Out of the gate in 2025, the Buccaneers seemed destinted to top that 10-win mark, with quarterback Baker Mayfield and Co. pulling out nail-biting wins en route to a 6-2 start. But over time, the magic disappeared.
Despite injuries early in the season to the likes of Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and others, the Bucs overcame their pitfalls. Mayfield, however, injured his non-throwing shoulder in late November and his play began to wane, but it was hardly the only ill the Bucs were unable to remedy.
Bowles’ defense, the hallmark for the head coach, finished a middling 20th in points allowed, 19th in yards. It was the second season in a row in which Bowles’ defenses were outside the top 15 in scoring and total defense.
Following a three-game losing streak, the Bucs defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 20-17, in Week 13 and, at 7-5, a path to win the division was still very much in their grasp. But Tampa dropped its next four, all to losing teams, including a prime-time loss to the Atlanta Falcons that had the normally subdued Bowles speaking the language of expletives in his postgame news conference.
There was no figuring out how to stem the Bucs’ struggles in 2025, but the 62-year-old Bowles will have the opportunity to rectify things in 2026.
As the offseason begins much quicker than expected for the Bucs, Bowles and general manager Jason Licht will have plenty of personnel issues to deal with. Linebacker Lavonte Davidcould be retiring. Like David, Mike Evans, one of the greatest Buccaneers of all time, is a pending free agent, as are edge Haason Reddick, cornerback Jamel Dean, running back Rachaad White and tight end Cade Otton. There’s also potentially some staffing changes to make after a sub-par season.
