortly after Brady un-retired and confirmed he’d play in at least one more season with the club. As noted by ESPN stats, the Buccaneers enter Week 18 responsible for the league’s worst rushing attack that’s averaging a pitiful 76.4 yards on the ground per game. They’re 24th in scoring with 18.5 points per contest.
Banner correctly pointed out the Buccaneers clinched the NFC South division title and a playoff berth before their regular-season finale at the 6-10 Atlanta Falcons, but he failed to mention Brady could campaign for the organization to make changes to the coaching staff if he wishes to continue his career while remaining in Florida to be close to his children.
Brady could ask the previously mentioned Arians to replace offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich after Leftwich failed to impress working alongside Bowles. It’s also been suggested Brady and former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton could be a package deal for any team this winter.
Brady is set to hit free agency when the new NFL year opens this March, and the Buccaneers currently have no true successor on their roster. Blaine Gabbert has become a career backup, and Kyle Trask is a second-round pick from the 2021 NFL draft who has done nothing at the highest level other than watch Brady from the sidelines. In short, keeping the seven-time Super Bowl champion happy may be a must for the Buccaneers unless they decide to begin a painful rebuild following the postseason tournament.
