Another High Profile “Coach Of The Year” Look At Todd Bowles
December 20th, 2023
Cue The X-Files theme music.
Joe detailed driving off the road this morning when a respected former NFL general manager hopped on SiriusXM NFL Radio and declared Todd Bowles the favorite for NFL Head Coach of the Year honors with three games to play.
The guy was not alone.
Former NFL defensive end Chris Long ranted on his podcast this week that Bowles could be the NFL Coach of the Year. Joe rarely links to YouTube video but here is Long. The two-time Super Bowl champ and former No. 2 overall pick was so passionate about Baker Mayfield’s success — “I thought the guy was dead, dude. He has resurrected his career …” And he was nearly as passionate about Bowles.
Long reminded listeners that he never thought the Bucs were any good, even when they had a 3-1 record in October.
“If Tampa Bay wins 10 games with Baker Mayfield, it’s gotta be one of the biggest stories of this NFL season,” Long said. “… I underestimated the coaching staff.”
Long went on to talk about how unlike other playoff hopefuls, the Bucs have players battle-tested in the postseason, including Mayfield. He went on to talk about how the Cowboys or Eagles wouldn’t want to face the Bucs in Tampa in Round 1 of the playoffs. Keep in mind Long played for the Eagles and follows them closely.
Todd Bowles as “Coach of the Year.” Joe can’t wrap brain cells around that today. If the Bucs are 10-7, then sure. Bowles would deserve to be in the conversation.
Fun fact: former Bucs head coach Raheem Morris was runner-up for Coach of the Year to Bill Belicheat for Tampa Bay’s surprising 10-6 record in 2010.
December 20th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
I would have worried about going off the road too after hearing that idea. For me, 10-7 AND at win at least the first playoff game then sure. Just 10-7 and lose the first game then “ehhh maybe.” I do feel the team is better than the beginning of the season with offense. The defense has not been as consistent which was supposed to be our strength. Just too many factors. The likely nominees for coach or mvp of the year changes so much especially in the final few games.
December 20th, 2023 at 3:21 pm
Coach of the year? Now he’s coach of the year a guy who they said was one the hot seat a month ago. That is pathetic OR standards for coach of the year are pretty low OR there aren’t many good coaches right now outside of the obvious established coaches.
December 20th, 2023 at 3:28 pm
These are just casuals. They aren’t watching Bucs games. It’s crazy. Anyone with half a brain knew they still had talent. Licht should maybe be executive of the year for the free agents and draft picks that have helped this team all year but Bowles has these guys 7-7 when they should be 8-6 or 9-5.
December 20th, 2023 at 3:36 pm
Coach of the year?
Are you high?
Put down the ‘devil’s lettuce’… your brain is fried!
December 20th, 2023 at 3:40 pm
Actually I think Bolyes is trying to get White to play super hard these last 3 games. Might work.
December 20th, 2023 at 3:44 pm
I beleve Todd Bowles is a fantastic DC. Not perfect, but who is?
I believe he is a bad Head Coach. Its ok. So is 99.999999999% of the population
But if we win the division, I believe he should be head coach next year.
We all learn from our mistakes.
Baker has obviously Earned our QB job for the next few years
I watched last weeks Game again. Our O-lie played better
We still have weak spots, but Hainsey and Stennie were a solid”ok”
Last time out.
Also looked like Shaq’ is getting his burst back a little bit
This team is out performing my expectations. Canales is starting to get our Vets
To buy in.
Yeah, we win the South, lets run it again next year.
With the obvious improvements at Pass Rush, Guard, and center.
December 20th, 2023 at 3:45 pm
What many don’t realize is how much this team has improved throughout the year. That matters. The offense now looks like an NFL ready offense and the offensive line has grown enormously. These guys play hard and apparently practice hard every week. They aren’t as talented as the elite teams but going into the last three games here they are in contention. Posters on this site have been saying every week, “it is going to be ugly. They will blown out. They stink. Give Bowles the credit he deserves. He and Canales put Godwin in the slot; they have found ways to get White the ball in the open field. No, they are not in the upper echelon of the league, but they far, far exceeded expectations and they be depended upon to be competitive in every game. Few if anybody expected them to win in Green Bay. They not only won; they won decisively.
