“I Coach My Ass Off”
February 25th, 2025
Todd Bowles is not a popular head coach. From Ruskin to Redington Beach and beyond, the majority of Bucs fans are not on the Bowles bandwagon despite his three consecutive division titles.
Joe talked to Bowles today about fans being hard on him.
In short, the head coach says he doesn’t care because he doesn’t pay attention. But Bowles also gave himself a strong vote of confidence.
“I’m not the worst coach in this league. Right now I’m not the best coach in this league,” Bowles said. “I’m striving to be that. I think I’m getting better every year. I do think I coach my ass off. And you work hard and you keep your head down and you keep it moving.”
Bowles went on to talk about how fans should have high expectations and he respects how Bucs fans are passionate and have strong opinions.
You can hear Bowles’ full reaction in today’s Ira Kaufman Podcast below.
Joe respects Bowles disconnecting himself from public opinion of his job performance. Still, what fans think matters. It’s an entertainment business, and fans are asked to invest their time year-round and they often spend more than they can afford on Bucs tickets, merchandise, etc.
Joe would love to see Bowles perform better in the regular Todd Bowles Confidence Poll on this website. But that’s not going to happen without a run in the playoffs.
That’s just the reality.
And Bowles wouldn’t have it any other way.
February 25th, 2025 at 6:20 pm
I think he’s improving each year. That’s why I voted confident the last few poles this season
February 25th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
I think I would like Todd Bowles more as a head coach if he would give his duty up as a defensive coordinator and concentrate as game time coach.
February 25th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
His reputation among other coaches and players is a lot higher than that of many fans. And fans are usually wrong, even if they do pay the bills.
February 25th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
He’s certainly not the worst coach we’ve had here but I feel he’s reached his peak. You don’t fire him just to fire someone BUT, let’s start checking behind door number 2. You can’t be a Defensive head coach and lose games because your Defense stinks.
February 25th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
In the Commanders’ playoff game, Dean got hurt and his replacement got burned.
Is that Bowles’ fault?
Bucs are very close to being a Championship team.
This will be a very interesting off season.
February 25th, 2025 at 6:29 pm
“I’m not the worst coach in this league. Right now I’m not the best coach in this league,” Bowles said. “I’m striving to be that.
That’s Bowles Mr. Mediocre haha actually you don’t coach your arse off because you don’t have much time to spend on individual players. That’s left up to the senior citizens you hired to coach and they can’t but I have faith in all your coaches except your elderly secondary coaches.
February 25th, 2025 at 6:32 pm
If fans look at the condition that the Bucs were in in the Spring of 2022 when Todd took over, this team has come a long ways under his leadership.
We’d lost Gronk, Suh, JPP … 3 Rnd-1 picks and all potential contenders for the HOF … and replaced them with the rookie Cade Otton, Akeem Hicks & JTS. We still had Brady & Leftwich, but that didn’t turn out to be much of a blessing. Marpet retired, Jensen got hurt & Alex Cappa left for greener pastures. Lots of injuries that year didn’t help.
We needed to rebuild after 2022, and rebuild we did. Some excellent drafting in 2023 & 2024 spearheaded a major youth movement to clear up salary CAP issues that weren’t of Bowles’ making. But his coaching staff developed those young players such that the Bucs won the NFL South crown in 2022, 2023 & 2024. True we didn’t make it very far in the playoffs, but we gave it several good shots.
We changed a LOT as a TEAM, but we’re still growing. Add the right pieces, on defense especially, and we should be in a position to contend. Only time will tell though.
February 25th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
Hes lucky to have Brady followed by Mayfield or he wouldn’t be here.
February 25th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
J03 shut down the Ra White post for getting political.
Maybe it had something to do with J03 naming the clown… When you make mention of an obviously corrupt government official from a blatantly corrupt administration attempting to destroy democracy, don’t be surprised if you get some reaction. Just sayin’.
February 25th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Todd Bowles is improving as a HC. Startes with his admission. This team is improving and the results have been shown on the field.
This year could be the start of Super Bowl year. A lot of thanks goes to Tom Brady and Jason Light.
February 25th, 2025 at 6:44 pm
How about jail for wasting Brady’s last season?
February 25th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
The interview was great. Todd’s responses were awesome. Is it my imagination but are Licht and Bowles both being really loose in the interviews at the combine. Sounds like they’re extremely confident that their plans are working. One more draft like last year and this team is young and contending for years.
LFG!
February 25th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Last year injuries had a lot to with our defense the year before honestly it wasn’t our defense entirely our offensive line was shakey Canales calling up the guy plays along side dean and cd3 being hurt and the other safety not named aw31 being basically a supervisor instead of safety Todd had to dumpster dive the year before and still got to the playoffs with half the team of rookies this year injuries hit on a whole Nother level and still did ok
February 25th, 2025 at 7:15 pm
Bowels is not the worst but he is in their category….
In the bottom 10 for sure…
If this is his last season, it won’t be a surprise to many…
If the owners were wise they would be already searching for an actual quality NFL HC to replace him…
February 25th, 2025 at 7:18 pm
Those fans will miss him when he’s gone. They’ll say “At least Bowles took us to the playoffs”.
For those of you not enjoying this time as a Bucs fan, your future self will wish you had.
February 25th, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Bucs will be 11-6 this season. When that happens, Todd Bowles isn’t going anywhere. Let’s hope that he is improving as a coaching technician. He is clearly a players coach who has done a terrific job working young players into productive roles. Hoping that with some new defensive blood (4-5 new starters), the Bucs will emerge as a dominant team this season. The key is getting an established EDGE who can contribute immediately.
February 25th, 2025 at 8:09 pm
Allbuccedup … ‘Hes lucky to have Brady followed by Mayfield or he wouldn’t be here.’
