James Harrison slams Todd Bowles for fostering a culture of laziness, arguing that Tampa Bay’s defensive collapse stems from a lack of accountability during team practices.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles' recent comments look awful.
After a terrible collapse in 2025 saw the Bucs finish the season with an 8-9 record after starting 6-2, the team (especially the defense) has been criticized for its lack of effort on the field.
Bowles admitted that his players were "just taking plays off" last season, and hopes that the new players Tampa added to its defense will bring a new standard and hold the other players accountable.
When Bowles made those remarks, I suggested that the blame for the players' lack of effort fell on the coach's shoulders because he allowed it to happen.
Now it appears that an NFL legend agrees with me.
Pittsburgh Steelers great James Harrison ripped into Bowles for his comments. On the Deebo and Joe podcast, which Harrison co-hosts with former Pro-Bowl cornerback Joe Haden, both former defensive standouts called out Bowles for allowing a culture of "loafing."
Starts In Practice
Haden commented that the Bucs' players who were loafing during games picked up the habit in practice. He criticized Bowles for not fixing the problem before it showed up in games.
"Loafs are not okay. What are we talking about? You gotta get to the ball. That’s a coaching thing," Haden said. “You can’t let that be accepted. That starts in practice. That starts in pursuit drills. [Players] didn’t start that in the game, that was happening in practice. You were letting that thing slide.”
Harrison quickly agreed with Haden, acknowledging that laziness begins in practice. He also ripped Bowles for letting it slide and allowing players not giving maximum effort to be acceptable.
“You are the head coach," Harrison said. "You dictate, and you make that acceptable or unacceptable by how you practice.”
Harrison And Haden Are Absolutely Right
Harrison and Haden are absolutely right. If players are allowed to not give their all during practice, that will show up in games. By not holding his players to a higher standard in practices, Bowles is responsible for laziness infecting his defense on game days.
For a coach who has earned such a stellar defensive reputation, it is shocking that Bowles would oversee a defense with players not trying their best. The fact that the coach recognized a lack of effort, yet didn't have the players suffer any consequences, is mind-blowing.
Outlook For 2026
Bowles is right that Tampa's newcomers, such as veterans Alex Anzalone, A'Shawn Robinson, and Al-Quadin Muhammad, as well as rookies Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter, should bring a fresh attitude and hunger to the team.
However, it will still be Bowles' responsibility to make sure that everyone on the field is meeting the standard that is set. Last season, Bowles allowed a standard that led to a 2-7 finish and Tampa completely missing the playoffs.
For a coach already on the hot seat, that cannot happen again in 2026.
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