December 20th, 2023 at 3:46 pm
This Super Bowl win will be NFL history and the start of the Bowles Mayfield Dynasty.
December 20th, 2023 at 3:48 pm
If Bowles goes, so does Canales and so does Baker. Is that you want? If Baker goes, so does Mike Evans and they blow the whole thing up unnecessarily. By the way, who is going to want to coach a team with a rookie QB and a defense in shambles and salary cap issues. Forget it.
December 20th, 2023 at 3:54 pm
Coach of the Century. This is the start of the Buc Dynasty.
December 20th, 2023 at 3:57 pm
It’s amazing what one quality win does. I’m still skeptical. I’m hopeful, but I know my Bucs……
December 20th, 2023 at 3:59 pm
X Files theme music – nice reference Sully.
December 20th, 2023 at 4:04 pm
Anyone who would vote for Todd for coach of the year is either blind hasn’t watched one game all season or knows nothing about football. I would say he’s in the running for the worst head coach in the league.
December 20th, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Que up Sabby the goat.
December 20th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Moron Baker fans are dreaming of beginning of Toilet Bowl and Baker super bowl dynasty. A dual that lost Atlanta and almost again two weeks ago and surviving in the NFL weakest division at 7-7. Yeah they will have their dynasty together in the trash bin outside of the Tampa city limit.
December 20th, 2023 at 4:22 pm
I want some of that cool aid everyone’s sipping on. Must make our inflation and high interest rates look awesome. Maybe it’s all that stuff getting through the rio grande. It’s great to be optimistic. But man.
December 20th, 2023 at 4:23 pm
If we are talking ( and Long is) 10-7 then of course Todd is in the discussion
because to do that He will have to fix his defense
If he does then Bowle Haters aside like you said – he would be in the discussion
I don’t see the issue . Just like we do here they are talking hypotheticals, Sooooo I’ll say the same thing as I did about Baker contract discussions
We aren’t there yet. lets wait to see how it plays out in at least the next two games but preferably three.
December 20th, 2023 at 4:25 pm
seriously…..
no, seriously????
I don’t GaF if he wins the superbowl, unless he has a brain transplant he needs to go.
He only went for 4th and 2 because he HAD too…….not because that is his style. He plays not to lose.
period.
December 20th, 2023 at 4:29 pm
David Says:
December 20th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Moron Baker fans are dreaming of beginning of Toilet Bowl and Baker super bowl dynasty.
—–
Mark’s Law of Internet Self Outing –
without exception the person online who use the word moron the most ALWAYS ends up to be the most complete example of the word.
December 20th, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Boss Says:
I don’t GaF if he wins the superbowl,……………..he needs to go.
——-
Thats just silly.
Period
December 20th, 2023 at 4:36 pm
2 or 3 plane crashes and I’m coach of the year. Todd Bowels
December 20th, 2023 at 4:40 pm
Dammit I just cleaned up after the last beer spew and did it again. Todd will be coach of the year right after a super model shows up at my front door with a case of good beer and some essential oils.
LMAO.
December 20th, 2023 at 4:59 pm
Joe says:
Fun fact: former Bucs head coach Raheem Morris was runner-up for Coach of the Year to Bill Belicheat for Tampa Bay’s surprising 10-6 record in 2010.
I agree. It was fun. That is until the Morris coached Bucs lost their last 10 games of 2011 by an average margin of 17.5 points.
December 20th, 2023 at 5:18 pm
Chris Long … ‘ I underestimated the coaching staff’.
