Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield responds to common criticism of HC Todd Bowles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht insisted in June that "the general public and the fans" are wrong in believing that Todd Bowles is too "stoic" of a head coach to guide the club successfully.

During a recent appearance on FanDuel TV's "Up & Adams," Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield suggested that Bowles is the perfect coach to lead the Tampa Bay squad. 

"He’s just so consistent," Mayfield said about Bowles, JoeBucsFan.com shared. "Good, bad, indifferent, he doesn’t change. And so some people, they want emotion, you know? That’s what you kind of hear. It’s like, 'Why doesn’t he show emotion? Why doesn’t he do this?' He’s the same guy each and every day. And from a leadership standpoint, rocky or successful, having that be your model, that’s really important for us."

Bowles was rumored to be on the hot seat since he was promoted from his role as defensive coordinator after Bruce Arians stepped down as Buccaneers head coach in March 2022. That trend continued through this winter, despite leading the club to three straight division titles. However, these rumors dispersed after the Bucs signed Bowles and Licht to multiyear contract extensions in June. 

Bowles' critics regularly point to his 27-24 regular-season record and his 1-3 postseason mark, suggesting that a better game-day coach could get more out of a talented Tampa Bay team. As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings tied for seventh among the betting favorites at +1300 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX. 

That said, Mayfield made it known in July that the Buccaneers letting him truly be himself is a big reason he has thrived with the franchise after the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers discarded him in 2022. During the "Up & Adams" segment, Mayfield praised that aspect of Bowles' leadership. 

"He allows us to go out and be ourselves," Mayfield added. "He knows when to display leadership, and he knows when to take control. And that’s a God-given talent."

If that "God-given talent" helps Mayfield become a Most Valuable Player candidate, Bowles could receive some Coach of the Year votes at season's end.