There’s nothing more frustrating than watching your favorite football team unravel while another team—one that poached your best coach—thrives and climbs the division standings. Bucs fans are feeling the sting as the Bucs squander a promising start, while the Jacksonville Jaguars, now led by last year’s offensive coordinator Liam Coen, are running away with their division.
But this isn’t unusual; coaching changes often lead to drastic shifts in team performance. The Jaguars have already won eight more games than last year, while the Bucs are down three wins with just two games remaining.
Take the Chicago Bears, who poached Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson from the Detroit Lions this offseason. As of now, the Bears have improved their record by six wins (from 5 to 11), while the Lions have fallen from their 15-win season to just eight this year. Both of those win-loss differences are drastic!
Bears’ Ben Johnson instructing Caleb Johnson – Photo by: Chicago Sun Times
Coaching is the primary factor behind these turnarounds. You can shuffle players, but without strong coaching, the impact usually isn’t great. Long-time coaches often show consistent performance over time. For example, Andy Reid has thrived with two different franchises and quarterbacks, while Mike Tomlin has maintained a record just above .500, making playoff appearances for nearly a decade without a playoff win. Sean Payton is building another competitive team in Denver, much like he did in New Orleans.
This isn’t a coincidence—good coaches win. The Los Angeles Chargers are succeeding despite losing most of their offensive line early in the season. Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers have faced numerous injuries but remain in contention in the NFC West.
Now, let’s look at our coach, Todd Bowles. In his fourth year at the helm, we’ve had plenty of time to assess his performance. He has coached in the weakest division in the NFL and won it every year, yet not once would his team have qualified as a wild card, being that their highest finishing seed by record was 8th in the NFC. He holds a .500 record and has gone 1-3 in the playoffs. His defenses have consistently ranked in the bottom five in pass defense over the last three years, and they seem to be getting worse.
We can only speculate what this season might have looked like under Coen. Even the most realistic fans might envision a record closer to the Jaguars’ 12 wins rather than the Bucs’ 7. This franchise has made more coaching mistakes than successful hires, but they shouldn’t let past errors deter them from seeking improvement.
There are many young offensive minds out there worth considering. Choosing the wrong one may lead to a few tough years, but staying on the current path could be just as damaging. The winning culture established when Tom Brady arrived at One Buc Place can shift quickly, and players, coaches, and fans can fall into a losing mindset just as fast. Settling for mediocrity is a sure way to accelerate that decline.
Seahawks’ OC, Klint Kubiak – Photo by: The Seattle Times
Perhaps it’s time to reach out to Klint Kubiak, the Seahawks’ Offensive Coordinator. His offense is putting up impressive numbers with players who weren’t known standouts. It resembles Coen’s Bucs offensive turnaround from last year, combining a solid run game with the ability to match opponents score for score.
Regardless of how this season wraps up for the Bucs, most fans likely don’t want to see the same coaching staff and strategies in 2026. Don’t hesitate to take a chance—sometimes, that’s what it takes to achieve greatness.
Yeah we need a new coach for many reasons but a few
1- it’s an offensive driven league and we have a defensive guy. the same defensive guy whose defense gets progressively worse each year. This team invested in defense in the draft and free agency this year and was a more talented roster to work with, bottom 10 defense
2 - Bucs need to figure out if baker is the guy. He showed promise in 2023 and reached elite top 10 status in 2024 with an offensive mind. He has regressed significantly this year and is now a top 20 guy. Bucs need to pair baker with a better play caller to see who do they have - a top 10 guy worth 50m + or this pedestrian baker we’ve see this year
Bucs likely losing out 7-10 but let’s say they somehow remember how to win again and make playoffs, I don’t see how this coaching staff saves job. A miraculous win over the rams might do it but who the fuck are we kidding?
1- it’s an offensive driven league and we have a defensive guy. the same defensive guy whose defense gets progressively worse each year. This team invested in defense in the draft and free agency this year and was a more talented roster to work with, bottom 10 defense
Let's give Todd some credit. He wanted to be more involved with the offense this year. Clearly, we've seen his genius at work this season.
My favorite was from yesterday.
He actually ADMITTED to game planning around LAST YEAR'S panthers team.
