Buccaneers To Evaluate Coaching Staff; Latest On Todd Bowles

As such, 2025 represents a major disappointment from Tampa Bay’s perspective. The team was 6-2 when its bye week arrived, but the closing stages of the campaign proved to be disastrous. Head coach Todd Bowles has seen his job security questioned as a result, although numerous reports have pointed to him being safe. The 62-year-old has been in his current role since 2022.

Bowles – like general manager Jason Licht – signed an extension last offseason. That would make a firing this soon after a surprise, and the team is indeed hesitant to pay the buyout present in his latest pact. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms (video link), ownership’s preference would be to keep Bowles in place for 2026. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports writes that a firing would be unexpected at this point, though he adds a full evaluation will take place with the season now in the books.

While Bowles seems to be safe, Jones mentions that changes throughout the rest of the coaching staff are likely to take place. We mentioned just Thursday that offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard may be on the hot seat. The first-year coordinator had a meteoric rise to the job. His first NFL coaching job came in Miami as an offensive quality control coach. He remained in quality control for three seasons before getting promoted to wide receivers coach for the Dolphins. He only held that role for two years before being moved back to offensive quality control for two more seasons. Tampa Bay brought him on last year as pass game coordinator before promoting him to his current role to replace Liam Coen.

Throughout the season, Grizzard has been criticized for his play calling as last year’s offense — which finished fourth in scoring, third in total yards, third in passing yards, and fourth in rushing yards — devolved into this year’s performance — 15th in scoring, 14th in total yards, 17th in passing yards, and 15th in rushing yards. Some of these setbacks can be attributed to injuries — seven missed games for Bucky Irving, nine for Mike Evans, eight for Chris Godwin, 13 for Jalen McMillan, and missed games for several offensive linemen — but Grizzard’s play calling is still a key reason for where the team ended up this year.

In the next few days, as Black Monday claims the jobs of several big names, we’ll see what Tampa Bay decides to do, and if Bowles is still around, how many changes he’s willing to make to his coaching staff. After a season of disappointment despite plenty of talent, the coaches could be the ones to bear the brunt of the punishment.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.