Todd Bowles Shows Off His Comedic Timing
January 6th, 2025
Mic drop.
Joe only wishes Bucs fans could see the side of Todd Bowles Joe often sees.
Bowles, as most fans know, is a stoic figure on the sidelines. You see him talk on his headset and that’s about it. He’s not quite the sphinx Tom Landry was, but Bowles is close.
This, of course, gives off the vibe that Bowles is bored or hates his job or would rather be digging splinters out of his hands than coaching.
At a podium, 98 percent of the time, Bowles tries to do his best Bill Belichick impersonation, only he doesn’t mumble. Joe typed “98 percent” because Bowles once in a while will let out his true self.
Away from the prying eye of the camera, Bowles is borderline gregarious. Always quick with a laugh, almost always smiling. Always willing to strike up a conversation.
It’s almost like Bowles believes he has to act a certain way or put up a front in public.
This introverted personality curtain drives a lot of fans nuts. “Why isn’t he as intense as I am and I’m not getting paid millions?” Joe gets it.
What fans (mostly) see out from Bowles isn’t the real Bowles. Really.
So today, Bowles’ true self seeped out at his day-after presser.
Bowles was asked about, in a one-score game with the playoffs on the line (at the time, the Stinking Panthers-Dixie Chicks were in overtime), giving Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen and quarterback Baker Mayfield the green light to try to get Mike Evans’ to 1,000 yards receiving.
Evans’ streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons was on the line. Oh, and Evans was also due a $3 million bonus if he hit 1,000 receiving yards.
Joe honestly expected Bowles to order the victory formation. For a conservative, defensive guy, this move to throw with seconds left in a one-score game with so much on the line had to be an out-of-body experience.
“I was just hoping [the pass] was complete,” Bowles said of his decision. And then Bowles had the one-liner of the day.
“I think Mike owes me a million dollars.”
And with that, Bowles tapped the podium and immediately exited stage left.
Mic drop!
January 6th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
Now that’s awesome, haha.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:24 pm
Great job TODD 👍🏼
Now let’s go make some noise in the playoffs.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
I’m a Buc-obsessive, and from where I sit Bowles is obviously a pretty charming, warm guy. Almost all head coaches are boring performers at the mic and for good reason – it’s not their job. I also could not care one tiny bit about whether they are fist pumping and theatrical on the sidelines. What matters are wins from a team you can respect. (I’m not a “just win guy” if what that means its turning a blind eye to creeps.) Bowles now has a 3 more wins as a HC for the Bucs than he does losses. And it’s becoming increasingly clear you can’t hold anybody’s track record with the Jets against them. So he’s a winning coach who keeps getting better. Very happy to have him around.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
Great take Joe. LMAO. Todd Bowles..Mike Drop..Rock Star. Now that within itself is funny as hell.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
Lol
January 6th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
That is good stuff. Glad he can be authentic and be himself.
Now do the “Mahomes 2020 script” for Jayden Daniels and company. Go Bucs, get a big, fat, well-earned, home-cooking “W” fired up on Sunday Night Football!
January 6th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
“For a conservative, defensive guy, this move had to be an out-of-body experience for Bowles.”
Joe, you come up with good ones. Thanks.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
When a fan has decided their coach is not to their liking for whatever reason they will create reasons why. If Bowles was emotional on the sidelines fans would say he’s losing his composure. If he’s stoic they’ll say they have more passion for the team than he does. If he jokes with the media then fans will say he doesn’t take the job seriously. If he doesn’t joke with the media then he’s a Belichick wanna-be.
The future Ring of Honor inductee will continue to be the best version of himself. It’s evident the team plays hard for him and that’s all that matters to me.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
This has to be the most overblown element of a coach’s worth. In fact, it shouldn’t ever be a factor.
Some of the greatest coaches who ever lived barely whispered on the sidelines.
But we live in an image conscious world and the majority of fans consume football on a visual medium. The images of a reserved coach aren’t a good look — even though in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t mean a hill of beans.
It reminds Joe of what Frank DeFord once wrote about Bobby Knight, “He’s a substance guy in a style world.”
January 6th, 2025 at 1:40 pm
Booooooooo
Fire Todd Bowles. We should be 13-4 minimum this year
January 6th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
In these games where the team comes out flat, I’d love to see Bowles get in some faces to get the team going. Otherwise I’m fine with his stoicism. It is odd that I don’t see him talking to his assistants much, in person or via mic.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
I mean, Bowles pulled it off and won the south again. Let’s face it also, the NFL set the Bucs up to fail with the schedule. The whole world knew they were pushing the Falcons down our throats. The Falcons had a very very big advantage with the head to head schedule. First game was on a Thursday night on the road and the home teams won those 70% of the time. Then the second matchup followed the Bucs playing a Monday night game against the Ravens. I believe Bowles only had 2 starters play every game on defense as well. Great job coach I want expecting that.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
It’s very clear the players love Todd Bowles and he connects with them well
It’s time to miserable portion of the fan base hops on board
January 6th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
He at least owes you a steak… and a Rolex.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
Gee, I wonder what could make fans so angry at a winning coach who won 2.5 more games than expected. You don’t think it could have anything to do with politics, do you?