This dumb fuck thinks because he doesn't adapt or change, that every other team must follow the same retarded train of thought.
Steichen and Jim Bob Cooter showing off a game plan that has a 64-year old Phillip Rivers with more yards and TD's in 15 minutes, than Baker had all game yesterday.
Again, a QB who couldn't break an egg if he threw at a brick wall, looking outstanding thus far tonight.
1- it’s an offensive driven league and we have a defensive guy. the same defensive guy whose defense gets progressively worse each year. This team invested in defense in the draft and free agency this year and was a more talented roster to work with, bottom 10 defense
Let's give Todd some credit. He wanted to be more involved with the offense this year. Clearly, we've seen his genius at work this season.
My favorite was from yesterday.
He actually ADMITTED to game planning around LAST YEAR'S panthers team.
This dumb fuck thinks because he doesn't adapt or change, that every other team must follow the same retarded train of thought.
Tbf to Bowles he might be retarded. Let's be inclusive
Steichen and Jim Bob Cooter showing off a game plan that has a 64-year old Phillip Rivers with more yards and TD's in 15 minutes, than Baker had all game yesterday.
Again, a QB who couldn't break an egg if he threw at a brick wall, looking outstanding thus far tonight.
Maybe they fire Steichen and we can grab him?
A boy can dream
Bowles is the symptom, Licht is the cause.
I don't know how any Bucs fans could want more of the same from this coaching staff. Change is in the air.
Bucs Coaching Staff Day 1/5/26.
I don't know how any Bucs fans could want more of the same from this coaching staff. Change is in the air.
Bucs Coaching Staff Day 1/5/26.
Bucs fans and media have a warped view of the roster. It’s extremely flawed.
good coaches win.
Good NFL coaches win and lose, but the one thing they don't do often is have their team shoot itself in the foot.
The Bucs had a terrible game plan (on the coaches) but even then had a chance to win or go to OT until . .. they shot themselves in the foot several time in the last drive alone.
Bad, unprepared team. Details matter. Discipline matters.
good coaches win.
Good NFL coaches win and lose, but the one thing they don't do often is have their team shoot itself in the foot.
The Bucs had a terrible game plan (on the coaches) but even then had a chance to win or go to OT until . .. they shot themselves in the foot several time in the last drive alone.
Bad, unprepared team. Details matter. Discipline matters.
Players matter. Lovie, Koetter, Arians and now Bowles can’t win with Licht in charge of the roster minus Brady.
I don't know how any Bucs fans could want more of the same from this coaching staff. Change is in the air.
Bucs Coaching Staff Day 1/5/26.
Bucs fans and media have a warped view of the roster. It’s extremely flawed.
much like Arians and Brady who saw potential in the roster, a head coach will look at our roster with potential in an easy division and be salivating
I don't know how any Bucs fans could want more of the same from this coaching staff. Change is in the air.
Bucs Coaching Staff Day 1/5/26.
Bucs fans and media have a warped view of the roster. It’s extremely flawed.
much like Arians and Brady who saw potential in the roster, a head coach will look at our roster with potential in an easy division and be salivating
The 2019 season being over in October is a giant hole in the theory that Bowles is holding Licht’s roster back.
If a new coach comes in he’s bringing in a minimum of new TE1, TE2, Edge 1, Edge 2, ILB 1, ILB 2, iDL.
I would add a LG (Bitonio or Teller), make Bredeson the center only because of his dumb contract and put Barton in a package for Crosby.
The 2019 season being over in October is a giant hole in the theory that Bowles is holding Licht’s roster back.
We have the same roster as we did in October of 2019?
The 2019 season being over in October is a giant hole in the theory that Bowles is holding Licht’s roster back.
We have the same roster as we did in October of 2019?
2019 was probably better.
QB- 24
RB- 24
WR1- 19
WR2- 19
WR3- 24
TE1- 19
TE2- 19
LT- 24
LG- 19
C- 19
RG- 19
RT- Even
Edge 1- 19
Edge 2- 19
DE- 19
DE- 19
NT- 19
ILB- 19
ILB- 19
CB- 24
CB- 19
CB- 24
FS- 24
SS- 19
