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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not be joining the John Harbaugh sweepstakes or any head coaching search, heading into 2026.
Todd Bowles will remain in his role as Bucs head coach in 2026 after meeting with the team’s owners, the Glazer family, on Tuesday, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Bowles told the outlet, however, that there will be changes to his coaching staff for next season. He did not say what those changes would be. But it will be a different look in Tampa Bay after a disastrous second half that resulted in the team missing the playoffs.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles arrives before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. (Matthew Hinton/Image Images)
The Bucs were 6-2 entering the season and many believed they would win their fourth consecutive NFC South title. However, the Carolina Panthers won that title despite losing to the Bucs in Week 18 due to NFL tiebreaker rules.
The Atlanta Falcons’ upset of the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17 changed everything.
THE PANTHERS REACH THE PLAYOFFS AFTER THE FALCONS BEAT THE SAINTS; BUCCANEROS ELIMINATED
There was some talk about Bowles’ job security if the Bucs didn’t make the playoffs. However, the Glazer family and the rest of the front office are giving Bowles a chance to redeem himself and the team, at least for one more season.
Tampa Bay won just two of its last nine games after going 6-2, and finished 8-9 on the year, the same record as the Panthers and Falcons.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles watches from the sideline during the team’s game against the Carolina Panthers on December 26, 2021, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Across Bowles’ four seasons leading the Bucs, the team is 35-33 despite its divisional success. They haven’t gotten past the divisional round in those seasons, and Bowles’ best record was 10-7 in 2024.
However, not everything with the Bucs falls on Bowles’ shoulders, even though he is their head coach. Injuries played a big role in the team’s demise, especially on the offensive line. There were also long-term injuries to wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, while running back Bucky Irving, who stole the show in his rookie campaign in 2024, was also sidelined for several games.
The Bucs hope that changing the coaching staff, adding more reinforcements through free agency and, most importantly, keeping the senior leader in place, can bode well for 2026.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles walks onto the field before a game against the Miami Dolphins on December 28, 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Cliff Welch/Sportswire Icon)
Given how the division ended, the NFC South is wide open heading into 2026, although it appears the Panthers, Falcons and Saints are starting to catch up in terms of competitiveness.
