Multiple outlets have Todd Bowles\u2019 seat hot heading into this season. Read why Bowles\u2019 job is widely regarded as insecure and what he can do to change that in 2026.<\/p>\n
Bowles is coming off his worst season as the head coach in Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n The Bucs finished the season by losing seven of their final nine games, finishing 8-9 and missing the playoffs for the first time under Bowles. It marked Tampa Bay\u2019s first missed playoff appearance since the 2019 season and raised questions about Bowles\u2019 job security.<\/p>\n Tampa Bay is 35-33 in the regular season since Bowles took over in March 2022 following Bruce Arians\u2019 retirement. Bowles is 1-3 in the playoffs, with the Divisional Round in 2023 marking the furthest the Bucs have advanced under his leadership.<\/p>\n The combination of Tampa Bay\u2019s struggles last season and Bowles\u2019 inability to break through in the playoffs has made him a popular choice on lists of NFL coaches on the hot seat entering training camp.<\/p>\n Last week, CBS Sports ranked Bowles as having the second-hottest seat in the league<\/a>. Earlier in June, Pro Football Focus named Bowles one of six coaches on the hot seat.<\/a> In February, Fox Sports ranked Bowles as having the third-hottest seat in the NFL.<\/a><\/p>\n Earlier this offseason, Bucs owner Joel Glazer expressed confidence in Bowles despite the disappointing finish.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd again, everybody has injuries, but I think we had some significant challenges we had to deal with last year. It was unfortunate down the stretch \u2014 frustrating down the stretch \u2014 but you see week in and week out, this team plays hard for Todd [Bowles]. Nobody lays down. You have the odd game where things don\u2019t quite go your way, but every game until the final whistle, these players are fighting, fighting, fighting,\u201d Glazer said while discussing Bowles\u2019 performance in 2025.<\/p>\n Bowles\u2019 retention was a luxury not all Tampa Bay coaches have received. Since the Glazer family has owned the Bucs, it has fired Lovie Smith and Greg Schiano after two seasons and Raheem Morris after three seasons. Tampa Bay has also moved on from successful head coaches Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden despite winning tenures.<\/p>\n General manager Jason Licht also defended Bowles at the NFL owners meetings.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Todd has done a really good job in a lot of areas that we feel like he\u2019s the right man to steady the ship,\u201d Licht said.<\/p>\n The Bucs\u2019 struggles to close the 2025 season did not come without consequences. Five coaches were let go after the season: offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, quarterbacks coach Thaddeus Lewis, defensive line coach Charlie Strong and cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross. Offensive assistant Tom Moore and safeties coach Nick Rapone retired.<\/p>\n Bowles said at the owners’ meetings that the coaching staff changes were not mandated by the Bucs\u2019 ownership group.<\/p>\n The coaching staff overhaul signals that Bowles is entering a make-or-break season.<\/p>\n Glazer did not set specific expectations for Bowles when asked at the owners’ meetings.<\/p>\n \u201cThe National Football League, every year, every coach you see the turnover,\u201d Glazer said. \u201cIt\u2019s a tough job, a lot of expectations. But no [there is no stated win total that Bowles has to reach]. To just set certain goals, you\u2019ve got to look at everything, every situation. You\u2019ve got to look at your team. You\u2019ve got to look where it is in the journey to where you\u2019re trying to get to. After we won the Super Bowl, everyone expected the floor to fall out for this franchise. It\u2019s hard to win the Super Bowl and turn it around real quick and win it again. You\u2019ve got the salary cap and everything you\u2019re dealing with. There\u2019s so much involved \u2014 injuries \u2014 that come into play.\u201d<\/p>\n However, for Bowles\u2019 season to be viewed as a success, he likely needs to lead the Bucs back to the top of the NFC South. Tampa Bay\u2019s four-year NFC South title streak ended last season when the Panthers<\/a> won the division. Meanwhile, the Saints<\/a>, Falcons<\/a> and Panthers have combined for just three winning seasons during the 2020s.<\/p>\nWhat have the Bucs\u2019 Executives Said About Bowles\u2019 Job Security?<\/h3>\n
What Does Bowles Need to Do to Get off the Hot Seat?<\/h3>\n