Baker Mayfield’s new contract has changed the pressure points in Tampa Bay, and Todd Bowles is the one standing in the spotlight now.
For the Buccaneers, the offseason conversation around Bowles was never really going away, even if the team wasn’t eager to say so out loud. General manager Jason Licht brushed past the uncertainty, making it clear he didn’t see a reason to open that door.
For now, Bowles remains his coach. But that patience comes with a clock attached.
The context around him has shifted in a way that makes excuses harder to find. Tampa Bay lost Lavonte David and Mike Evans, two major names from the roster, but the overall picture still looks stronger on paper. And with Baker Mayfield’s contract situation settled, one of the biggest variables around the team has been removed.
That matters because it changes where the blame lands if things go sideways.
The Athletic’s 2026 coaching predictions put Bowles in an uncomfortable place, ranking him third among coaches most likely to be fired. Aaron Glenn topped the list with 15 of 30 votes, Dan Quinn followed with 9, and Bowles came next with 7. Shane Steichen was fourth with 3 votes.
Bowles landing there says plenty, especially with the way the list is being read around the league. Glenn may sit first, but there’s a belief he’s less likely to be dismissed in-season given Woody Johnson’s usual approach.
Johnson has only fired one coach during an active season, Robert Saleh, and he recently backed the direction of the team. With the Jets also not viewed as contenders, that makes the situation look different from Tampa Bay’s.
The Buccaneers are in a more demanding spot. Injuries were a major issue last year, which is part of why Licht didn’t want to touch the coaching question during the offseason.
But heading into 2026, Tampa is healthier and expected to win the division. That changes the temperature fast.
If the season starts to slip in the second half, Licht could look elsewhere and hope for a late push from another voice.
Mayfield’s deal also removes one more layer of uncertainty from the offense. In a contract year, the quarterback might have been tempted to take more chances to strengthen his case for free agency in 2027.
Now the equation is simpler: win. And if the offense produces while the defense stalls, the pressure will sit squarely on the man calling the shots on that side of the ball, Todd Bowles.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Future Just Pulled A Familiar Name Into The Bowles Debate
Todd Bowles future in Tampa Bay is going to shape plenty of offseason discussion, but the early speculation is already reaching beyond the current staff. A Bleacher Report piece floated Mike Tomlin as a possible Buccaneers candidate in 2027 if Bowles is no longer on the sideline, and the idea is easy enough to see why it has legs. Tomlin knows the organization from his time here as a defensive backs coach, and he has stayed visible while working in sports broadcasting.
For the Buccaneers, the bigger question is less about one name than about where the franchise is headed by then. If Bowles keeps the team winning, the conversation shifts. If the results change or retirement becomes part of the picture, the search could quickly turn toward an established coach with Tampa Bay ties, which is why Tomlins name is already in the mix even this far out. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Get Encouraging Week 1 Injury News Before Bengals Opener
The Buccaneers got their first injury report of the 2026 season this week, and the early read before the opener against Cincinnati is mostly encouraging. Sean Tucker is still working back from a hamstring injury and is listed as a game-time decision, while Emeka Egbuka, who had been dealing with a sprained toe, was a full participant in practice and looks on track for Sunday.
Jalen McMillan was limited with a knee injury, but the signs around him have been positive, and outside linebacker Rueben Bain also practiced in a limited role because of a minor AC joint sprain. Even with a few players still being managed carefully, the Bucs appear to have avoided the kind of early-season injury pileup that can complicate a Week 1 game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Just Made Their Baker Mayfield Commitment Impossible To Ignore
Baker Mayfields rise in Tampa Bay has gone from short-term reclamation project to long-term foundation piece, and the Buccaneers made that reality official with a new multi-year extension. Since arriving in 2023, Mayfield has delivered the kind of stability the franchise had been searching for at quarterback, pairing production with the kind of command teammates and team officials have repeatedly pointed to as part of his value.
The move also signals how firmly the Bucs have tied their present to Mayfields future, even as the organization continues to build around him. In the teams eyes, his impact has gone well beyond the box score, with executives crediting both his leadership and his presence in the locker room, the sort of commitment that only grows more notable now that the next chapter is already taking shape. [Read more 🡒]