Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles returns for fifth season after playoff miss
The gist
Todd Bowles will return for a fifth season as Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach despite missing the playoffs.
His 3-5 start in 2026 has fans questioning his game management.
How it unfolded
- Jan 7, 2026Bowles told The Tampa Bay Times via text he would return in 2026, and NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo confirmed he would return for a fifth season despite the Bucs missing the playoffs.
- Sep 21, 2026Bowles' team started 0-2, which he called a different kind of urgency; in each of his first four seasons the Bucs had started with at least two wins before a loss.
- Oct 8, 2026Bowles had a health scare after taking a helmet to the stomach during a celebration; the Bucs beat the Dallas Cowboys.
Key terms
- NFC South
- One of the four divisions of the National Football Conference in the National Football League.
- playoffs
- A playoff round in which teams that did not win their division qualify for the postseason tournament.
Source: Wikipedia