Doug Williams is Proud Todd Bowles Was Hired as Tampa Bay's Head Coach

Doug Williams is happy Todd Bowles got a second chance to become an NFL head coach.

Kyle T. Mosley|

Doug Williams is Proud Todd Bowles Was Hired as Tampa Bay's Head Coach

Doug Williams jokingly shared, "Todd called me and said you're responsible for this. I told him don't blame me and laughed."

"Giving Todd the position shows what type of guy Bruce Arians really is. It's not about color with him. Credit to the Glazer family for accepting Bruce's suggestion to make Bowles the head coach," Williams said. The irony for the two friends is that Tampa Bay drafted Williams in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft.

Bowles will take over the head coaching duties at Tampa Bay after Arians announced his retirement on Wednesday, Mar. 30. Many were surprised the job didn't go to Byron Leftwich, who interviewed for several head coaching openings during the offseason.

The HBCU connection with Bowles began when he served as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Morehouse College (1997) and Grambling University (1998-1999) under head coach Doug Williams.

Bowles joined the NFL coaching ranks in 2000 with the New York Jets as the team's secondary coach. Fifteen seasons after being an assistant defensive coach at the Browns, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, and Cardinals, the Jets re-hired him as the team's head coach from 2015 to 2018.

In 2014, Bowles received the AP and PFWA NFL Assistant Coach of the Year awards.

He is considered one of the best defensive coaches in the National Football League. "I believe Todd will be a great head coach again," Williams exalted.

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Published Apr 1, 2022

I am Kyle T. Mosley, the Founder, Managing Editor, and Chief Reporter for the HBCU Legends. Former founder and publisher of the Saints News Network, and Pelicans Scoop on SI since October 2019. Morehouse Alum, McDonogh #35 Roneagles (NOLA), Drum Major of the Tenacious Four. My Father, Mother, Grandmother, Aunts and Uncles were HBCU graduates! Host of "Blow the Whistle" HBCU Legends, "The Quad" with Coach Steward, and "Bayou Blitz" Podcasts. Radio/Media Appearances: WWL AM/FM Radio in New Orleans (Mike Detillier/Bobby Hebert), KCOH AM 1230 in Houston (Ralph Cooper), WBOK AM in New Orleans (Reggie Flood/Ro Brown), and 103.7FM "The Game" (Jordy Hultberg/Clint Domingue), College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt), Jeff Lightsly Show, and Offscript TV on YouTube. Television Appearance: Fox26 in Houston on The Isiah Carey Factor, College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt). My Notable Interviews: Byron Allen (Media Mogul), Deion Sanders (Collegiate Head Coach), Drew Brees (Former NFL QB), Mark Ingram (NFL RB), Terron Armstead (NFL OL), Jameis Winston (NFL QB), Cam Newton (NFL QB), Cam Jordan (NFL), Demario Davis (NFL), Allan Houston (NBA All-Star), Deuce McAllister (Former NFL RB), Chennis Berry (Collegiate Head Coach), Johnny Jones (Collegiate Head Coach), Tomekia Reed (Women's Basketball Coach), Tremaine Jackson (Collegiate Head Coach), Taylor Rooks (NBA Reporter), Swin Cash (Former VP of Basketball - New Orleans Pelicans), Demario and Tamala Davis (NFL Player), Jerry Rice (Hall of Famer), Doug Williams (HBCU & NFL Legend), Emmitt Smith (Hall of Famer), James "Shack" Harris (HBCU & NFL Legend), Cris Carter (Hall of Famer), Solomon Wilcots (SiriusXM NFL Host), Steve Wyche (NFL Network), Jim Trotter (NFL Network), Travis Williams (Founder of HBCU All-Stars, LLC), Malcolm Jenkins (NFL Player), Willie Roaf (NFL Hall of Fame), Jim Everett (Former NFL Player), Quinn Early (Former NFL Player), Dr. Reef (NFL Players' Trainer Specialist), Nataria Holloway (VP of the NFL). I am building a new team of journalists, podcasters, videographers, and interns. For media requests, interviews, or interest in joining HBCU Legends, please contact me at kmosley@hbcusi.com. Follow me: