Mike Tomlin Gets Traded To Surprise NFC Team Who Hasn’t Even Fired Their Head Coach Yet In Blockbuster Proposal That Would Shake Up The Entire NFL
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not surprise many people by bringing back head coach Todd Bowles. Still, the move upset a lot of fans who feel the team has slipped and missed too many chances under him.
The way the news came out made things worse. Bowles announced his return himself. Team owner the Glazer family and general manager Jason Licht stayed silent. That lack of clarity raised more questions about where the franchise is actually heading.
Bowles soon made a common move for coaches under pressure. He fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard after an 8-9 season and the team’s first playoff miss since 2019. Bowles runs the defense himself, so that side of the ball stayed the same. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers played well at times but failed in crucial moments.
Despite rumors online, league insiders say Bowles is not close to being fired. Sources say the team is reviewing its situation, but Bowles has not been told he will be let go and is still expected to coach into the 2026 season.
Even so, some around the league think Tampa Bay should reconsider. According to Heavy, the team should go for a proven head coach, and Mike Tomlin fits in place perfectly.
Everything Points To Tomlin
NFL history shows that trading for a head coach can reshape a franchise fast. The New England Patriots paid a first-round pick in 2000 to hire Bill Belichick from the Jets. He went on to win six Super Bowls. The Buccaneers know this path well. They sent draft picks and cash to the Raiders for Jon Gruden in 2002. Gruden delivered a Super Bowl in his first season.
More recently, the Denver Broncos traded high picks to the Saints for Sean Payton in 2023. Payton ended an eight-year playoff drought in 2024. Denver followed that run with a 14-3 season and the top seed in 2025.
That history now circles back to Tampa Bay. Mike Tomlin resigned after 19 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers following an AFC Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans. Tomlin never posted a losing record. He reached the playoffs 13 times. He won eight AFC North titles. He also won a Super Bowl and reached another.
One detail is completely out of the box. NFL insider Josina Anderson shared a note on January 13. “League sources also have told me, ‘Mike Tomlin has told people that he would prefer to coach in a warm-weather environment, if it fits,’ ” Anderson wrote on X.
Florida often draws people for that reason. Tampa Bay now faces a choice. The team can stay safe with Bowles. Or it can act fast and chase a coach with a proven record. The next move will define their coming days.
