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Buccaneers' Todd Bowles receives big praise from Cardinals head coach

Jonathan Gannon discussed his respect for the Bucs' head coach ahead of their Week 13 matchup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles warms up for a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles warms up for a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Arizona Cardinals’ head coach Jonathan Gannon has seen a lot of football. Although he’s only 42 years old — relatively young by coaching standards — he’s been coaching in the NFL for almost two decades. Not only that, but he’s coached with seven different organizations during that time.

READ MORE: 3 key matchups to determine Buccaneers-Cardinals in Week 13

As a result, it’s safe to say that Jonathan Gannon has been exposed to, learned from and coached against a wide variety of different coaching styles and philosophies.

Big praise for Todd Bowles

Todd Bowle
Oct 5, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles on the sidelines during the first half of a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Leading up to the Cardinals’ matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 13, Gannon was asked to offer his opinion about Bucs’ coach, Todd Bowles. 

Gannon’s response spoke volumes about the respect he has for the Bucs’ defensive minded head coach. 

“Ever since I’ve been in the league, you know. He’s cool because…I would use the term, curious. He studies. He really does. Because he’s adapted, every stop that he’s been at. You’ll see, mid-year, he’ll change things.”

Not only does Gannon respect Bowles’ ability to adapt throughout the year, but he also appreciates his deep knowledge of NFL offenses.

“Has his staples, but he’s very creative. He understands the run game really well, how to attack it. He understands protections really well, how to attack them. He puts his players in good spots. He’s one of the best out there, in my opinion.”

Defensive struggles of late

Todd Bowle
Nov 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles walks off the field during halftime against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Jonathan Gannon's respect for Bowles has been built over years of NFL experience coaching against him. But the reality is, Bowles hasn't been very good lately. Over the past three games, Bowles' defense has surrendered an outlandish 106 points. That's 35 points per game, for anyone unwilling to do the math.

READ MORE: Buccaneers get important update on starting cornerback Jamel Dean

If the Bucs are going to rediscover their winning ways from earlier in the season, then they need to find ways to prevent opposing offenses from lighting up the scoreboard. Regardless of who is available in the lineup, that responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Bowles, a respected defensive mind.

It's time for the Buccaneers' head coach to live up to his reputation.

READ MORE: The Good, Bad and Ugly from Buccaneers' 34-7 loss to Rams

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Collin Haalboom
COLLIN HAALBOOM

Prior to joining BucsGameday and Sports Illustrated, Collin's written content was provided through Bucs Banter, and NFL Draft Lounge. He is also the creator and host of the Bucs Banter Podcast. He is a graduate of the Communication Studies program at McMaster University, where he was also a varsity basketball player, and later an advanced scout. He lives with his wife and two children in Hamilton, ON. You can follow Collin on YouTube and Twitter.

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