Brady’s Bucs went 8-9 in 2022 and ranked #25 offensively, largely because of Leftwich (BA leftoveer), Brady’s personal problems, and major OLine issues. Not sure I’d call that ‘luck’.
Regarding Mayfield, Todd Bowles is the one who pushed for him when just about everyone else was down on Baker. Todd was also the one who chose Canales, and then chose Coen when Canales got the HCing gig with Carolina. Guess Todd’s ‘lucky’ there too huh.
February 25th, 2025 at 8:44 pm
Nice guy. Seems to be
Good Coach yes he is in the NFL
But a head coach No he’s not and 10 years show it
He took over a superbowl winning team with the GOAT at QB and has barely made the playoffs abd done nothing in the playoffs
February 25th, 2025 at 9:04 pm
I am a fan.
I am not a franchise decision maker.
They have made their decision and I will accept their decision.
I’ll still post my observations and make my recommendations even though the decision makers will not pay any attention to them(individually).
We all have our flaws and I’m sure I don’t want to hear some stranger talking about mine.
I note that the team is looking to hire a dedicated game clock manager to help with those gametime decisions. This is a plus.
I think it would be even more beneficial to hire a full time DC.
If Todd will ‘let it go’ that way, He has a chance to shine as a head coach. IMO
February 25th, 2025 at 9:24 pm
Tom Moore, I am definitely enjoying it, just think it could be even better.
How I feel about a future HC will depend on the roster he is working with. For instance, let’s pretend we had some other coaches this past season.
2024
Bowles 10-7
Eberflus 8-9
Harbaugh, McVay, KOC – 12-5
Bowles is certainly not the worst and he keeps this team together, does some great things. I also believe he leaves a couple wins on the table each season and in my mind that doesn’t bode well for playoff success when you need to win 3 or 4 potentially tight games vs other top teams.
February 25th, 2025 at 9:56 pm
To those stating Bowles is improving as a HC, can you please provide specifically where you see these improvements? What areas are you referring to? He freely admits he is hands-off with the offense. So where on defense are you seeing progress?
He ranks 22 of 32 in winning percentage of all current NFL HCs.
February 25th, 2025 at 10:16 pm
Uh oh. Massive wordarrhea dump incoming.
February 26th, 2025 at 6:06 am
I believe he’s on the 4th year of a five year deal? The Bucs have the 5th year option, don’t know if they picked it up? At any rate, he’s on thin ice. Unless the Glazers pick up his option, or put all to rest signing Todd to a new deal he’s a lame duck coach in 2025. This will be a big season for Todd’s future in Tampa.
February 26th, 2025 at 7:22 am
Other than the playoff run in 2020 , I am more disappointed in him as a defensive coordinator than as a head coach . Don’t call zero blitz just to let kupp run open down the middle . Don’t take your edge rushers and sometimes defensive tackles and drop them into coverage todd. Quit trying to be too cute in your play calling todd . If Jayson can get you some dawgz like suh & jpp again , then just line them up and have them knock down the opposition .
February 26th, 2025 at 7:43 am
Todd….Todd.. Its not Good Enough.. You hear this sir. It Is Not Good enough. You are too comfortable. Wake the hell up. Your offensive coordinators have been carrying this team. Yes Todd the offense is why we are winning. The defense that is ALL on You is Not Good Enough. Do you hear that. You are not Good enough. What a dumb F’ ing lazy slob comment. I’m not the best I’m not the worst, says lazy slobs who are comfortable amd hiding in a safe place. What leader is comfortable being mediocre. Do better Todd. Do you hear that. Probably not but I feel better.
February 26th, 2025 at 7:51 am
BA’s Red Pen Says:
February 25th, 2025 at 6:25 pm. You can’t be a Defensive head coach and lose games because your Defense stinks.
==============================================/
Preach on brother🙏
February 26th, 2025 at 8:45 am
When the pass defense is this bad for this long, it’s on coaching and scheme as the variations of players have changed almost yearly.
Gotta question his coaching when the pass defense changes very little from year to year
February 26th, 2025 at 9:05 am
A little off the subject but still relevant…why is NO ONE talking about our incredibly inept special teams? A great, or good, head coach would not accept the horrible special teams play we witness every week! It’s laughable really…3 phases to every game, offense, defense and SPECIAL teams. Our special teams are not very special….and never have been admittedly. However, under Bowles they’re just awful. Why are we keeping the ST coach? Why hasn’t this been addressed? Almost every game we lose the ST phase and it’s a critical element to every game! We need a GREAT special teams coach to rid this team of the mediocre play…strive to be the best in all phases if you want to be recognized as a “good” coach!!
February 26th, 2025 at 9:44 am
“Todd Bowles coaches his @ss off” says no one ever…except Todd Bowles.
February 26th, 2025 at 10:00 am
He’s proven over and over again that he is incapable of having his team ready to play week in and week out. Having his team go on multiple game losing streaks combined with big game collapses tells you he has issues getting his teams ready. Last season his miserable coaching was hidden behind a high powered offense. He is squandering his players in their prime years.These are things that can’t be ignored.
February 26th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
He’s coaching the wrong thing off. Maybe coach players instead.
February 26th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
Bowles has a career .449 regular season win/loss pct.
Bowles has a career .250 postseason win/loss pct.
Bowles has an overall career .443 win/loss pct.
Yes, Bowles has delivered three straight division championships, but he delivered those while going barely over .500, and against the toilet bowl division of the league.
“Coaching his ass off” only got the team to a .509 win pct in 3 years, including the playoffs. I submit that if “coaching his ass off” results in mediocrity like that, maybe we should be looking for a coach where the term “coaches his ass off” results in better than 50/50 results.
February 26th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Assless Todd.