Todd Bowles has already made a crucial mistake that officially makes 2026 a do-or-die season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to keep Todd Bowles as head coach, which firmly foreshadowed major staff changes on all sides of the ball. Sure enough, seven coaches are now off the board for a variety of reasons. It remains to be seen if any more moves are made, but two big questions surrounding Bowles’ […]

Evan Winter — NFL Managing Editor
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Nov 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles walks off the field during halftime against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to keep Todd Bowles as head coach, which firmly foreshadowed major staff changes on all sides of the ball.

Sure enough, seven coaches are now off the board for a variety of reasons.

It remains to be seen if any more moves are made, but two big questions surrounding Bowles’ makeover is whether or not he’ll add a defensive coordinator and if he’ll relinquish play-calling duties.

Well, it appears both questions have been answered and it’s safe to say they were answered in a manner that officially makes 2026 a do-or-die season for Bowles.

Todd Bowles won’t add a DC and will likely continue play-calling duties

Per FOX Sports’ Greg Auman, Bowles won’t add a defensive coordinator. It also sounds like he’ll retain play-calling duties.

Bowles is already making a mistake by not hiring a DC. It’s clear he has too much on his plate with head coaching, defensive coordinator, and play-calling duties. Removing at least one of those responsibilities would allow him to excel in the other areas, which are clearly lacking.

Having a right-hand man, essentially, to go help with the day-to-day practice routines and game planning would be a major boon in terms of strengthening his grip over the team.

These decisions will put Bowles’ back against a wall

While Buccaneers fans don’t want to hear this – there’s a world where Bowles is still the head coach in 2027. If he finds the right OC and turns around the defense then anything is possible.

However, the defensive product we see in 2026 is all on him now that he’s in charge of main defensive responsibilities and identity. If there’s another collapse, then it’s obvious he can’t turn things around and the Bucs have to go in a new direction if that’s the case.

He’s betting on himself. While that’s admirable, it leaves little-to-no room for error and that’s a steep hill to climb when considering all the pieces the Bucs defense is going to need in the offseason.

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