TAMPA, Fla. — Todd Bowles stated his case plainly Monday, saying three consecutive NFC South titles should count for something even if his team missed the playoffs this year.

Apparently the Glazer family, which owns the Bucs agreed.

Bowles confirmed Wednesday that he is returning as Bucs head coach for the 2026 season, his fifth at the helm in Tampa Bay.

In a text message to the Tampa Bay Times, he also allowed that there could be some changes to his coaching staff.

Bowles met with the Glazer family, which owns the team, Tuesday and had interviews scheduled with members of his coaching staff Wednesday and Thursday.

Even though he signed a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2028 season, there had been much speculation about Bowles’ future.

That intrigue only increased Tuesday night when the Ravens fired head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons.

After starting 6-2, Baker Mayfield was being touted as an MVP candidate with four fourth-quarter comebacks in the final minute of games. He began the season with 16 touchdowns and two interceptions.

But as Mayfield sustained injuries to his knee, both shoulders, oblique and right arm, he struggled the second half of the season, throwing 10 TDs and nine interceptions to close out the year.

The Bucs lost seven of their final nine games to finish 8-9 and miss the postseason for the first time in six seasons despite owning the same record as the division champion Panthers and Falcons.

The Bucs lost four straight games to teams — New Orleans, Atlanta, Carolina and Miami — with losing records. Had Tampa Bay won any of those games, it would be preparing for a playoff game this weekend against the Rams.

Certainly, there’s a chance the Bucs could have their fifth offensive coordinator in as many years.

With Dave Canales and Liam Coen leading their teams to the playoffs as head coaches of the Panthers and Jaguars, respectively, the Bucs stayed in-house to promote passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard to offensive coordinator for 2025.

But the offense took a big step back. Part of it was injuries. The Bucs never had all five starting offensive linemen in the same game.

Tackle Tristan Wirfs had knee surgery right before training camp and missed the first three games. Guard Cody Mauch sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 at Houston.

Then the Bucs lost receiver Jalen McMillan to a neck fracture in the preseason opener at Pittsburgh. Receiver Chris Godwin missed several games with fibula injuries. Receiver Mike Evans missed several games with a hamstring strain and broke his collarbone.

The Bucs also lost running back Bucky Irving to foot and shoulder injuries for the bulk of the season.

At the very least, the firing of Harbaugh in Baltimore could potentially make offensive coordinator Todd Monken a name to watch if the Bucs replace Grizzard. Monken was on the staff at Cleveland with quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Bowles’ strength is as a defensive play-caller, and this season the Bucs allowed 24.2 points per game, which tied for 20th in the NFL.

It’s hard to forget the Bucs allowing the Falcons to convert on third-and-28 and fourth-and-14 to kick a winning field goal in a 29-28 loss on Dec. 11.

Bowles seemed out of answers and patience with his team. After the loss to the Falcons, he engaged in a profanity-laced postgame speech.

Apparently, the Glazer family considered the injuries to the offensive line.

The Bucs averaged little more than 17 points per game over the final month of the season, as Mayfield began throwing interceptions.

Bowles has a 35-33 record as Bucs head coach and is 1-3 in the postseason. Twice, the Bucs had 8-9 records under Bowles.

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