Coming off of a huge Week 2 victory over the Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has himself firmly entrenched in the NFL’s MVP race, but it was a different Buccaneer who received praise on Monday Night Football. 

Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles was nominated for a Himmy Award – intended for the person who shined the brightest in the NFL that week – by ESPN broadcaster Scott Van Pelt. 

“I’m gonna tip my cap to Todd Bowles,” Van Pelt said. “I see you at 2-0 for the third straight year, nothing but respect for that man.” 

Todd Bowles’ Next Man-Up Mentality

Lions HC Dan Campbell and Bucs HC Todd Bowles- Photo by: USA Today

One of the main reasons why Todd Bowles earned national praise was because of his ability to coach the Bucs into competing against a Super Bowl despite being down multiple starters. 

“I want to acknowledge that man and that team for what they did. That’s a hell of a win; that’s a program win,” ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt said. “They had Vita Vea out in the third quarter; they had no Antoine Winfield in this game. The Lions basically doubled ’em yardage-wise, and had the Lions won, we’d have saluted Dan Campbell and said, ‘They’re reflecting the personality of the head coach,’ and we’d have been right. But the Buccaneers reflect the personality [Bowles]. He’s old school; he’s all cake, no icing.”

In a league where it has become common practice to try grabbing the next young offensive coach rather than employ an established defensive mind like Bill Belichick, Tampa Bay’s front office deserves praise for trusting Bowles, its defensive coordinator, as its next head coach after Bruce Arians moved on from coaching. 

Prior to being the head coach of the Buccaneers, Bowles had a 26-41 record as a head coach from his stunts with the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, but he’s turned his career around in Tampa. Now in the midst of his third season as the Bucs’ head coach, Bowles is 19-17 in the regular season and has won the NFC South every year. 

For all of those reasons, it makes sense that Bowles would have his name mentioned among star players like Alvin Kamara, Aiden Hutchinson, and Marvin Harrison Jr., the other nominees for a Week 2 Himmy. He’s begun to establish himself as not only one of the league’s best defensive minds, but also one of its better coaches. 

Old Dog, New Lineup

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Although the fourth-oldest head coach in the NFL, Todd Bowles, who turns 61 in November, has still managed to connect with one of the youngest rosters in the NFL despite being nearly 35 years older than the average age in his locker room. 

It’s perhaps an advantage that such a seasoned coach gets to provide a calming presence on the sidelines as the young Bucs on the field continue to learn the game and grow as players, and it seems to be working. 

Fifth-round draft pick Zyon McCollum entered the NFL in 2022 as a cornerback who was more well-known for his athleticism than his college production coming out of Sam Houston State, but he’s now begun to emerge as one of Tampa’s most promising young talents. 

Coming off of a concussion in Week 1, McCollum looked composed in Week 2 despite playing against one of the league’s best offenses. He played a major role in the game, recording six tackles, four passes defended, and an interception in what was ultimately a one-score contest.

The 25-year-old’s standout performance and overall development under Bowles is something that won’t often get national media attention. Still, we here at Pewter Report see Bowles and his impact on the organization and look forward to seeing how his influence in the building continues to shape the organization as it seeks its fourth straight divisional crown.