Todd Bowles will apparently be a popular name on the head-coach circuit. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that the Lions requested an interview with the Buccaneers defensive coordinator. The interview hasn’t been scheduled as the two sides await the outcome of Tampa Bay’s playoff game tonight. Garafolo notes that Bowles is also expected to meet with the Falcons about their head coach opening.
Following his stint as HC of the NYJ, Bowles caught on as the defensive coordinator down in Tampa Bay in 2019. His first season in the role saw the unit rank sixth in defensive efficiency, and the team improved to fifth in the same metric in 2020. This year’s squad also ranked top-1o in takeaways, sacks, points allowed per game, and yards allowed per game (all despite having only one Pro Bowl defender in Jason Pierre-Paul). Of course, Bowles defensive prowess isn’t in question; he previously led stellar units in Arizona, and his Jets defenses weren’t all that bad. What was bad was his record as head coach; in four years with the Jets, Bowles had only 24 wins (and that included a 10-win campaign in 2015).
Both the Lions and Falcons are searching for new head coaches following in-season firings to Matt Patricia and Dan Quinn (respectively). Both teams have interviewed Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy and Titans OC Arthur Smith, and they’re both considering their interim coaches (Darrell Bevell and Raheem Morris, respectively). Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald has also emerged as a candidate for both jobs.
For Tampa Bay, it’s sounding like the coaching staff could be seeking a new defensive coordinator once their season has come to an end. Greg Auman of The Athletic opines (on Twitter) that defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers or linebackers coach Larry Foote could take over in Bowles’ stead, although Auman also cautions that either of those coaches could join Bowles’ staff if he’s hired elsewhere.
Don’t leave! Stay with the Bucs until Brady retires.
If Todd Bowles leaves, I wonder if they’d be willing to bring in Matt Patricia.
I kinda want Joe Brady in Atlanta… just think he’s exactly what our offense needs, aside from guys who can block and/or a mobile qb. Then we need a GM who’s gonna be smart on bringing in the right defensive pieces and stop missing. All that is easier said than done though :/
Yes Brady should get that job. 1 good year at LSU and a so/so year at Carolina. He should be hired over all the other assistants out there who have done it after year and proven themselves. Oh I guess being young and white he should immediately be better than the others with more experience.
what on Gods green earth does Joe Brady being white have to do with anything?
Race has nothing to do with anything. And I said I kinda want. Like lord, the falcons are interviewing him… clearly he’s qualified to do the job. It’s an opinion, nothing else and races wasn’t a factor at all
Don’t listen to him. This is the same guy that called me racist because I said Brian Daboll MIGHT be a better coaching candidate than Eric Bieniemy. I for one, respect and agree with your opinion
The Falcons might need a few more ex-Bucs on the staff to truly feel comfortable.
Seriously speaking though, Bowles never was really bad in New York. And I am certainly sure that he learned a few things during his time there. The question with hiring a purely defensive minded coach becomes how much does he rely on Matt Ryan to help his offense-do the Falcons try to retain him for a couple of years while finding a replacement, or they jump right into a rebuild? Bowles’ last experience as a head coach involved a similar circumstance, with a team at the beginning of a rebuild with a new QB. It went poorly, and Bowles likely did not appreciate the experience. Would he do it again? Would he push for a veteran free agent instead if he manages to improve the defense after a year?
An offensive coach would likely want his own quarterback, but perhaps there’s a chance Bowles may want a veteran, ala his current coaching situation.