“It starts with me.”
Those were the words Todd Bowles led with during a candid 20-minute press conference this morning.
As Ian Rapoport noted, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially turned the page to an offseason filled with a lot of uncertainty.
Bowles addressed the frustration surrounding the team’s disappointing season, acknowledging that fan frustration is “well-warranted.”
“I don’t really have a message to fans, other than true fans are true fans. We’re going to try our best to go out there and win for them. They’re going to feel how they feel, but that’s not the coach’s problem. The coach’s problem is to make the team better.”
Bowles didn’t dodge the questions, nor did he attempt to soften the moment:
“We didn’t do enough defensively,” Bowles said. “That’s on me.”
As Rick Stroud noted, at the end of his conference, Bowles made it clear he should continue to lead this team in 2026:
“I’ve earned the chance. I’ve won three straight division titles so that says a lot as far as I’m concerned.”
The head coach confirmed he will meet with ownership later this week as the organization evaluates what comes next.
Fans Voice Frustration After Late-Season Collapse
Bowles’ remarks came against the backdrop of mounting backlash from Buccaneers fans across social media, many of whom are openly calling for a coaching change.
After a season that ended without a team losing seven of their last nine games and missing the playoffs, patience has worn thin.
Statistically, the criticism is understandable.
Tampa Bay finished near the bottom of the league in sacks and quarterback pressures, a glaring issue for a team led by a defensive-minded head coach.
Bowles did not shy away from that reality.
“We’ve got to get more pressure,” he said. “We’ve got to get more sacks. That has to change.”
Additionally, late-game collapses and clock management mistakes caused many losses that were preventable this season.
That unfortunately falls on the head coach.
He also acknowledged the emotions of the fan base directly, noting that disappointment is justified given the expectations surrounding the roster and recent success in the NFC South.
Rather than deflect blame, Bowles emphasized accountability but also confidence that is is the right man for the job going forward.
A Major Decision Still Ahead for Tampa Bay
While multiple NFL teams moved quickly to fire head coaches earlier today, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not yet made a final determination on Bowles’ future.
According to reporter Greg Auman, the Buccaneers are expected to take additional time before reaching a decision.
More clarity is likely to come later this week.
Bowles confirmed that player and staff evaluations are underway and acknowledged that changes may be necessary.
However, he did not commit to giving up defensive play-calling duties, saying he doesn’t deal in hypotheticals and that those conversations will happen internally with ownership.
For now, Bowles remains Tampa Bay’s head coach but the tone of his press conference sounded like one last ditched effort to save his job.
Todd Bowles Doesn’t Hold Back in Blunt Press Conference Amid Fan Calls for His Job