Todd Bowles facts for kids

Todd Robert Bowles (born November 18, 1963) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League (NFL). Before this, he was the head coach for the New York Jets from 2015 to 2018.

Bowles has also worked as a defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals and Buccaneers. He was a secondary coach for several teams, including the Jets, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and Philadelphia Eagles. As a player, Bowles spent eight seasons in the NFL as a safety, mostly with the Washington Redskins. He was part of the team that won Super Bowl XXII.

Early Life and College Football

Todd Bowles went to Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He played college football at Temple University from 1982 to 1985. He was a starting cornerback for all four years.

His first year at Temple was under famous coach Wayne Hardin. For his last three years, he played for coach Bruce Arians. Years later, Bowles would work as an assistant coach for Arians in the NFL. During his college career, Bowles caught seven interceptions. In May 2023, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Mount St. Mary's University.

Playing Career in the NFL

The Washington Redskins signed Bowles on May 7, 1986. He was an undrafted free agent, meaning no team picked him in the NFL draft. He chose the Redskins over six other NFL teams.

In 1987, Bowles earned the starting free safety job for the Redskins. He had a great season, catching four passes that were meant for the other team (interceptions). He also recovered a fumble. Bowles was the starting free safety when the Redskins won Super Bowl XXII in a big victory.

After his contract ended in 1989, Bowles became a "Plan B" free agent. This meant the Redskins did not protect him, even though he had been a regular starter. He talked with other teams like the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. But he decided to re-sign with the Redskins. In 1990, he played in 18 games, including playoffs.

In 1991, the San Francisco 49ers signed Bowles. He played in all 16 games and started 14 of them. He was later released by the 49ers in 1992. The next day, the Redskins claimed him again. He was released by the Redskins for the last time in 1993.

Coaching Journey

After he stopped playing, Bowles worked for the Green Bay Packers in 1995 and 1996. He helped with player decisions. Then, he became a coach. He was a defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Morehouse College in 1997. From 1998 to 1999, he coached at Grambling State.

He then moved to the NFL. He was a defensive backs coach for the New York Jets in 2000. He also coached for the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys.

Miami Dolphins Coaching

On January 23, 2008, the Miami Dolphins hired Bowles. He was their secondary coach and assistant head coach. In December 2011, he became the interim head coach after the previous coach was fired.

Bowles' first game as interim head coach was against the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins won that game 30–23. Under Bowles, the Dolphins finished the 2011 season with a 2–1 record.

Philadelphia Eagles Coaching

The Philadelphia Eagles hired Bowles as their secondary coach on January 30, 2012. Later that year, on October 16, 2012, he became the team's new defensive coordinator.

With Bowles leading the defense, the Eagles were strong against passing plays. They finished ninth in the league for pass defense.

Arizona Cardinals Coaching

On January 18, 2013, Bowles became the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. He did a fantastic job.

On January 31, 2015, Bowles won the Associated Press (AP)'s Assistant Coach of the Year award. This was for his great work during the 2014 season. He was the first person to win this award.

New York Jets Head Coach

On January 14, 2015, the New York Jets hired Todd Bowles as their new head coach. He signed a four-year contract.

In his first year, the 2015 season, the Jets had a good record of 10 wins and 6 losses. They just missed making the playoffs. The next year, in 2016, the Jets' offense struggled.

On December 29, 2017, the Jets decided to keep Bowles as head coach for the 2018 season. However, after the 2018 season, where the Jets finished with a 4–12 record, Bowles was fired.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coaching

On January 8, 2019, Bowles joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their defensive coordinator. He was working again with Bruce Arians, who became the team's head coach.

Bowles' defense was amazing during the 2020–21 playoffs. His defense helped the Buccaneers win against the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers.

Bowles won his third Super Bowl ring when the Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9 in Super Bowl LV. This was his first Super Bowl win as a coach. He created a game plan that put a lot of pressure on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. This plan stopped the Chiefs' powerful offense from scoring any touchdowns.

On August 4, 2021, Bowles signed a new three-year contract with the Buccaneers.

On March 30, 2022, Todd Bowles became the head coach of the Buccaneers. He signed a five-year deal. This happened after Bruce Arians moved to a different role. In his first year as head coach, the Buccaneers won their division. They finished with an 8–9 record but lost in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

After the 2022 season, quarterback Tom Brady retired. The Buccaneers then signed Baker Mayfield. In the 2023 season, the Buccaneers won their division again with a 9–8 record. They won their first playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, they lost to the Detroit Lions in the next round.

Head Coaching Record

Here is a summary of Todd Bowles' record as a head coach:

* – Interim head coach

Personal Life

Todd Bowles is married to Taneka. They have three sons together: Todd Jr., Troy, and Tyson.