Despite three division titles, Todd Bowles faces mounting pressure after missing the postseason. With franchise icons Mike Evans and Lavonte David gone, the 2026 season could determine his future.
Todd Bowles has had plenty of success as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It's not easy succeeding a man in Bruce Arians who led the team to a Super Bowl championship, and although Bowles hasn't approached that feat, he's had plenty of success.
Only three other coaches (Andy Reid, Nick Sirianni and the recently fired Sean McDermott) have led their team to three division championships since 2022, and Bowles and the Bucs should have won a fourth straight last year.
The fact that they didn't win it has some people feeling that Bowles is entering 2026 on the hot seat, and a Pro Football Focus writer is among them.
"The Buccaneers won't give Todd Bowles much longer," wrote Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus. "Bowles saw his team miss the playoffs for the first time since 2019, and questions abound about the team's offense and defense."
Bowles was one of six coaches Locker listed in his article, with the other five being Aaron Glenn of the New York Jets, Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals, Shane Steichen of the Indianapolis Colts, Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers and Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles.
To Locker's point, there are plenty of questions surrounding the Bucs offensively and defensively.
Offensively, the Bucs will be playing their first season since 2013 without Mike Evans, who turned into the greatest receiver in team history before signing with the San Francisco 49ers over the offseason, so how the Bucs go about replacing him will be a storyline.
There will also be questions about running back Bucky Irving and whether his injury-riddled 2025 was a sign of things to come.
Then, of course, there's Baker Mayfield. If the Bucs don't sign their quarterback before training camp and go into the season without a deal, that will cast a cloud over 2026.
Defensively, the Bucs have to account for the loss of another franchise cornerstone in Lavonte David, who retired after 14 NFL seasons, all with Tampa. The Bucs drafted a guy who could become the face of the franchise in former Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr., and 2026 will start to answer the questions of whether Bain is really all that.
In a less-publicized contract situation, defensive tackle Vita Vea wants more money, and if no resolution is reached before the season, that's something that will continue to be a storyline.
The bottom line is this: If the Bucs don't win the NFC South in 2026, it might or might not be enough for Bowles to be fired. It will, however, be devastating for a franchise that has grown to expect winning.
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