The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could go through an overhaul next offseason.
The Buccaneers have been one of the better organizations in the NFL over the past decade. They made five consecutive playoff appearances before their streak was broken last year. During that time, they won a Super Bowl and four consecutive division titles.
That said, all good things eventually come to an end. And it may end after this season if they miss the playoffs for the second straight year.
If that were to happen, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles would be on the hot seat. If that's the case, Tampa Bay would be on the hunt for a new head coach, most likely a veteran who can quickly get the team back on track. As Bleacher Report's Moe Moton writes in his "Five Best Fits
for Mike Tomlin," he mentions the Buccaneers as one of those potential landing spots.
Tomlin is obviously sitting out this season after completing a 19-season tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he has left the door open to a head-coaching return. The 53-year-old began his NFL coaching career as the defensive backs coach for the Buccaneers, helping lead them to the Super Bowl in 2002.
"Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles should be on the hot seat entering the 2026 season," writes Moton. "Sure, the Buccaneers won three consecutive NFC South titles before they failed to make the playoffs last season, but the club has only one playoff win to show for it. Also, Tampa Bay is a mediocre 35-33 on Bowles' watch in a bottom-tier division. Lastly, the Buccaneers' defense has regressed over the last two years, ranking 16th or worse in both scoring and total yards allowed. Keep in mind that Bowles is a defensive-minded head coach."
The move would make a lot of sense given Tomlin's roots in Tampa Bay and assuming the Buccaneers can lock in franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield to a long-term deal. The Buccaneers play in the weakest division in football, with the NFC South winner being the 8-9 Carolina Panthers last season.
Tomlin would inherit a contender-ready roster with many remaining pieces from the Super Bowl era in Chris Godwin, Vita Vea, Tristan Wirfs, and Antoine Winfield Jr.
It is worth noting that Tomlin is still under contract with the Steelers through the 2027 season, meaning Tampa Bay would have to trade in order to acquire Tomlin. The Super Bowl champion head coach also holds a no-trade clause in his deal, as Moton notes.
"The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't fire Tomlin; he stepped down from his head-coaching position," writes Moton. "So, the team still holds the rights to his contract, which runs through the 2027 season. As a result, a club interested in Tomlin would have to trade for him, similar to how the Denver Broncos traded a 2023 first-rounder and a 2024 second-rounder to the New Orleans Saints for Sean Payton."
If the Buccaneers suffer another mediocre season in 2026, we could be looking at Tampa Bay as a potential destination for Tomlin.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers named 'best' fit for Mike Tomlin as Head Coach
