With the Buccaneers defense boasting a dramatic late season turnaround, where they have been a Top 10 unit since Week 10, many are wondering how long it will be before teams looking for a new head coach after the first of the year start dialing the 813 area code.

Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles – Photo by: PewterReport.com

With vacancies already in Carolina and Washington, and expected openings possibly in Dallas and New York – plus a handful of other NFL cities – Bowles name will undoubtably start being mentioned.

When asked how he feels when his name is bantered about by speculating members of the media, Bowles quickly shot down any thoughts he might have of jumping back into the circus of being a head coach again – for now.

“Honestly my desire – I don’t read or hear any of those,” Bowles said. “I watch NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles, and NCIS: New Orleans. I really don’t pay attention or hear about any of those things. You deal with the offseason after the season. I’m working on Atlanta.”

All the talk as of late has been trying to keep the defensive players who will be unrestricted free agents wearing red and pewter in 2020. Losing one or more players like Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul, Carl Nassib and Ndamukong Suh would be a big loss to a Bucs defense that has seemingly turned a corner.

Bowles gave his thoughts on keeping the Bucs’ band together next season and what input he will have once the season ends next Sunday.

“You’re right, I don’t have a lot of say,” Bowles said. “(But) you’re right I’ll be talking to them. You try to keep as many as you can. It’s a business and every year things change, but I think the guys have played very well.”