New Bucs head coach Todd Bowles joined The Adam Schefter Podcast – No Days Off today. During the interview Bowles was asked what he learned from his first stint as a head coach.

“The New York media wasn’t bad. It was my first go-round. You learn a lot more in hindsight afterwards of things you do different. In the building with your team, with yourself, with your staff. The first time you get it there are things you want to do. And you go in full bore. But there are things you really can’t do. And in hindsight you look at it and you grow from experience.

“But I think the whole experience has made me a much better coach and a much better person of stepping back and seeing situations. And handling things on an individual basis. And I think it won’t do anything but help me going forward. So, I am thankful for the time that I got. Far too often I think people get jobs and get fired and say ‘that’s because he, that’s because she, that’s because it.’

“No, I’ll take full responsibility for things I can control. As a head coach you are charged with winning and I have to win ball games. There’s a lot more that goes into that from a standpoint of adjusting to a team and everything else. But having been through it and understanding where I am now, I have a lot better understanding of things I want to do and need to do and that’s what I’ll do.”

Bowles Undesirable Situation In New York 

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today

Bowles’ first head-coaching situation was vastly different than the one he inherits with the Bucs. When he took over the Jets in 2015 the team was coming off of a 4-12 record. New York signed a journeyman quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick to lead the offense. At that point in his career, Fitzpatrick was a below-average quarterback, and the roster was lacking in talent across the board.

Despite that, Bowles was able to lead the team to a 10-6 record in his first year, and the Jets nearly made the playoffs.  Unfortunately, despite a quality defense during his tenure, Bowles and the Jets were unable to repeat the success of his first year. He was ultimately fired after four seasons and a 24-40 record overall.

More Ideal Situation In Tampa Bay

There are very few similarities between Todd Bowles’ time in New York and his current situation. In Tampa Bay, Bowles is taking over a team that has made the playoffs in back-to-back years. That includes a Super Bowl win in 2020. The roster is largely set with multiple Pro-Bowlers across the roster, including the winningest quarterback in NFL history.

However, experience can be a great teacher, and Bowles will certainly have experience with adversity from his time with the Jets.  It appears Bowles is ready to take what he learned from his last head-coaching experience and grow from it in Tampa Bay.