‘What a Terrible Head Coach’ — Calls Mount for Buccaneers To ‘Fire’ Todd Bowles As Fans Rage Over Loss to Falcons

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered its worst stretch over the last two weeks. After losing five of their last six games, the team has relinquished its lead in the NFC South, and with back-to-back losses to the New Orleans Saints and the Kirk Cousins-led Atlanta Falcons, it is hard to envision a scenario where they can rally.

After a last-second field goal put them on the losing end of a 29-28 game against a Drake London-less team that’s already been eliminated from the playoffs, Buccaneers fans have had enough. The majority of the blame fell on head coach Todd Bowles, with the fan base calling for his immediate termination.

Todd Bowles Becoming the Problem for the Buccaneers

The defense has been suspect for the Buccaneers all season long. This week was no different. Letting Cousins and Kyle Pitts Sr. drop 29 points on them was a travesty, particularly with the way Atlanta’s offense has looked over the last few weeks.

Bowles had zero adjustments, and this is the third game in a row that Cousins has torched the Bucs’ defense; in two games against Tampa Bay last season, Cousins threw for 785 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception.

After the Bucs’ latest loss, fans quickly took to social media to voice their complaints against him. Throughout the game, Bowles made a number of controversial decisions such as accepting a questionable penalty late in the game, having 12 men on the field during the Falcons’ final drive, and poor clock management.

One fan wrote, “Todd Bowles should be fired for these decisions alone. Decline the penalty, keep bringing the heat.”

Throughout the game, numerous controversial choices by Bowles contributed to the fans’ indignation. One fan added: “Bucs need to move off of Todd Bowles, what a terrible head coach.”

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Throughout the season, an easy excuse for Bowles was to point to the number of injuries on the roster as the reason for any shortcomings. But with Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan, Haason Reddick, Chris Godwin, and Bucky Irving all healthy and in the lineup, he’s out of excuses.

The situation was made immensely worse when, on the game-winning drive for the Falcons, Bowles gave Atlanta a lifeline on a silver platter, with 12 players remaining on the field for what turned out to be a game-losing penalty.

Bucs got flagged for 12 players on the field and offsides, so gave the Falcons five yards. Now at the Bucs’ 31.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 12, 2025

“TWELVE PLAYERS ON THE FIELD?????? In this situation????” posted ESPN’s Jenna Laine.

Some fans were direct in their vitriol, posting “Fire Todd Bowles.” Others couldn’t believe the collapse by the Buccaneers, who went from leading 28-14 to giving up three scores with no resistance in the fourth quarter.

Bowles’ lack of adjustments was startling to witness, as the Falcons repeatedly went to Pitts, who finished with 166 yards and three touchdowns. The Buccaneers fell to 7-7 on the year, with their playoff hopes dwindling.

Former NFL quarterback turned media analyst Chase Daniel was left shocked by the result, voicing his surprise on X, “How in the world did Tampa Bay lose this game? Just an epic, epic meltdown.”

After losing to Tyler Shough and the Saints in Week 14 (with Alvin Kamara sidelined), former Super Bowl-winning head coach and Bowles’ predecessor, Bruce Arians, called out the Bucs’ poor effort and made it clear that Bowles was facing a ton of heat.

Another inexcusable loss on the calendar is only going to exacerbate the situation. While he has made the playoffs every year as a head coach, this is more of a testament to the weak competition in the NFC South. Now, a downfall this year could be the straw that finally breaks the camel’s back in Tampa Bay.