New reports seem to open the door to the possibility of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reuniting with Jon Gruden to replace current head coach Todd Bowles.
At the start of November, the Buccaneers owned an 8-2 record and seemed to be living up to the hype as a legitimate Super Bowl contender this season. However, things have completely fallen apart in the eight weeks since.
Heading into a do-or-die Week 18 clash with the Carolina Panthers, Tampa has gone 1-7 and is a loss away from not making the playoffs at all this season. A defeat this weekend would complete one of the biggest second-half collapses in NFL history. It will likely push head coach Todd Bowles even closer to being fired after the regular season ends.
It was a topic of discussion in a new report from ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler. The former claims that there are many around the game who believe Bowles could be out if the team loses its fifth straight game to end the 2025 season. However, there is one thing that might save the fourth-year coach from being ousted next week.
“Todd Bowles’ buyout would be hefty after the team extended his contract through 2028, and the team doesn’t seem overly eager to pay that,” Fowler wrote. “Bailing on Bowles would be the Bucs’ way of embracing a rebuild. But someone will have to pay if they lose to Carolina.”
Could Jon Gruden Be a Contender for TB Buccaneers Job?
The league insiders suggested that the head coach market doesn’t have as many strong candidates as in years past. That is why recently fired coaches or outside-the-box options might have an even better chance to land a job this offseason. One of those individuals who could get an unexpected interview is former Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden.
“It wouldn’t shock me if teams wanted to speak with Gruden, assuming his lawsuit will conclude at some point,” Fowler claimed. “In a year with limited offensive options, this would be the time. His imprint is still all over the NFL coaching landscape.”
We are still a long way from the head coach position opening with the Buccaneers. Plus, a reunion with Gruden seems unlikely, but it can’t be completely ruled out. While he had a 57-55 record during his seven seasons in Tampa, he has the most wins in franchise history, and brought the Bucs their first Super Bowl win in 2002.
The 62-year-old was brought back to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2018, and few ever expected that before an email scandal ended his second tenure with the franchise in 2021.
