Following the coaching retirement of Bruce Arians, Todd Bowles was tabbed to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
For Bowles, it’s his first opportunity to coach a team since he was fired by the New York Jets following the 2018 season. And in his new role, he’s using the experience gained in East Rutherford to ensure the same mistakes aren’t made twice.
But what did go wrong during his time with the Jets? How did they end up with a 24-40 record after four seasons despite the wild optimism and high expectations following Bowles’ hire?
The answer, he says, is simple. There were too many issues for one man to handle on his own.
New Bucs coach Todd Bowles on what went wrong with the Jets: "I think I was trying to fix everything. You're putting your finger in the dam, in 50 different holes and you only have 10 fingers. There's still holes to fill and you take that to heart when you can't get it done."
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 31, 2022
This time around, Bowles inherits a much more stable organization and talented roster than he did in New York. The organization is more well-run and there are far fewer behind-the-scenes problems. Plus, there’s also the presence of Tom Brady.
Bowles was in a no-win situation with the Jets. He’s now in a potential Super Bowl situation with the Buccaneers.
Photo: Sep 9, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles looks on before a game against the Dallas Cowboysn at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
