Todd Bowles has previously heard the questions.
Long before he became the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bowles spent four seasons leading the New York Jets. His tenure there ended with a 24-40 record and persistent questions about whether his success as a defensive coordinator would ever translate into sustained success as a head coach.
Years later, some of those same conversations are beginning to resurface. Recently, Pro Football Focus included Bowles among a group of NFL head coaches entering the 2026 season under increased pressure. As PFF mentions, while Bowles has enjoyed more success in Tampa Bay than he ever did in New York, the Buccaneers’ disappointing finish to the 2025 season has created uncertainty about what comes next.
Bowles’ career record as a head coach sits at 61-74, a winning percentage of 45.2%. His teams in Tampa have, at times, reached the postseason, but his overall playoff record stands at 1-3.
Since taking over the Buccaneers, Bowles has guided the franchise to three NFC South titles in four seasons. Winning division championships is never easy, even in a division that has been as bad as the NFC South.
Still, Bowles has maintained playoff relevance after the departure of Tom Brady. That deserves recognition.
Critics, however, argue that Tampa Bay’s talented roster has often masked larger issues. The 2025 season did little to quiet those concerns. The Buccaneers struggled on both sides of the ball as injuries mounted and performance dipped.
Tampa Bay won only two of its final seven games. They ultimately missed the postseason, an outcome that fell well short of expectations. Nobody questions his defensive expertise, at least they shouldn’t. His resume as a coordinator is among the strongest in modern football.
He helped construct the Buccaneers’ defense that overwhelmed Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. He was also named both the Associated Press NFL Assistant Coach of the Year and the Pro Football Writers Association’s NFL Assistant Coach of the Year during his coaching career.
The lingering questions have always centered on his effectiveness as a head coach. Now entering his fifth season in Tampa Bay, Bowles faces a challenge that feels familiar.
Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 offseason.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Former Jets head coach lands on PFF’s list of coaches facing pressure
Reporting by Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire / Jets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire | USA TODAY Network
