NFL Insider Singles Out Buccaneers as One of NFL’s Worst Coaching Staffs

One sports cliche that hasn’t lost its meaning over time is the good ol’ “you’re only as strong as your weakest link” argument. Because it usually rings true.

ESPN’s Ben Solak thinks the weakest link for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025 might be head coach Todd Bowles and his coaching staff, which Solak ranked No. 26 out of 32 teams. Solak ranked them at No. 22 headed into 2024.

“Come with me to a magical land in which Liam Coen actually stayed as the Bucs’ OC this season (too soon, Bucs fans?) They’d probably be 12th or 13th on this list — maybe even higher,” Solak wrote on August 1. “It’d be much easier to look beyond Bowles, a cautious game manager who regularly settles for field goals and extra points when he should hunt touchdowns and two-point conversions, if Coen’s rockstar offense were returning. But it isn’t, so those little margins from the head coach glare all the more.”

The Buccaneers have a new offensive coordinator with Josh Grizzard, who is 2-time Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield’s third offensive coordinator in 3 seasons.

Coen was hired as head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars after one season in 2024. The previous offensive coordinator, Dave Canales, was hired as head coach of the Carolina Panthers after one season in 2023.

Bucs Granted Bowles Contract Extension

The Buccaneers announced both Bowles and general manager Jason Licht received contract extensions on June 26.

From Buccaneers owner Joel Glazer’s official statement: “Jason and Todd’s leadership has been critical to our organization’s success. The winning culture they have established has us well positioned for the future. The continuity and stability they provide will play a large role in our ability to compete for additional championships.”

While Licht can put on his CV that he put together a Super Bowl-winning roster in 2020, Bowles has no such credentials as a head coach.

Series of Bizarre Coaching Decisions in 2024

Bowles didn’t seem anywhere near a contract extension late in the 2024 season, when the Buccaneers were 4-6 and seemed dead in the water when it came to their playoff hopes.

Thanks to the brilliant Mayfield and a resurgent defense led by linebacker Lavonte David, the Buccaneers recovered to go 10-7 and make the playoffs. They were upset at home by the Washington Commanders in the NFC Wild Card Round but a little closer examination shows Tampa Bay was successful more in spite of Bowles than because of him.

Against the Carolina Panthers in Week 13, Bowles and his staff saw their leading rusher, Bucky Irving, go down with an injury returning kickoffs. After the game, it wasn’t totally clear if Bowles even realized Irving was still returning kicks headed into the game.

“Bucky Irving should’ve no longer been returning kickoffs,” wrote the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud on his official X account. “He’s their top RB. He shouldn’t be near special teams. RB1 doesn’t play special teams.”

The Buccaneers finished 18th in the NFL in team defense in 2024 — Bowles’ “speciality” – and it was their second consecutive season in the bottom half of the league. In 6 seasons as a head coach with the New York Jets and Buccaneers, Bowles’ defenses have finished in the Top 10 just twice — in 2015 (fourth) and 2022 (10th).