Buccaneers part ways with scapegoats after apparent Todd Bowles decision

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may or may not have reached out to former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh before they chose to retain head coach Todd Bowles. 

On Thursday, the Buccaneers moved on from two scapegoats after they failed to qualify for the playoffs and finished this season with a record of 8-9.

Who was made to pay for disappointing Buccaneers season? 

NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported on Thursday morning that the Buccaneers have fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Tampa Bay also parted ways with quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis.

The news is hardly surprising, as a previous report indicated that somebody would "have to pay" if Tampa Bay missed out on the playoffs. In total, the Buccaneers lost seven of eight games after their Week 9 bye before they notched what proved to be a meaningless win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 18. 

The Buccaneers promoted Grizzard from pass game coordinator to offensive coordinator last offseason after Liam Coen left the club to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. ESPN stats show that the Buccaneers finished the 2025 regular season ranked 21st in the NFL with an average of 320.4 total offensive yards per game and tied for 17th with an average of 22.4 points per contest. 

Meanwhile, Lewis was Baker Mayfield's quarterbacks coach through Mayfield's first three years with Tampa Bay. According to Pro Football Reference, Mayfield ended Week 18 ranked 13th in the NFL among qualified players with a 60.9 adjusted QBR, 21st with a 90.6 passer rating, 10th with 3,693 passing yards and tied for seventh with 26 passing touchdowns. 

Mayfield suffered an injury to his non-throwing shoulder in Week 12.

What this means for Todd Bowles

It was announced this past June that Bowles and Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht had signed multiyear contract extensions. In December, it was reported that Buccaneers ownership wouldn't pay the buyout associated with Bowles' deal even if the club missed the playoffs. 

"Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is heading into the final season of his contract, and if Bowles can’t turn things around, it could be his final year in Tampa Bay as well," Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith noted. "Bowles finding a play-caller who can get the most out of Mayfield is his top priority right now."