Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has been in the coaching circles for quite a while. That began in 1997 at Morehouse College and his first NFL coaching gig came with the Jets three years later in 2000. He’s gone through several places ever since and of course coached a lot of former players in that time. It also means a handful of current players may not have worked with him, but have gone against him.

Todd Bowles recently signed a multi-year contract extension to continue being the head coach of the Bucs while general manager Jason Licht also signed an extension to keep this foundation together. On Good Morning Football, two of the players at the roundtable had previously played for Todd Bowles on his various stops. That would be Isaiah Stanback and Chosen Anderson, previously known as Robbie Anderson. Another current player, Saints’ offensive guard Cesar Ruiz, who’s gone up against Bowles and the Bucs twice a season ever since he’s entered the league.

Former Players Of Todd Bowles React To News

Stanback played in the league from 2007 to 2012, beginning his career with the Cowboys when Todd Bowles was a secondary coach. He saw towards the beginning of his coaching progression.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: USA Today

“When I came in as a rookie to the Dallas Cowboys back in 2007 he was our secondaries coach,” Stanback said. “So I had see him early on in his career and see him really ascend from secondaries coach to defensive coordinator to obviously head coach down there in Tampa and see exactly what he’s done with that team, with that organization and now he has his quarterback that’s really at the helm of things.

“There’s never been a question or concern about his defense and his ability for his defense to produce, but now he has his QB and those guys have been balling out, they’ve been winning games, and now Tampa is one of the most respected and feared teams in the league.”

Respectfully, there were issues with the Bucs’ defense last year, but with the additions they’ve made and the offense still humming, they should be a feared team in the league.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Ruiz spoke next, which we’ll get to in a moment, but then it was Anderson’s turn to discuss Bowles. Anderson has a deeper connection with Todd Bowles as they both played college football at Temple during their respective tenures. He also saw him in a different light as Bowles was a first time head coach with the Jets.

“Congratulations to him,” Anderson said. “It was earned. They won the division I think it was four straight years, he earned it. So congratulations to him. I’m always going to give credit where credit is due. There’s a time and place to hate him, hate the Bucs. Congratulations to him, great for him.

Still Bad Blood Between The Bucs And Saints

In actual games that Cesar Ruiz was has played against Todd Bowles, whether as a defensive coordinator or head coach, Ruiz is 4-4 against the Bucs. He was not active for two out of the three games as a rookie in 2020 and missed a game last season when the Bucs beat the Saints in New Orleans.

When Bowles has been the head coach, Ruiz is 1-4 against Bowles, who is 5-1 against the Saints overall since he took over. Understandably, Ruiz was complimentary of the accomplish that Todd Bowles just had, but wasn’t totally overjoyed about the news. Though he did show respect to his rival pointing out the wins he’s had recently.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today

“Coach Bowles, that was my first coach coming into the NFL. Congratulations to him for sure, he’s a great man, great coach. I can still pick up the phone to this day and call him. He was really there for me. He molded me not just as a football player but as a man. He taught us life off the field, how to conduct ourselves, he’s a fair guy.

“He’s a coach that is of the integrity that if you work hard, you get what you deserve, you go out there and earn it and you’ll get it. Salute to him, big shout out to him. Love to coach Bowles for certain. (We’re) the same college (Temple), he definitely deserves it.

The Bucs and Saints will meet up in Week 8 at New Orleans and Week 14 in Tampa. Check out the whole segment from Good Morning Football by clicking this link.