The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Wednesday that rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels will start Thursday night against Atlanta, the second time in five weeks the undrafted Kansas signee has taken snaps with the first team. Head coach Todd Bowles is 0-4. General manager Jason Licht has not spoken publicly in 11 days. The Glazer family, who own Manchester United and have spent the past three months fielding calls about minority stakes in both franchises, declined comment through a spokesperson.
Daniels completed 18 of 31 passes for 181 yards in a September loss to Philadelphia after Baker Mayfield left with a shoulder issue. Mayfield returned for two games, both losses, before the team announced late Tuesday that Daniels would start again. The official reason cited a need to "evaluate the roster at all positions." Bowles told reporters Wednesday that Mayfield is healthy. The decision to bench a $115 million quarterback in Year Two of a three-year deal suggests the evaluation extends beyond the roster.
Bowles is 19-28 as Tampa Bay's head coach since replacing Bruce Arians in January 2022. He inherited a roster that won Super Bowl LV two seasons prior but has posted consecutive losing records. The $33.5 million salary cap hit for Mayfield ranks 12th among quarterbacks this season, while the offensive line has allowed 21 sacks through four games, tied for fourth-most in the league. Offensive coordinator Dave Canales left for the Carolina head coaching job in January; his replacement, former Jaguars assistant John Morton, has yet to field a unit that scores more than 17 points in regulation.
The coaching market is already moving. Michigan's Jim Harbaugh met with Colts ownership during the bye week, according to two people with knowledge of the conversation. Former Saints head coach Sean Payton, who spent last season broadcasting, has been spotted twice in the Buccaneers' home stadium suite level since August, once seated three boxes from the Glazers' private section. Payton's agent, Don Yee, represents several Buccaneers players, including tight end Cade Otton. Worth noting: Yee also represented Tom Brady during Tampa Bay's Super Bowl run.
The Buccaneers owe Bowles $18 million over the next two seasons. Assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers, who worked under Bowles with the Jets, is the presumptive internal candidate if a change occurs mid-season. Rodgers runs a 3-4 base that ranks 23rd in defensive EPA through four weeks, a sharp decline from last season's 8th-place finish. If Tampa Bay moves quickly, offensive coordinators typically become available after Week 6, when NFL rules permit in-season lateral moves without team consent waivers.
Sponsors are watching. Raymond James Financial, which holds stadium naming rights through 2027 at $10 million annually, has language in its contract allowing for "brand protection reviews" if the team posts consecutive sub-.500 seasons. The company declined to comment on whether such a review is underway. Anheuser-Busch, a league-wide partner, has reduced local Buccaneers activation spending by roughly 20 percent this season, according to one Tampa Bay marketing executive, reallocating dollars to college football inventory in the Southeast.
Thursday night's game carries a 42.5-point total, the lowest for any Buccaneers prime-time game since 2019. Atlanta is favored by 6.5 points. If Tampa Bay loses, Bowles will be 0-5 for the first time in his head coaching career. The Buccaneers do not play again until October 13, a span that gives ownership 10 days to make a decision before the next game cycle. Licht's contract runs through 2026; he and Bowles were hired together, which typically aligns their fates.
The next coordinator opening to watch is at offensive coordinator, should Morton be replaced. Former Buccaneers OC Byron Leftwich, who was part of the Super Bowl staff, remains unsigned. He interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs last winter and has been working as an analyst on NFL Network. His agent is Jimmy Sexton, who also represents several general manager candidates and has close ties to the Glazer family through decades of Manchester United advisory work.
The takeaway
Bowles enters Thursday night 0-4 with a benched $115 million QB, silent front office, and Sean Payton already in the building twice since August.
Editorial & Disclosure Notice: This article was written with artificial intelligence from public sources and is published without individual human review. Artificial intelligence and other digital tools are also used for research, analysis, editing, formatting, and production. Errors, omissions, outdated information, or inaccuracies may occur. References to companies, brands, products, services, organizations, or individuals are for informational and editorial purposes and do not imply endorsement, sponsorship, affiliation, partnership, or approval unless expressly stated. All trademarks and other intellectual property remain the property of their respective owners. Opinions, analysis, estimates, and commentary are informational only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, tax, medical, procurement, or other professional advice. Information may be corrected, clarified, or updated after publication. Corrections or removal requests: jenny@pops4.com.
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