Yaya Diaby is speaking the truth Buccaneers need to hear if they want to be respected again
The third-year pass rusher isn’t backing down when it comes to fixing the Bucs.
Todd Bowles has yet to go through his exit interview with the Glazers, but most signs point to him returning as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2026.
With that being the case, it’s clear the Bucs have to make notable changes from the top down if they want to ensure they avoid another disastrous season. The failures of 2025 spread far and wide, but too many of the same mistakes were made, and it’s clear nothing will improve unless there’s a large shake-up (and one that also makes sense, obviously).
“I need to make some changes, whether schematically or whether it’s physically,” Bowles told reporters Monday. “We probably need to make some changes going forward, but we’ll evaluate that in the next coming days, and exactly what needs to be changed.
“Schematically, I know I need to make some changes, depending on the players that we have coming back. Coaching-wise, we need to make some changes as a whole, as far as what we’re doing on the field and how we’re teaching guys certain things, and certain guys are probably good at certain things we need to expose more [of] their good side, as opposed to things they’re struggling with.”
Bowles’ back is up against the wall, so he has to say what he said. However, Yaya Diaby is taking it upon himself to reinforce the idea of major change and address it up front with Bowles.
Yaya Diaby knows the Bucs need to step it up across the board
Diaby is pissed off after missing the playoffs and rightfully so. The Buccaneers need that fire from everyone, right now, so it’s encouraging to see Diaby immediately step up and spearhead the situation.
He publicly told Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report about his desire to change up the Bucs’ practice habits under Bowles after they had an unusual amount of walkthroughs after the bye week. Per Reynolds, Diaby, along with a couple of unnamed Buccaneers, thought it affected their play on Sundays, which also aligns with Jamel Dean’s quote about not being prepared once the bullets start flying.
“We had more walk-throughs this year than any other year,” Diaby told Pewter Report. “I’m a straight-forward guy [and] that’s one of the things I do want to talk to Coach Bowles about, especially with me possibly being a captain next year. Just letting him know that has to change. We need to prepare the right way. We have to prepare to win… football is a physical game.
“You have to be in it. You can’t just walk through everything. I feel like that’s the next step, especially with me being here three years and seeing what we’ve done good and what we’ve done bad. That’s the next step.”
Diaby’s comments are invaluable. Again, this is the truth the Buccaneers need to hear right now, and if they want to see change in things like practice, well, there’s only one person they can talk to if they really want it. The third-year pass rusher isn’t sparking controversy or anything like that – this is an honest, tough conversation that must be had, and everyone that matters needs to be involved in it.
Diaby is taking the right action, and it’s honestly a breath of fresh air.
Diaby is also keeping it real with teammates
Bucs players also need to look themselves in the mirror over the offseason. The leadership has been clear on that, but they must follow up and verify that guys are taking everything seriously.
“It’s [about] the guys in the building and the guys taking that step that we need to take as a whole to be a successful team,” Diaby told 10 Tampa Bay’s Evan Closky. “And if it (takes) guys being more vocal, like myself, you know, I’ve been the guy that leads by example, but that’s over now.
“I’m gonna talk, and I’m gonna tell guys how it is, and if they like it, they like it, and [if] they don’t, they don’t. I don’t really care.”
The best part about Diaby’s newfound outlook is he’s one of the Buccaneers’ best players on defense. He’s coming off his second-straight season in which he led the team in sacks, and while he still hasn’t had a breakout year, he’s been good enough that his teammates will respect what he has to say.
The Buccaneers need more guys to take charge like this. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll turn things around if they do. Diaby’s already laying the groundwork and providing the blueprint on how to do so – all they have to do is follow his lead.
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