The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just finished a disappointing season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The Buccaneers finished the regular season with an 8-9 record and lost the division title on a tiebreaker. It was an underwhelming season for a team that came into the year with Super Bowl expectations.
Head coach Todd Bowles should receive much of the blame for the team’s struggles, but he is not expected to be replaced. Many Buccaneers fans have been calling for Bowles to be fired, and they are reacting to the news that he is returning.
Bucs Fans Upset at Todd Bowles Being Retained
Bowles has been the head coach of the Buccaneers for the last four seasons. This is the first time he has missed the playoffs, but even with that, his overall record in Tampa Bay has not been excellent.
RealBucsTalk considers this move “disappointing” and questions what value Bowles brings to the team. RealBucsTalk said, “But let’s go get a new OC, new DC…what value does Bowles bring then???”
Bucs content with delaying the inevitable… disappointing imo. But let’s go get a new OC, New DC… what value does Bowles bring then??? Licht will need to find an Edge and two LBs that can play plus depth in the front seven. But who says there won’t be similar issues this season… pic.twitter.com/1FuhsGBqMu
— RealBucsTalk (@RealBucsTalk) January 7, 2026
He is 35-33 as the Buccaneers head coach, and you cannot blame fans for wanting to see more from their team. It appears that many of the Buccaneers’ fan base have lost faith in Bowles. According to JoeBucsFan, “Nearly 94 percent of Bucs fans polled have little or no confidence in Todd Bowles.”
Nearly 94 percent of Bucs fans polled have little or no confidence in Todd Bowles. Wow.https://t.co/24H2J1guQC
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) January 7, 2026
It is hard to sell the fanbase on a coach when they have no confidence in him. What makes it hurt even more for Bucs fans is that they let offensive coordinator Liam Coen leave this past offseason.
Coen went on to the Jacksonville Jaguars and led them to 13 wins. Many Bucs fans wish he had become their head coach last offseason. Bucs fan JC Cornell said, “Bigger mistake than letting Coen leave last year. Bowles will never lead the Bucs to a Super Bowl.”
Bigger mistake than letting Coen leave last year. Bowles will never lead the Bucs to a Super Bowl. https://t.co/14bvb2eL4B
— JC Cornell (@CornellNFL) January 7, 2026
It seems that the Buccaneers lack upside under Bowles. He is a defensive coach, and his defense has not played up to its capability. This past season, they ranked 19th in yards allowed and 20th in points allowed. If Bowles is not making a significant impact on the defense, he is hard to keep around.
Not every Bucs fan is pessimistic about Bowles’ return. Samer Ali believes the front office persuaded Bowles to accept non-negotiable changes for him to return. Ali said, “My read is that the #Bucs laid out non-negotiable changes to keep the job. Real DC. New defensive staff. New OC. Bowles steps away from play-calling. Full reset around him.”
For everyone losing their minds over the reported return of Todd Bowles:
My read is that the #Bucs laid out non-negotiable changes to keep the job. Real DC. New defensive staff. New OC. Bowles steps away from play-calling. Full reset around him.
If he wasn’t on board, we’d…
— 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗶™ 🏴☠️ (@TheSamerAli) January 7, 2026
If that is the case, maybe the Bucs will be in a better place next season, even with Bowles returning. It will be interesting to see what coaching moves the Bucs end up making around Bowles.
Buccaneers analyst Bailey Adams is confused as to why the team will keep Bowles if they are bringing in a new DC and OC. Adams said, “This is the biggest thing I’m struggling to process. If you’re going to get a new OC (a fifth in five years, for varying reasons tbf) and considering a new DC (maybe one to call plays?) and largely an entire new defensive staff, what’s the point in keeping Bowles at that point?”
This is the biggest thing I’m struggling to process. If you’re going to get a new OC (a fifth in five years, for varying reasons tbf) and considering a new DC (maybe one to call plays?) and largely an entire new defensive staff, what’s the point in keeping Bowles at that point? https://t.co/2CUBUv3Llh
— Bailey Adams (@BaileyJAdams22) January 7, 2026
Some people are even pointing to the ownership as the reason for the Buccaneers’ struggles. Alex Kennedy said, “I guess the Glazers don’t care about winning. This is a massive mistake.”
I guess the Glazers don’t care about winning. This is a massive mistake.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) January 7, 2026
No matter how the fanbase feels, Bowles will be back for another season. Yet, if his team does not make significant improvements, it may be his last.
