Why former All-Pro 'would love to play for' Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles

Shortly before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened the preseason portion of their schedule, Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield hit back at outsiders who feel head coach Todd Bowles doesn't show enough "emotion" on game days or while speaking with media members after defeats. 

During a recent edition of the "Pushing the Pile" podcast, former All-Pro offensive lineman Kyle Long explained why he "would love to play for" Bowles heading into the upcoming season. 

"Old school," Long said about Bowles, per the JoeBucsFan website. "There’s a reason these teams stick together year in and year out. They have the ability to really just maintain their cool all the time."

Shortly after the Buccaneers signed Bowles and general manager Jason Licht to multiyear contract extensions in June, Licht insisted that "the general public and the fans" are wrong in believing that Bowles is too "stoic" a head coach. Bowles has been a polarizing figure among Tampa Bay supporters for multiple reasons ever since he was promoted from his role as defensive coordinator after Bruce Arians stepped down as head coach in March 2022. 

Under Bowles, the 2022 Buccaneers claimed the NFC South division title with a record of 8-9 before they suffered a 31-14 wild-card playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. In the following campaign, Tampa Bay went from 3-1 to 4-7 before the club ultimately completed a trip to the divisional round of the postseason tournament. This past January, the Buccaneers squandered a 17-13 fourth-quarter lead en route to losing a wild-card playoff matchup to the Washington Commanders. 

Long seems to believe Bowles can take the 2025 Buccaneers where they hope to go. 

"His heart rate is never up," Long added about Bowles. "And I feel like that’s the Bucs. I mean, they’re in any game. That’s why they can go on the road and beat the Lions. That’s why I feel like they’re a team that can go and beat the Eagles at [Lincoln Financial Field]. And it doesn’t surprise me because they have fearless leaders at the receiver position, at the quarterback position, at the head coach position. I’m excited to watch this group. I’m just a huge Baker fan."

As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Buccaneers eighth among the betting favorites at +1300 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX. It sounds like Long thinks bettors should take a flier on those odds before Tampa Bay plays at the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 on Sept. 7.