Bowles set to return in 2026 amid Buccaneers coaching overhaul

This week, Todd Bowles confirmed he will return as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2026.

Bowles has a 35-33 record in four seasons as the Bucs’ head coach.

This year, Tampa Bay missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season. The Bucs got off to a 6-2 start before losing seven of their final nine games, knocking them out of playoff contention.

“We did it to ourselves,” Bowles said at a press conference Monday. “We know we lost some close games, and we didn’t make plays to finish the games.”

Tampa Bay’s 1-7 stretch before its season-finale win over Carolina was its worst since the 2018 season. The Bucs lost five one-score games during that stretch.

While Bowles will return, a chunk of the Bucs’ coaching staff will not be back for the 2026 season.

Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard was fired after just one season as the playcaller for Tampa Bay. The move means the Bucs will be searching for their fifth new playcaller in the past five seasons.

Grizzard was promoted last offseason from pass game coordinator to offensive coordinator after Liam Coen became Jacksonville’s head coach.

Tampa Bay’s offense took a major step back this season. The Bucs averaged 22.4 points per game after scoring 29.5 points per game in 2024. Last season, Tampa Bay ranked third in the NFL with 399.5 yards per game. This year, the Bucs dropped to 21st, averaging 320.4 yards.

Baker Mayfield threw for 807 fewer passing yards and 15 fewer passing touchdowns than he did in 2024. Bowles noted Mayfield was “banged up,” dealing with knee, shoulder, hand and elbow injuries throughout the season.

Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken have reportedly been linked to the vacancy in Tampa Bay. On Friday, former Titans head coach Brian Callahan and Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson interviewed with the Bucs.

Tampa Bay also parted ways with special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey. He was hired in 2024 after spending five seasons as the New York Giants’ special teams coordinator.

The Bucs struggled mightily on special teams this season. Tampa Bay had three field goals and two punts blocked. The Bucs also ranked 28th in the NFL, allowing 28.2 yards per kick return, while averaging just 24.3 yards on their own returns.

Tampa Bay’s defensive coaching staff is undergoing an overhaul. Defensive backs coach Kevin Ross and defensive line coach Charlie Strong (the second time a Tampa Bay team has fired him lol) were fired, and safeties coach Kevin Rapone retired.

“These decisions are always difficult, but the disappointing end to the season required some changes to our coaching staff in order to ensure we live up to the high standards we have set here,” Bowles said after the firings.

The Bucs allowed 24.2 points per game this season, the most surrendered by a Bowles-led defense since he became head coach. Tampa Bay ranked in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed, passing yards allowed, sacks and tackles for loss.

Despite the struggles, Bowles confirmed he will continue to serve as the defensive playcaller next season. He has not had a defensive coordinator on his staff since taking over as head coach. Bowles previously shared defensive playcalling duties with Kacy Rodgers during his tenure as head coach of the New York Jets.

The final staff change was the retirement of offensive analyst Tom Moore, who concluded a legendary career spanning 62 years of coaching, including 46 seasons in the NFL. Moore, 87, has been with the Bucs since 2019 and coached quarterbacks such as Terry Bradshaw, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady during his illustrious career.

Tampa Bay is hoping the coaching staff changes mark the beginning of an offseason that helps propel the Bucs back into the playoffs and potentially into Super Bowl contention.