Actually, it was a two score game. A failed two point conversion would be a loss!
January 6th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
That is good timing and a nice line on his part. If I was in the crowd, would have had no choice but to yell out in response… “Does that mean you would have owed Mike 3 million for accepting the penalty last week and taking away 6 yards?”
January 6th, 2025 at 2:02 pm
Love it, love it, love it! That is our Coach being funny. That is what the players see and he has all their respect. Todd could have been conservative and had them take a knee. He took a chance instead to make sure Mike got his record and bonus. So much respect for Todd.
January 6th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
The old saying is you play how you practice. All these light practices and walk-throughs might be part of the problem. I realize we have injuries, but this team has very soft camp very soft practice schedule.
January 6th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Can’t attempt a two-point conversion unless you score a touchdown. So technically, it’s a one-score. Just like in basketball where a three-point basket (or bucket-and-foul) is a one-score game.
You *never* hear any broadcast where they refer to an eight-point difference as a two-score game.
January 6th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Not Again Says:
January 6th, 2025 at 1:40 pm
Booooooooo
“Fire Todd Bowles. We should be 13-4 minimum this year”
And then we’d be the #3 seed in the Playoffs! Oh wait.
January 6th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
“He’s not quite the sphinx Tom Landry was, but Bowles is close.”
Nice comparison but I’m somewhat surprised Tony Dungy hasn’t come up during this conversation. He was the first “Dangerfield” we had on the sidelines who despite winning could never get over the SB hump and so he was let go,
Gruden inherits the team and ROD MARINELLI and gets the SB. Good for John.
Tony goes to Indy, finds a QB and gets the SB.
This is the literal example from right here in the Tampa Bay Bucs own history.
Quiet guy with stone face gets run for the guy with the passionate “Chucky face”. They BOTH were successful!!!
January 6th, 2025 at 4:50 pm
No Evans DOES NOT owe Bowels a thing. Bowels knows (but will never admit) he should not have accepted the penalty against the Panthers that nullified the six yard reception. Evans would have already been at 1,001 yards when the Bucs took over on downs at the end of the Saints game. You call that humor? I call it being an A-hole.
January 6th, 2025 at 5:07 pm
Excellent storytelling, Joe. 🙂
Loved the reference to allow Liam and Baker to go for it, as being akin to an out of body experience. I got a good laugh out of that.
To be fair…
Saquon (sp) Barkley sat yesterday, and there was a pretty major record he had a legitimate shot at breaking. Nick Sirianni said no, and kept him out of the game so he’d be fresh and healthy for the playoffs.
I was scared to death that we were going to take a knee on that last play.
And thrilled that we didn’t.
January 6th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
stpetebucsfan – Right on. Todd has that inner Tom Landry vibe.
Vanessa Anne – I saw that about Barkley too. It’s a shame he didn’t get the chance to break the record. Very happy that Todd didn’t hold back and Mike was able to get his 1000 yards.
January 6th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
As much as it’s maddening to see the perpetual stoicism on the sideline you can tell he’s a genuine person when he does smile. That Sphinx reference is PRICELESS!!! His Mike Evans joke was priceless also! Good going coach Bowles! You’re the king🤴 for the week. Now become king for the year and bring that title home! Get that defense to start playing in the 1st half the way it plays in the 2nd half!
January 6th, 2025 at 11:13 pm
He’s been gambling since last year. He went for two both against Buffalo and then in the playoffs against Detroit in the 4th quarter.
He knows that he has a good offense and he’s willing to gamble with it. He’s more complex than the anti-Bowles types make him out to be.
January 7th, 2025 at 5:08 am
What matters most is this team believes in their coach. And we keep winning! I wish we would not have these streaks of 3-4 games where everything goes to hell every season so we could really appreciate what Bowles and co have put together here. I’m fully off the “fire Bowles” bandwagon. Until next season or we get embarrassed in the playoffs 😂
January 7th, 2025 at 1:05 pm
Bosch give it a rest. I am betting you don’t have alot of friends.
January 7th, 2025 at 9:16 pm
Peter Schrager from NFL Network gave Bowles his coach of the week award. Their record was better this year, despite the injuries on both sides of the ball. I had forgotten about the call to go for it on 4th and 8 early in the fourth quarter. And then the decision to give Mike a shot at 1k yards (and costing his bosses $3million). And I do care about the kind of person these guys are behind the scenes, and I know players love him. My first ever comment on this site was asking for Coen to replace Bowles, and I still want to see how things go Sunday night, but I’m coming around on him.