A new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Each week, the Pewter Reporters tackle another tough question. This week’s prompt: Should Todd Bowles return as Bucs’ head coach in 2025?
Scott Reynolds: I’m Not Opposed To Having Todd Bowles Return
Bucs HC Todd Bowles, OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R
I’m a defensive-minded guy and I’m a big fan of Todd Bowles as a human being and as a leader of men. I’m also a fan of some of the defensive masterpieces he’s had as a play-caller in Tampa Bay from the 31-9 Super Bowl LV win versus Kansas City to last year’s 32-9 Wild Card win over Philadelphia to this year’s 20-16 upset at Detroit and a 33-16 victory over Philly in the regular season. When his defense is healthy and humming, Bowles can flat out deal.
In the playoffs it’s been a different story, and that 1-3 mark isn’t good. The Bucs should’ve beaten the Commanders and advanced to the NFC Divisional round and the fact they didn’t gives me pause about whether he is the right man for the job of taking this team all the way. I admire what Bowles’ been able to do down the stretch with the defense and for turning the season around after a pair of 4-6 starts in each of the last two years. As long as offensive coordinator Liam Coen stays on there is a part of me that would be okay keeping Bowles in Tampa Bay – with some changes.
First, he absolutely must hire an incredibly smart game management/clock management person and listen to that person on game days without fail. The poor game management and inconsistent timeout usage must stop. It’s reared its ugly head too many times in critical situations over the last three years. And second, he must fire outside linebackers coach George Edwards, cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross and safeties coach Nick Rapone and bring in some new, younger coaches with fresh ideas. I remember how Mike Tomlin and Joe Barry energized an older Monte Kiffin back in 2001.
I think Bowles has his cadre of comfortable cronies who don’t challenge him enough or present him with new ideas. A compromise would be allowing him to keep co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers, who coaches the defensive line. Bowles’ secondary and linebackers must provide closer stickier coverage against the pass and his defense must create more takeaways. Getting six interceptions from the secondary is just ridiculous. Hopefully new defensive assistants could help improve the team in that area.
Do those two things, have Jason Licht add a bunch of more talented defenders in free agency and the draft, and I could live with Bowles coming back and teaming up with Coen for another season. But if there’s a chance that Coen could get signed elsewhere as a head coach, I would take a chance on Coen as the Bucs’ head coach due to his talent as an offensive play-caller and probably move on from Bowles.
Matt Matera: Give Todd Bowles One More Season – If Liam Coen Is OC
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Certain things have to change for the Bucs if they want to reach their goal of winning the Super Bowl. I just don’t know if moving on from Todd Bowles necessarily has to be what it is. I understand the flaws with Bowles. His defense regressed and they couldn’t defend the middle of the field. Clock management is still an issue. Outside linebackers were dropping back in coverage when they should be rushing the passer.
It’s understandable why Bucs fans want Bowles gone, but what about his leadership side? What about seeing if he can correct those defensive mistakes. Hasn’t he at least earned that chance? We’re quick to forget that Bowles has delivered some masterpiece game plans for the Bucs during his time in Tampa Bay. Bowles was the one that designed the perfect game plan that kept the Chiefs out of the end zone as the Bucs won Super Bowl LV, 31-9.
When he became head coach, it was Bowles’ defense that led the way for the team in really his first two seasons as the offense figured things out. Now we get to one season with a setback and it’s time to move on? The players love playing for Todd Bowles. He is well respected and his voice is important to the locker room. Yes, Tampa Bay can’t continuously get into four- to five-game losing streaks. But at the same time, not many coaches could get them out of that losing streak to then get on a five game winning streak and make the postseason.
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Liam Coen is an excellent play caller, but how will he handle adversity? Is he a leader or just a great play designer? That’s not to say he isn’t, but Coen has plenty of time to be a head coach. It’s not the worst thing to get a little more experience and then make a move. Plus, with all the injuries Tampa Bay had on defense, let’s see what the defense can look like with a whole offseason focused on that side of the ball. If the Bucs bring in a capable pass rusher, inside linebacker and starting corner, that’s more than what Bowles had this year. And presumably Antoine Winfield Jr. plays a majority of the season.
Bowles should be back but it also should be on a short leash. Despite winning three division titles, Bowles’ record isn’t stellar. Give him an even playing field with a revamped defense and find out how he can improve. It’s also a must that he makes changes to his defensive coaching staff to get the best out of his players. The Bucs can ill afford to have another season with a big losing streak mixed in. If that happens, then you can move on from Bowles in the middle of the season and promote Coen to head coach. Bowles and Coen can be a great duo in year two together if the right personnel is found next season.
Bailey Adams: I’d Lean Toward Retaining Todd Bowles – With Caveats
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
I know, I know. The popular sentiment among the Buccaneers fan base right now is to give Todd Bowles his walking papers and promote offensive coordinator Liam Coen to head coach. And I get it. Coen is special. That’s why one of my caveats to retaining Bowles is making sure that Coen is sticking around and not taking a head coaching job elsewhere.
I believe the young offensive coordinator is someone Tampa Bay can’t afford to lose. There’s no way this team can let him walk away in favor of keeping Bowles. So, as unorthodox as it sounds, if there’s a sense that Coen is leaning toward being a one-and-done as the team’s OC and taking a head coaching job elsewhere like Dave Canales did last year, the team needs to pull the trigger on firing Bowles and keeping Coen in town.