Interesting perspective & I agree with him. I felt at the start of the year that we had enough veteran talent to make it someplace between 10-7 and 7-10. Oddly enough, much of that veteran talent hasn’t lived up to my expectations (Davis, Dean, Neal, White, Shaq on defense alone?), but a number of the youngsters have far exceeded my expectations (Kancey, Diaby, McCollum on defense alone?). THAT’S a credit to the coaching staff’s player development efforts IMO.
Another side of me though says “Whoa, not so fast; keep this whole season in perspective’. As of today, the NFC had only 4 teams with winning records, another 5 with break-even records and 7 teams with losing records. That’s pretty sad IMO, considering that the AFC had 9 teams with winning records, 2 teams with break-even records and 5 teams with losing records. Something’s amiss.
Bucs play 12 NFC teams & 5 AFC teams this year. We’ve played 4 AFC teams thus far … and only beat 1 of them (Titans). Thus far we’ve played 6 teams with winning records … and lost to all 6. Ending the season at 10-7 or even 9-8 would be awesome in terms of beating preseason expectations and we’re showing progress with this 3-game win streak in December, but we’ve still got a long road ahead.
December 20th, 2023 at 5:18 pm
Y’all are so cynical. Enjoy the win streak and enjoy that the team is clearly trending in the right direction!
December 20th, 2023 at 5:53 pm
According to Long, it was his “good buddy, Stanford Steve” (?) who told him six weeks ago that Coach Bowles should be COY. The Joe(s) should try to get an interview with him to know what he was seeing. The reason for the COY talk could be the possibility of winning a division in spite of signing a journeyman QB, hiring an unproven offensive coordinator with a new offensive system, suspect running game, high number of rookies, horrible salary cap situation, questionable veteran effort, etc. Like Chris Long said, no one saw it coming. In the most pivotal game of the season (so far), everyone, including Ira, was picking the Dixie Chicks over the Bucs. Three more games to play, so keep your eyes on the prize! I’m sure that Coach Bowles would prefer to make the playoffs and make a deep run than the COY award.
December 20th, 2023 at 5:55 pm
Who cares?? Let’s go Bucs! We’re still in this thing.
December 20th, 2023 at 6:34 pm
if bowles, mayfield, or most anyone else gets a sudden jump in newspaper hype, that usually means they are just now finishing their swan song and termination is near. so quiet is the best option for bowles. if there is an uptick in hype, thats good for those that want him gone. crazy how things really work
December 20th, 2023 at 7:59 pm
Lmao!! They won’t win more than 8. I’d love it tho if the coach of the year got fired too! What a first that would be. Playoffs?!?!?! They’ll be lucky to win another game
December 20th, 2023 at 8:31 pm
We got 3 games left and I hope we win them all but even then Bowles is no coach of the year lmao
December 20th, 2023 at 9:00 pm
Don’t get coach of the year, get to the playoffs and get destroyed at home again. Do that and you’ll have my support. Don’t have to win just be competitive like we said when playing the eagles. Until then you suck as a head coach
December 20th, 2023 at 9:16 pm
And he did it with only 9 men on the field!
December 20th, 2023 at 9:44 pm
Coach of the year is a reach. Granted, I thought the Bucs would go 6-11 or 7-10 so they likely will exceed my expectations but going 9-8 and then getting boat raced may not even save Bowles’ job if the Glazers truly demand progress and going 9-9 with Mayfield is not much different than going 8-10 with a beaten down TB12 hamstrung by Leftwich while Bowles let this happen. Bowles’ D also allowed the Bucs to choke vs the ATL at home and Houston on the road. The Buffalo and Indy losses were almost as disgusting. His time management skills are poor. A better HC would have this roster at 9-5 with 2 out of 23 wins vs Indy, Houston and the home ATL game. I guess if the Bucs end up doing the impossible and going 11-8 with a playoff win, yeah, then Bowles could get some votes for coach of the year but let’s be realistic. The Bucs could go 9-8 or 10-7 and win the division or get a wildcard but will likely get run in the first round. The question then would be if Bowles keeps his job. If the Bucs flame and go 7-10 or 8-9 then he should be fired based on his whole body of work, not just a nice 3 game winning streak after dropping 6 of 7.
