Analyst offers ominous 2026 warning for Buccaneers' Todd Bowles

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be a fascinating watch in 2026 as Todd Bowles looks to recalibrate after what was a disastrous end to the 2025 season.

So much so that fans were calling for him to lose his job, and if they are doing it then, any slip-up in 2026 will see those voices become deafening. 

With no Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield on the final year of his deal, Bowles has to get this team not only into the playoffs but potentially on a deep run.

And for Bleacher Report's Alex Kay, Bowles is one of a handful of head coaches under serious pressure in 2026.

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fared well enough to be a playoff fixture with Todd Bowles at the helm, but they still haven't broken through as a true Super Bowl contender under his stewardship,” Kay wrote.

“A reset could be in the pipeline if the Bucs come up short yet again. They'll have an opportunity to reclaim the NFC South and make some noise in the playoffs, but anything short of that could mean an end to the Bowles-Mayfield era in Tampa Bay.”

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Is Bowles fighting for his job?

To an extent, yes.

Last season, the Bucs had a horror run with injuries, but the second-half fadeout was incredible, and not in a good way.

Given that he only signed a new three-year deal in June of 2025, Bowles is under contract until 2028, so any move on him would see the Bucs have to pay him for the next few years. 

That isn't ideal.

But if the franchise flames out again and misses the playoffs, you can imagine that some sort of discussion will take place.

The Buccaneers have been in the postseason but have yet to truly challenge for the Super Bowl under Bowles, and failing to at least get close might mean a head-coaching change in Tampa.

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