Bowles begins changes to staff of assistants after learning he'll return as Bucs coach
By Rick Mayer
January 7, 2026 at 7:05 PM EST
While Todd Bowles will remain, he gutted his staff. The firings include offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey and defensive line coach Charlie Strong.
A day after Todd Bowles learned would return as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coach, he began a purge of his staff of assistants, including the coordinators running the teams' offense and special teams.
The Bucs confirmed Thursday that Bowles would be back for a fifth year despite a late-season collapse that left them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Bowles received the nod after meeting with the Glazer family on Wednesday in what was described as a typical end-of-season conversation with the owners. But someone had to be accountable for the downfall, so the Bucs "began the process of reshaping their coaching staff."
In a statement, the Bucs announced the firing of first-year offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis, defensive line coach Charlie Strong and defensive backs coach Kevin Ross.
Also, safeties coach Nick Rappone retired, as did 87-year-old senior offensive consultant Tom Moore after a six-decade career as an NFL coach.
"These decisions are always difficult, but the disappointing end to the season required some changes to our coaching staff in order to ensure we live up to the high standards we have set here," Bowles said in the statement. "These coaches have all put in tremendous amount of work and effort, but unfortunately, the results were not there this past season.
Bowles acknowledged the need to make staff changes at his season-ending news conference on Monday.
"Our goal is to compete for championships every year, and it is my responsibility to make these tough decisions in order to reach those expectations," he said in the statement. "I want to thank these coaches for all that they have contributed to our success over the years, and I wish them well."
ALSO READ: Bucs coach Todd Bowles says he's earned the right to return in 2026
Bowles, who signed a three-year contract extension last summer, had led Tampa Bay to division titles in each of his first three seasons after replacing Bruce Arians in 2022.
However, he is 36-36 overall in Tampa Bay, including 1-3 in the playoffs.
His job status came into question by fans after Tampa Bay started this season 6-2 but lost seven of the final nine contests, failing to win its fifth straight division crown. Instead, the Bucs finished tied with Atlanta and Carolina at 8-9, with the Panthers holding the three-way tiebreaker advantage.
The offense, plagued by injuries much of the season, dropped from No. 3 overall in yards in 2024 under coordinator Liam Coen to 21st under Grizzard, who was promoted from pass game coordinator a year ago after Coen became head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bucs were in the top five in rushing, passing and scoring in 2024, when quarterback Baker Mayfield had his best season. This year, they finished 21st in rushing, 20th in passing and 18th in scoring. Mayfield was bothered by injuries throughout the second half.
ALSO READ: Gene Deckerhoff, the Bucs' radio voice for 37 years, announces retirement
On special teams, the Bucs allowed at least nine returns of more than 40 yards, four by Buffalo on Nov. 16, and ranked 30th in average yards allowed.
Kickoff return coverage was so poor that Bowles admitted electing over the final three games to kick the ball into the end zone for touchbacks to “minimize the damage.” The one kick in that span that fell into the "landing zone" was returned 47 yards to set up a field goal drive in a three-point loss at Miami.
The squad also had two punts and three field goals blocked. Two of those blocks were returned for touchdowns, and another set up a field goal.
The defense, which Bowles coordinates, was handicapped by a near-nonexistent pass rush, missed run fits and regular secondary coverage busts that gave up long pass plays. The defense was 19th in yards allowed, the third straight season it finished 18th or worse.
The led to the shakeup on the defensive staff, including Strong, the Unversity of South Florida head coach from 2017 to 2019 who joined the Bucs ahead of the 2025 season.
Moore, meanwhile, spent 48 of his 62 coaching years in the NFL. They included tenures as an offensive position coach or offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals. He came to Tampa Bay with Arians in 2019.
"Tom Moore is a legend in the coaching profession, and it has been an honor and a privilege to have him on our staff," said Bowles
Moore has coached Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, Franco Harris, John Stallworth, Cris Carter, Barry Sanders, Marshall Faulk and future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, just to name a few. He has also won three Super Bowls, two with Pittsburgh and one with Indianapolis.
He reportedly wants to spend more time at home as his wife battles an illness.
