Players rated Todd Bowles a "B" in the NFLPA survey. Discover how his grade compares to other coaches and its surprising implications.
As seems an annual tradition, player surveys and NFL Players Association report cards for all 32 teams were leaked this week, and the grades have implications for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and coach Todd Bowles.
The survey results and report cards put together by the players' union, which were obtained by ESPN, were not meant for public disclosure, as an arbitrator ruled on Feb. 12.
The leaked report cards and survey results reflect players' responses submitted during and with regard to the 2025 season.
Bowles was one of four head coaches who received "B" grade, along with Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton.
Harbaugh was fired by the Ravens and is now the head coach of the New York Giants, and McDaniel got the axe in Miami and is now working with Harbaugh's brother, Jim, for the Los Angeles Chargers.
But for these report cards, Harbaugh and McDaniel were listed in their old jobs.
An estimated 1,759 players submitted responses to survey questions and rated their respective teams in 17 categories. One category was head coach.
So, where does Bowles' grade rank in context?
Well, two head coaches, Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams and Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders, received the highest possible grade of A+.
Nine head coaches received an A grade, and another nine got an A-.
Two more coaches -- Jonathan Gannon of the Arizona Cardinals and Raheem Morris of the Atlanta Falcons-- got B+ grades, and each of them got fired after the regular season.
Only eight of the league's 32 coaches from last season received a lower grade than Bowles, and that's something his critics would love to use against him.
But in reality, it probably doesn't matter all that much.
Gannon went 15-36 over three seasons in Arizona and got a better grade than Bowles. It's hard to imagine anybody arguing that Gannon is a better coach than Bowles.
Jim Harbaugh received one of the lowest grades (C+), and all he's done is make the playoffs in each of his first two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. LA fans probably wouldn't trade Harbaugh for exiled former Titans coach Brian Callahan, even though Callahan got a B-.
Here's a full breakdown of how the league's HC's graded out this year.
A+: Sean McVay (Rams), Dan Quinn (Commanders)
A: Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears), Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions), Kevin O'Connell (Minnesota Vikings), Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles), Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks), Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs), Mike Vrabel (New England Patriots), Aaron Glenn (New York Jets), Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers)
A-: Dave Canales (Carolina Panthers), Brian Schottenheimer (Dallas Cowboys), DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans), Kellen Moore (New Orleans Saints), Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers), Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills), Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals), Shane Steichen (Indianapolis Colts), Lian Coen (Jacksonville Jaguars)
B+: Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals), Raheem Morris (Falcons)
B: John Harbaugh (Ravens), Sean Payton (Broncos), Mike McDaniel (Dolphins), Todd Bowles (Buccaneers)
B-: Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers), Brian Callahan/Mike McCoy (Tennessee Titans)
C+: Pete Carroll (Las Vegas Raiders), Jim Harbaugh (Chargers)
C: Brian Daboll/Mike Kafka (New York Giants)
C-: Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns).
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