December 20th, 2023 at 11:48 pm
So what was he last season again?
Geez!
Go Bucs!
December 21st, 2023 at 6:30 am
I’m a huge Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan and don’t get me wrong I have had my doubts about Todd Bowles this season! Yes if Tampa ends the year 10-7 win the division and make a deep run in the playoffs then yes Todd Bowles should be in the talks for coach of the year! But if they don’t and barely squeak in the playoffs and lose in the 1st round of the playoffs then he should be out the door! I say that cause he has had some questionable things that have occurred on his part this season from blaming players for losing games instead of placing blame on himself considering he is the coach and he has the final say in which plays are run! Too not being honest about player injuries! Plus he has a lack of emotions when it comes to the game he just stands on the sidelines never smiles never gets angry or fired up! He stands there like let’s hurry up and get this over with cause he has better things to do! Plus it concerns me we it comes to the off-season if he’s going to even try to bring back Mike Evans and Winfield Jr! And if we’re going to wind up losing Devin White and get nothing for him! In my view Todd Bowles wants to take credit when all is good but can’t take responsibility for things when they’re bad! Honestly we’re 7-7 which means there’s 50% chance they’re going to win and a 50% chance they’re going to lose when honestly the talent Tampa has we should be 9-3 or even 10-4 right now but we’re not we’re 7-7 and that says a lot to me about their coaching staff starting with Todd Bowles!
December 21st, 2023 at 7:00 am
“””Bowles has these guys 7-7 when they should be 8-6 or 9-5″””
True true and true. If we win out then all is forgiven. I think.
December 21st, 2023 at 9:21 am
If we get to 10-7 or even 9-8 we will have succeeded in blowing away the pre-season predictions if we haven’t already.
Licht should get some props too considering the cap situation and the number of rookies contributing.
Perception is key and since Vegas had us at 6.5 wins (I think) and many if not most pundits predicted the Bucs to be the worst team in a crappy division, I think Bowles has a real shot.
It will tick off some fans who want him gone because I don’t think any reigning Coach of the Year has ever been fired right after winning it so we’ll have him for at least another year.
That may not be a bad thing even though if we could land Harbaugh or even Tomlin I’d love to see it.
Who knows…maybe his third year will be the charm and Canales will keep improving? Mayfield could use some stability (finally) to actually get even better. We shall see.
Let’s de-claw the Jaguars Sunday first.
December 21st, 2023 at 10:58 am
Give Todd Bowles credit. Under constant fire from the local media and fans, he has quietly turned around this team and we are Winning. He deserves some credit for that. Beat the Jags come Sunday, and it will further quiet the Boo birds..or Not? Some people just dump on the guy consistently. Support him for now and support our Bucs.
December 21st, 2023 at 12:03 pm
I really don’t understand some of these posters.
1. Bowles is an awful coach!
2. We don’t have many good players.
3. Canales is a horrible play caller!
4. Baker is a Bum!
5. Why didn’t we make some trades for better players!
On and on about CB’s being hurt Premadonna’s, JTS is a bust and maybe Hall as well, Shaq is a has been, David is old, Safety Neal is a bust! Drafted future star in Kancey yet he miss training and 5 games.
Now let’s look and the salary cap. Could not get any FA of consequence because we were eating 75,000,000 in dead cap money!!!!! If the Bucs had that we could have gotten 6 to 9 really good players, but we couldn’t.
Those are the facts!!! When you look at the facts and still think Bowles is a bad coach he seems like a miracle worker to me.
I could go through the offense the same way. My whole point is that we don’t have a lot of Jimmy’s and Joe’s yet, but we are vying for a playoff spot and yet Todd Bowles is the problem. Strange logic isn’t it. Win a playoff spot and Todd Bowles is COY and deserves it!!