"Tom's incredible knowledge and understanding about the game is unmatched and he has served as an invaluable resource for our entire coaching staff over these past seven years," Bowles said. "He always offered up unique perspectives and very helpful insights that assisted our coaches with their game preparation, but it will be the personal interactions I had with him every day that I will miss the most."
The Bucs confirmed Thursday that Bowles would be back for a fifth year despite a late-season collapse that left them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Bowles received the nod after meeting with the Glazer family on Wednesday in what was described as a typical end-of-season conversation with the owners. But someone had to be accountable for the downfall, so the Bucs "began the process of reshaping their coaching staff."
In a statement, the Bucs announced the firing of first-year offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis, defensive line coach Charlie Strong and defensive backs coach Kevin Ross.
Also, safeties coach Nick Rappone retired, as did 87-year-old senior offensive consultant Tom Moore after a six-decade career as an NFL coach.
"These decisions are always difficult, but the disappointing end to the season required some changes to our coaching staff in order to ensure we live up to the high standards we have set here," Bowles said in the statement. "These coaches have all put in tremendous amount of work and effort, but unfortunately, the results were not there this past season.
Bowles acknowledged the need to make staff changes at his season-ending news conference on Monday.
"Our goal is to compete for championships every year, and it is my responsibility to make these tough decisions in order to reach those expectations," he said in the statement. "I want to thank these coaches for all that they have contributed to our success over the years, and I wish them well."
ALSO READ: Bucs coach Todd Bowles says he's earned the right to return in 2026
Bowles, who signed a three-year contract extension last summer, had led Tampa Bay to division titles in each of his first three seasons after replacing Bruce Arians in 2022.
However, he is 36-36 overall in Tampa Bay, including 1-3 in the playoffs.
His job status came into question by fans after Tampa Bay started this season 6-2 but lost seven of the final nine contests, failing to win its fifth straight division crown. Instead, the Bucs finished tied with Atlanta and Carolina at 8-9, with the Panthers holding the three-way tiebreaker advantage.
The offense, plagued by injuries much of the season, dropped from No. 3 overall in yards in 2024 under coordinator Liam Coen to 21st under Grizzard, who was promoted from pass game coordinator a year ago after Coen became head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bucs were in the top five in rushing, passing and scoring in 2024, when quarterback Baker Mayfield had his best season. This year, they finished 21st in rushing, 20th in passing and 18th in scoring. Mayfield was bothered by injuries throughout the second half.
ALSO READ: Gene Deckerhoff, the Bucs' radio voice for 37 years, announces retirement
On special teams, the Bucs allowed at least nine returns of more than 40 yards, four by Buffalo on Nov. 16, and ranked 30th in average yards allowed.
Kickoff return coverage was so poor that Bowles admitted electing over the final three games to kick the ball into the end zone for touchbacks to “minimize the damage.” The one kick in that span that fell into the "landing zone" was returned 47 yards to set up a field goal drive in a three-point loss at Miami.
The squad also had two punts and three field goals blocked. Two of those blocks were returned for touchdowns, and another set up a field goal.
The defense, which Bowles coordinates, was handicapped by a near-nonexistent pass rush, missed run fits and regular secondary coverage busts that gave up long pass plays. The defense was 19th in yards allowed, the third straight season it finished 18th or worse.
The led to the shakeup on the defensive staff, including Strong, the Unversity of South Florida head coach from 2017 to 2019 who joined the Bucs ahead of the 2025 season.
Moore, meanwhile, spent 48 of his 62 coaching years in the NFL. They included tenures as an offensive position coach or offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals. He came to Tampa Bay with Arians in 2019.
"Tom Moore is a legend in the coaching profession, and it has been an honor and a privilege to have him on our staff," said Bowles
Moore has coached Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, Franco Harris, John Stallworth, Cris Carter, Barry Sanders, Marshall Faulk and future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, just to name a few. He has also won three Super Bowls, two with Pittsburgh and one with Indianapolis.
He reportedly wants to spend more time at home as his wife battles an illness.
"Tom's incredible knowledge and understanding about the game is unmatched and he has served as an invaluable resource for our entire coaching staff over these past seven years," Bowles said. "He always offered up unique perspectives and very helpful insights that assisted our coaches with their game preparation, but it will be the personal interactions I had with him every day that I will miss the most."