Buccaneers' Jason Licht drops another big hint about future of Todd Bowles

Per the JoeBucsFan website, Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht recently endorsed head coach Todd Bowles and noted that "a lot of stability has helped" the franchise that has claimed four straight NFC South division titles. 

Some Tampa Bay fans nevertheless have called for the club to part ways with Bowles coming off the disappointing 23-20 wild-card playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. It sounds like Licht will instruct ownership to ignore such takes. 

"It’s just kind of the cycle that we’re in with this team," Licht recently said about Tampa Bay finishing the season atop the division standings under Bowles, as shared by John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times. "Two years ago when we had the — I don’t want to say rebuild — but we knew it was going to take some time to fill every spot on the defense. Is there some spots that we could add to? Of course. But it takes time. And what [Bowles] has done with what we have, I think, has been remarkable." 

Many thought Tampa Bay would become a laughingstock after quarterback Tom Brady retired from playing in February 2023, but the March 2023 acquisition of Baker Mayfield coupled with Bowles' leadership helped the Buccaneers earn a playoff berth and notch a postseason win last January. More recently, changes Bowles embraced as the 2024 Buccaneers limped into their Week 11 bye at 4-6 resulted in Tampa Bay winning six of seven games to qualify for this year's postseason tournament. 

Somewhat interestingly, stories going back to December have linked the Buccaneers with current North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick even though Belichick has publicly said he's committed to the Tar Heels through at least 2025. Many analysts would probably agree that Belichick is a better in-game coach than Bowles, but there's currently no sign that Tampa Bay wants to make such a blockbuster move. 

Ownership may ultimately ask that Bowles' Buccaneers do more than just participate in a playoff game next January, but such discussions can be punted down the road for now. Per team insider Ira Kaufman of JoeBucsFan and others, the Buccaneers will be running it back with Bowles for the start of another campaign.