Buccaneers' Head Coach Todd Bowles Juiced Up Following Divisional Win Over Falcons
Todd Bowles has been no stranger to criticism since taking over as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That said, he was given some grace by the fans and media in 2022. Which is only fair considering he was thrust into the head coaching role in a sudden, and unconventional fashion, following the unexpected retirement of his predecessor, Bruce Arians.
However, 2023 has been a bit of a different story.
After the Bucs stormed out of the gate to a 3-1 record to start the year, optimism that was initially hindered by questions surrounding the quarterback position was fully restored. Playing in a weak NFC South division, coming off a hot start to the season, success once again became the expectation for this football team.
Unfortunately for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — and Todd Bowles — the early season success proved to be more of a mirage than a sign of things to come.
Although they're coming off of back-to-back divisional wins, since their week 5 bye, the Buccaneers have gone 3-6, including a stretch where they lost 6 out of 7 games.
As a result, a significant portion of the Buccaneers' faithful have been outspoken in stating their belief that Todd Bowles should be relieved of his duties by the end of the season, if not sooner.
Dec 3, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles takes the field for warms ups before a game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
One of the most common critiques of Bowles — in addition to many others — is that his calm demeanor on the sidelines is not reflective of a head coach who has the fire needed to lead a group of men. These critics firmly believe that Bowles' mild-mannered approach doesn't allow him to inspire passion or confidence in his players.
Although the criticism may seem a little bit rich coming from a fanbase that once witnessed Tony Dungy's coaching success firsthand, Bowles' overall record as a head coach doesn't do a ton to dispel the notion.
But there is something that does.
Following Sunday's crucial divisional victory over the Falcons, which catapulted the Buccaneers into first place in the NFC South, a behind-the-scenes video released by the team shows the Buccaneers head coach celebrating with his players.
When watching the video, it immediately becomes apparent that not only is Todd Bowles passionate about winning but that the majority of his players respect and admire him as their leader.
In the locker room following the victory, Bowles can be seen and heard offering genuinely enthusiastic words of encouragement to his players, "Hey guys, that's a way to battle! Hell of a job finishing the ball game! Every week is going to be like that. The next four weeks will be like that. We know we're ready!"
"We will have victory Monday! Same as last week, you have to lift and get treatment. Other than that, we have our word... YEAH!!!"
My intention in analyzing this postgame interaction isn't meant to focus on what Bowles said to his players, but instead, on how the players reacted to his message
It's obvious from the clip above that the Buccaneers — especially the captains and leaders of the team — have fully bought in. Not just to what Todd Bowles is saying, but to who he is, as the head coach and leader of their football team.
Samer Ali, one of the hosts of the Loose Cannons Podcast, shared this same perspective.
There are credible criticisms that exist regarding Todd Bowles' performance as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the argument that he doesn't inspire passion or confidence in his players isn't one of them.
You can follow Collin Haalboom on X.
Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 season.