It’s harsh on a head coach who has won the division in all three years of his tenure and improved by one win each season, but I’m not choosing him over Coen if I’m the Bucs. So, that’s caveat one.
If Coen is sticking around (and the Glazers should entice him to do so with a hefty raise), I think there’s more than a good enough case for Bowles to return. His players love him and despite what detractors say about the strength of the NFC South, the Bucs have remained on top in every year under Bowles – and they did so again this year by winning 10 games despite facing a first-place schedule and fighting through injuries and poor play on defense.
That’s where the other caveat comes in. Whether Bowles is back or not, this defense will be rebuilt by Jason Licht and his staff this offseason. I think that alone would help Bowles and the Bucs improve and contend at a high level next year. But the second main caveat is that Bowles needs to make some changes to his defensive coaching staff. He may be hesitant to do so, but it’s necessary.
With Bowles and Coen back – and with a rebuilt defense and defensive coaching staff – Tampa Bay will be set up to make a run next year. If things don’t pan out in 2025, make the switch then. But save for Coen potentially bolting, I’d lean toward backing Bowles for another year.
Josh Queipo: In A Vacuum – One More Year Should Be Afforded
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
There are so many under-discussed aspects of who Todd Bowles is as a head coach. Best I can tell, there are two common themes among the best head coaches in the sport. One is the ability to build a culture. Two is the ability to adapt. The NFL is constantly evolving organism. You must adapt or die.
Of those two qualities I think Bowles’ resume as far as the first trait goes is a stellar passing grade. Two years in a row he was able to hold his team together, not panic and overcome multiple game deficits to rally and win the NFC South. You never hear from inside the locker room any grumblings of discontent. Team leader Lavonte David just come out and gave a vote of confidence for Bowles. It is clear his players play hard for him, and he is genuinely beloved by his team. That’s important. Way more important than other aspects that are being bandied about.
As far as his ability to adapt. It is not as one-sided as you might think. Despite criticism lobbed his way for not going for it on fourth-and-3 in the Bucs’ Wild Card loss to the Commanders, Bowles has become a more aggressive coach on fourth downs. According to RBSDM.com, Bowles’ “Go rate” decision-making was 22nd in the NFL in 2022. This year he was 12th. That’s progress and adaptability.
And Bowles tried to change his defense as he dealt with an incredibly bad string of injuries to his back seven. You saw him try man coverage more. Every time he did the defense would give up an explosive play down field. He found some success by blitzing more, which was the one thing his defense did best. Read that again. He leaned into the thing his defense did best.
And he has adapted his scheme over the years. In 2022 he leaned into Cover 2 more. Last year it was Quarters. He has always been a heavy Cover 3 guy. But so is the league. It’s the No. 1 coverage run by every team.
The Bucs finished 2024 second in the NFL in quarterback pressures and tied for seventh in sacks. I am not making the claim the defense was good. But I am pointing out he was able to find some success. Change is still needed. Bowles has to update some of the defensive coaching staff that have failed to develop players. He will need to continue to adapt his scheme. Finding players who can run man coverage at a higher rate and actually deploying them in that manner will be necessary. But with a healthier defense with a better linebacker room this team can be much better.
So, what do I mean in a vacuum? All of that is predicated on keeping Liam Coen. Coen’s adaptability has been on full display all year. He is in rare air in what he has shown as far as adjustments, both on a micro and macro level. That is a special trait. Don’t let that leave the building. If Coen doesn’t get the head coaching run many expect and he is set to return as offensive coordinator, then give Bowles another shot. But if the Bucs are set to lose Coen, then I would take a chance on a special trait.
Adam Slivon: Todd Bowles Should Return – Unless Liam Coen Is Ready To Bolt
Bucs OC Liam Coen, QB Baker Mayfield and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
This is not as simple as a yes or no when assessing whether Todd Bowles should return to be the head coach of the Bucs for a fourth season. Tampa Bay has experienced quite a bit of success with Bowles leading the troops, and the players love playing hard for him. That has been on display each of the past two years as his teams have shown resiliency in overcoming mid-season slumps. It’s hard to let a coach go coming off a double-digit win season, no matter how many calls there are to fire him. While I believe he should ultimately return, I do not want to rule out letting him go to keep Liam Coen around if it comes down to it, which the organization should make a top priority.
To keep his job, Bowles would need to let others go on his defensive staff at positions where they just not have gotten it done. Outside linebackers coach George Edwards, cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross, and safeties coach Nick Rapone come to mind, and it would help that side of the football to get new – and younger – perspectives after it worked wonders for the offense last offseason. The fact this team got 10 wins in the regular season with the defensive player personnel it had to work with is an impressive feat, but they should not expect that to happen again. Changes will have to be made, and it starts with recognizing and addressing what has not been working.
If he sticks around, there should still be optimism going into 2025. They would remain the favorites to win the NFC South, and they showed an ability to stay in nearly every game. All of this comes with a caveat, though. Liam Coen needs to get a large pay increase, and the Glazers might need to make him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive coordinator to convince him to stay. It’s hard to say whether Coen is ready to be a head coach, but the Bucs could hedge their bets to keep him around for the next season or two while he continues gaining experience.
If he were to get another offer though and was about to leave, I would strongly consider moving on from Todd Bowles to keep the talented offensive mind around. Otherwise, Bowles has done enough in my mind to not be fired, and if some changes are made, I believe he can learn from his mistakes to build from a trying season.
