With John Harbaugh available, is keeping Todd Bowles the right move for the Buccaneers?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren't jettisoning head coach Todd Bowles, despite there being other appealing options on the head-coaching market.

The Buccaneers started 6-2 this past season but lost seven of their last nine games. That allowed the Carolina Panthers (8-9) to snatch the NFC South title from Tampa Bay, eliminating the Buccaneers from the playoffs. 

After the stunning in-season collapse, the team could be tempted to replace Bowles with a more accomplished coach, like recently fired Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh. The Buccaneers, however, aren't planning on doing that. 

Todd Bowles confirms his return in 2026

On Wednesday, Bowles sent a text to the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud confirming he's returning to the Buccaneers in 2026. Before this update, the coach defended himself amid calls for his job. 

"I've earned the chance — I've won three straight division titles, so that says a lot as far as I am concerned," the coach said Monday (h/t Field Level Media).  

Since replacing former HC Bruce Arians after the 2021 season, Bowles won three straight NFC South titles from 2022-24 and helped the franchise transition smoothly from future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady to Baker Mayfield.

The Glazer family, which owns the Buccaneers, feels Bowles has been good enough, but that may be part of his problem. He's just good enough.

Todd Bowles may not be an HC who can win a Super Bowl 

In four seasons with Tampa Bay, Bowles has gone 35-33 in the regular season. However, his teams that hover slightly below or above .500 have been exposed in the playoffs. Under the HC, the Buccaneers have won one playoff game and made no trips to the NFC Championship Game. 

Tampa could do more with a talented roster, headlined by Mayfield, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Harbaugh or another coach of his caliber could be what Tampa needs to reach the mountaintop. Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin, a one-time Super Bowl champion, expressed doubt about his future after the firing of his longtime AFC North rival. 

Harbaugh went 180-113 during the regular season in 18 seasons with Baltimore and delivered the franchise its second Super Bowl in 2012. And he did this in the AFC, which featured elite QBs during his tenure. This included former Patriots star Brady, former Indianapolis Colt/Denver Bronco Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) and Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills). 

Baltimore went 8-9 and missed the playoffs in 2025, but QB Lamar Jackson missed four games because of back and hamstring issues. The Ravens went 2-2 without him. 

Baltimore also showed more resilience than the Buccaneers. The Ravens won seven of their last 11 games after a 1-5 start.