Bowles Stakes Tampa Tenure on Defensive Additions
After a defensive collapse and Lavonte David’s retirement, Todd Bowles is betting on "nasty" free agents and elite draft picks to salvage his tenure and reputation.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' HC Todd Bowles has already secured his legacy as one of the best defensive minds in the NFL. Even when his team falls short of expectations overall, Bowles' defense still garners praise. However, the Bucs' defense in 2025 did not live up to the lofty standards one would expect from a team coached by Bowles.
Tampa finished the 2025 season with the league's 19th-ranked defense in yards per game and 20th in points per game. The Bucs were dead last in red-zone touchdown percentage. That is not good enough.
The success of Tampa's defense falls squarely on the shoulders of Bowles, who is entering the 2026 season on the hot seat. It doesn't help that Bucs legend Lavonte David announced his retirement after 14 seasons with Tampa. The Bucs poured a lot of resources into improving their defense this offseason, both in free agency and the draft.
After last season's collapse, Bowles is staking his career in Tampa on the success of this offseason's defensive additions. Bucs Wanted To Get Nastier and Edgier The Bucs went into free agency with a clear goal for their defense: to get nastier and edgier. After signing Alex Anzalone, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and A'Shawn Robinson, GM Jason Licht believes they accomplished that goal.