A fascinating piece of NFL gossip has surfaced, courtesy of a former league executive with close ties to the legendary Bill Belichick. This intriguing tidbit came to light during an episode of the podcast GM Shuffle, hosted by Michael Lombardi. As a former general manager and someone who has worked under coaching legends like Bill Walsh, Al Davis, and Bill Belichick himself, Lombardi brings a wealth of insider knowledge. Notably, he has a well-documented loyalty to the coaching lineage stemming from Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, rarely uttering a negative word about anyone associated with that tree.
This loyalty naturally extends to coaches like Todd Bowles, who once worked under Parcells and now leads the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lombardi’s staunch defense of those within this coaching network is legendary. For instance, he vehemently opposes any suggestion that Belichick’s success as a head coach hinges entirely on Tom Brady, even though Brady won a Super Bowl without him. Bringing up such a topic around Lombardi is a sure way to trigger a fiery and passionate rebuttal—one so intense it could rival the sermons of an impassioned preacher.
Currently, Lombardi’s advocacy for Mike Vrabel as a head coaching candidate is unmatched. Vrabel, a former player for Belichick and a former defensive coordinator under Bill O’Brien (another Belichick disciple), receives effusive praise from Lombardi. Listening to Lombardi, one might think Vrabel’s coaching prowess rivals that of celebrated names like Andy Reid or Sean McVay.
Lombardi’s steadfast loyalty to the Parcells/Belichick coaching tree has undoubtedly earned him favor within that circle. His close relationship with Belichick makes his recent comments particularly intriguing. While analyzing the Buccaneers’ recent win over the Raiders, Lombardi, unprompted, made a striking remark about Bowles. He commended Bowles for finding a way to secure victory despite his quarterback struggling and key defensive players being sidelined due to injuries. Then, Lombardi casually added, “Give Todd Bowles credit. Everybody thinks he’s not going to keep his job. A lot of people think he may retire at the end of the year.”
This revelation was news to Joe, a journalist covering the Buccaneers. Lombardi didn’t clarify who these “people” predicting Bowles’s departure are or provide any details about where this information originated. Joe took note of Lombardi’s exact words and began connecting the dots.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Bowles has hinted at the end of his coaching career. Last year, Bowles stated that the Buccaneers would be the final team he coaches. When Joe followed up to ask if Bowles was planning to retire, Bowles, who turned 61 recently, denied having any immediate plans to step away from the game. However, he reaffirmed that Tampa Bay would be his “last rodeo” in coaching.
Perhaps Lombardi’s statement was rooted in this earlier remark. It’s possible someone read Joe’s article or heard Bowles’s previous comments, passed it along, and the information eventually reached Lombardi during a conversation over wine at Oscar’s Steakhouse in Las Vegas, a popular spot for NFL insiders. Alternatively, if we indulge in a bit of speculative sleuthing, perhaps Lombardi’s insight came directly from Belichick himself, with whom he collaborates on a podcast. If that’s the case, it begs the question: how would Belichick know about Bowles’s plans?
The speculation adds an intriguing layer to the Buccaneers’ season narrative. For his part, Lombardi had more praise for Bowles, emphasizing the resilience of his team. He commended their ability to persevere through challenges, acknowledging they might not be the best team in the league but are undeniably tougher than their NFC South rivals, the Atlanta Falcons. He dismissed Tampa Bay’s earlier loss to Atlanta as a fluke, further highlighting the Bucs’ strength and determination.
In the ever-dramatic world of NFL coaching rumors, this latest twist offers plenty of material for discussion as fans and analysts eagerly speculate on what lies ahead for Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers.
