An abundance of issues troubled the 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an underwhelming 8-9 campaign that fell well short of expectations.
Impending free-agent running back Rachaad White believes one remedy to the Bucs' ills could be head coach Todd Bowles removing defensive play-calling from his plate.
"I do feel like it would be easier on him," White said on the Loose Cannons podcast. "I do think he should let somebody else call defense and he just be a head coach. I feel like he'd probably be better off by doing that so he can just focus on really just the head coaching job, and just trust that he has the right defensive staff and things like that."
"I do think it would make his life more easier."
Not much was easy for the Buccaneers this season. They sprang out to a 6-2 start with their first four victories coming by way of nail-biting outcomes of three points or less.
Not long after, the Bucs spiraled, losing seven of eight before winning their finale against the Carolina Panthers. The Week 18 win wasn't enough to salvage the NFC South and the automatic playoff berth that went with it, though.
In the aftermath, Bowles stated he believed that having guided Tampa to three straight division titles previously warranted him remaining the team's head coach. The Glazer family, the Buccaneers owners, agreed and decided to bring him back. Changes have been made, though, namely the firing of offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard.
White was asked if he was surprised Bowles was coming back.
"Obviously I'm not an executive on none of this," White said. "I just think you get rid of a lot of the staff, you kind of should just go ahead … and I'm not wishing for nobody's job to get taken, but … just get new everything. But I do understand where they're (the Glazers) coming from and where he (Bowles') coming from in the aspect of probably like, 'Yeah, another year. Won't be bad. We won't be a bad (I guess) chance to just see.' Obviously, we know what it is and everybody knows what it is with this year and what's going on with him and go from there. But, get a new staff so hopefully he can hire the right guy, which is tough. But you try to do the best you can and just see if you can go from there. I think that's the biggest thing."
Among the more startling aspects of the Bucs' struggles was the defense's performance.
Todd Bowles' D was a middling 19th in yards and 20th in points scored.
So, perhaps White's idea of Bowles delegating the defensive play-calling isn't a bad one.
The running back just finished his fourth season with the Bucs, who selected him in the 2022 NFL Draft's third round. White recorded 132 carries for 572 yards and four touchdowns.
He's unsure of what comes next for him, but being so blunt about Bowles might not increase the chances of him staying put with the Bucs.
"We don't really know where I'm going," White said. "I don't know really who want me, if they want me back."
