The 2026 season is shaping up to be a defining one for Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a promising 6-2 start in 2025, the wheels came off down the stretch with a 2-7 collapse that left the Bucs on the outside looking in come playoff time. That stumble not only snapped the NFC’s longest active playoff streak at five seasons-it also ended Tampa Bay’s four-year run as NFC South champs.
Now, the pressure’s on. Bowles enters the year firmly on the hot seat, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
The expectations? A bounce-back campaign that restores faith in the locker room, reignites the fan base, and most importantly, keeps his job secure.
But as if that wasn’t enough to juggle, there could be another wrinkle added to the mix.
Could the Bucs Be the Next “Hard Knocks” Team?
Tampa Bay is one of 16 teams eligible to be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks for the 2026 training camp edition. That’s according to a recent post from NFL Nerd on X (formerly Twitter), who laid out the full list of eligible squads.
And that’s not the only way the Bucs could end up on the show. If they aren’t selected for the training camp version, they could still be tapped for the in-season edition.
Why? Because the entire NFC South is one of five divisions eligible for Hard Knocks: In Season in 2026.
Here’s the full list of divisions eligible for the in-season spotlight:
- AFC South
- AFC West
- NFC North
- NFC South
- NFC West
Worth noting: the AFC North and NFC East have already had their turn on the in-season version, and the AFC East is off the table this year after the Bills were featured in training camp last season.
Of course, if the Bucs are chosen for the in-season version, they won’t also be eligible for the training camp edition. It’s one or the other.
A Return to the Spotlight?
Tampa Bay has been down this road before. The last time they were featured on Hard Knocks was back in 2017, coming off a 9-7 season under then-head coach Dirk Koetter. Expectations were high, but the team faltered to a 5-11 finish that year.
So, would history repeat itself? That’s the kind of question that makes this whole possibility so intriguing-and maybe a little nerve-wracking for Bucs fans.
Plenty of Storylines to Follow
If the Bucs do end up on Hard Knocks this year, there’s no shortage of compelling narratives for the cameras to capture.
Start with Bowles himself. He’s coaching for his future in Tampa, and that kind of pressure makes for must-watch TV.
Then there’s the offense, which will be adjusting to its fifth coordinator in five seasons. That kind of turnover doesn’t just test players-it tests the entire identity of a team.
There’s also the looming question of Mike Evans. Could this be his final season in a Bucs uniform?
If so, what kind of send-off will one of the franchise’s all-time greats get? And on the defensive side, the post-Lavonte David era could officially begin.
David’s been a fixture since 2012, and his absence would leave a massive leadership void in the linebacker room.
Add it all up, and you’ve got a team at a crossroads-one with high stakes, strong personalities, and a lot to prove. That’s the kind of setup that HBO’s crew dreams about.
A Roster Full of Characters
Beyond the big-picture storylines, this is a roster with no shortage of characters who could shine under the Hard Knocks spotlight.
There’s Baker Mayfield, who’s never been shy in front of a camera and continues to write his own redemption arc in Tampa. Rookie wideouts Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson bring youth and energy to the mix.
Offensive linemen Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke have built a chemistry that’s as entertaining off the field as it is effective on it. And let’s not forget Vita Vea, whose combination of size, skill, and personality makes him a natural fit for the screen.
Even general manager Jason Licht could be a compelling figure to follow-especially if the front office is navigating major personnel decisions in real time.
Would It Be a Distraction?
Let’s be honest-no team wants to be on Hard Knocks. The cameras are everywhere, the microphones catch everything, and the added attention can make an already stressful training camp feel even more intense.
For a team like the Bucs, trying to rebound from a disappointing finish and reestablish itself as a playoff contender, the ideal scenario probably doesn’t involve a documentary crew tagging along.
But from a fan’s perspective? This could be gold.
The drama, the personalities, the stakes-it’s all there. Whether it’s training camp or in-season, Tampa Bay would make for a fascinating subject.
The question now is whether the NFL and HBO see it the same way.