Todd Bowles Admits To Bucs "Just Taking Plays Off"

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to be called out for their lack of effort in 2025.

This time, by their own head coach.

Specifically, the Bucs’ defense has been singled out for not giving maximum effort on the field last season. Watching the tape, it’s clear to see, at times, players who seemed disinterested. Saying players of “quit” during games is a serious accusation, but one that the 2025 Bucs’ defense has had to answer.

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First, star linebacker Lavonte David confessed that teammates had called him out last year for “loafing” during games.

Recently, YaYa Diaby said about watching the tape, “it looks like guys don’t have no love for the game.”

Ouch.

Now, Tampa coach Todd Bowles has weighed in on the matter and admitted his Bucs were “just taking plays off.” In a sit-down interview with Sports Day Tampa Bay, Bowles expressed optimism that the 2026 defense is built differently than the 2025 version.

“If we can prepare and we can execute, and we don’t look at the names on people’s helmets, and we can play the same every week and learn how to finish off games and close games out — instead of getting a lead and just taking plays off, or not having a lead and having to come back late,” Bowles said.

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“You just want to play four quarters and you want to go out there. And I think we have those types of alpha dogs on our team right now that will make this team to elevate to that. When they start coaching themselves and don’t need too much coaching on the sideline, that’s when you know you’ve arrived.”

Bowles says that the new players on the defense this year will create a new standard and hold players accountable if they aren’t meeting it.

That’s great.

Isn’t that the coach’s job?

Bowles is one of the most well-regarded defensive coaches in the NFL. As such, he should be the one setting the standard for his players. If they aren’t rising to that standard, the coaches should ensure they face consequences, whether a benching, being called out in team meetings, or whatever else a coach can do to get their point across.

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Everything that happens on the field is ultimately the head coach’s responsibility. While it’s easy (and necessary) to blame players for a lack of effort, the blame also falls on the coach for allowing it to happen.

If teammates are calling David out, Diaby is noticing a lack of fight on tape, and the fans are talking about it, it’s not like the defense’s lack of effort was a secret.

That is on Bowles, who is also the Bucs’ defensive coordinator as well as head coach.

It’s great that Bowles is confident that his defense won’t be guilty of the same lack of effort this season. Tampa enters the upcoming season with heightened expectations, and any signs of “loafing” simply cannot be tolerated.

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The defense has been fortified with several new additions this offseason. The burden is now on Bowles to ensure that everyone plays with an effort and passion that can’t be questioned.

If Bowles doesn’t hold his players accountable in 2026, he may not be the Bucs’ coach in 2027.

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