2026 is a very, very big season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The franchise is currently in a public contract standoff with two of their best players, including starting quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Bucs are looking to wash the bitter taste out of their collective mouths from a free falling second half that cost them the division title last year. Franchise legend and fan favorite Mike Evans left Tampa Bay in free agency for Super Bowl contender San Francisco for less money, which feels a bit like a thumb in the eye to the leadership and direction of the franchise.

As such, the pressure is ratcheted up going into the start of the year. But who is it most on? Whose seat — coach, executive, or player — is the hottest going into the season? That’s a question that CBS Sports writer Zachary Pereles asked of all 32 teams.

While there are some potential candidates who have a lot to prove in 2026 at One Buc Place, the obvious biggest choice was also Pereles: Todd Bowles.

CBS Sports writer names Todd Bowles as having the hottest seat at One Buc Place entering 2026

“The Buccaneers failed to make the postseason for the first time in the Todd Bowles era, which began in 2022, and a second-half collapse (2-7 after the bye) raised questions about Bowles’ job security,” Pereles wrote. “Ultimately, Tampa Bay retained him, but he’s definitely on notice, especially considering how much is changing around him.

“WR Mike Evans is gone. LB Lavonte David is gone. DL Vita Vea wants a trade. QB Baker Mayfield is in the final year of his deal. Bowles’ defense sank to 19th in yards allowed and 20th in points allowed last season, another bad sign.”

I would entertain an argument for two other people as well here. The failures on the field are not solely on one person. The players have blame as well, and the team assembled last year wasn’t good enough to get it done. And that certainly implicates general manager Jason Licht to some degree.

Baker Mayfield also has plenty of pressure on him this year, but for another reason. He’s in position to get paid by someone in a big way if he repeats his 2023-24 success in 2026 after an off year last season. He’s betting on himself again, and if he can have another Pro Bowl year, he should reap the benefits financially. Another off year could have a potentially significant impact on his market.

But no one’s seat as far as getting run out of town is hotter than Bowles, and that comes with the territory as an NFL head coach. The Bucs have been just barely average each of his four years, and in a far below average division, that’s been good enough to top it three times.

The NFC South again looks dismal in comparison to the rest of the league. The Bucs have added passing game threats in Ted Hurst and Kenneth Gainwell to help offset the loss of Evans. They addressed major defensive warts with the addition of Rueben Bain, Jr., Al-Quadin Muhammad, Alex Anzalone, Josiah Trotter, and A’Shawn Robinson, among others. David Walker is back and showing promise. This roster is good enough to win both the NFC South and advance in the playoffs.

Anything short of that, and it will almost certainly be Bowles whose seat is too hot to remain in his chair at One Buc Place beyond early January.