The latest example is ESPN, which decided to look back and rank the coaching hires of the last five years. Within that time frame, the Bucs’ signing of Todd Bowles qualifies. In total, there are 37 coaching hires that you can review. For what it’s worth, at the bottom of the list is Urban Meyer from his incomplete season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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As for Todd Bowles, ESPN ranked him 12th.
They explain their ranking and write: “Replacing the retired Bruce Arians after winning a Super Bowl as Tampa Bay’s defensive coordinator, Bowles has kept the Bucs atop the NFC South for most of his tenure. He was able to transition the Buccaneers from the end of the Tom Brady era to the beginning of Baker Mayfield’s tenure at QB without issue, and Tampa has been solid in the postseason, beating the Eagles and playing hard against the Lions and Commanders in competitive losses. “I still think Bowles is a good coach and has improved his late-game decision-making after being too conservative early in his tenure, but 2026 looks like a make-or-break year for his future in Tampa.”
As they mention, Bowles faces a make-or-break season in 2026. If he falls short, he’ll likely end up in Tampa Bay, which would cause his placement to drop if they look at the roster. Luckily for him and the Bucs, he has hired some promising coaches, including Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator and Danny Smith as special teams coordinator.
If those hires are successful, his job should be more than secure as the Bucs hopefully take a step forward for his and the teams’ benefit.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Where does ESPN rank Todd Bowles’ signing over the last few years?