The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gearing up for the 2026 season with a significantly revamped coaching staff. While many of the new hires are familiar faces in NFL circles, one name on the list is raising eyebrows – and not for the usual reasons.
Among the seven new coaches announced Thursday evening, Todd Bowles’ own son, Todd Bowles Jr., will be joining the team as a defensive assistant.
“Bowles Jr. joins Tampa Bay after playing football collegiately at Long Island (2024-25) and Rutgers (2022-23). Prior to college, he attended Jesuit High School in Tampa, where he won a regional title as a junior.”
Straight out of college, Bowles Jr. is making a direct leap into the NFL coaching ranks. He spent his first two collegiate seasons (2022-23) at Rutgers before transferring to Long Island University for his final two years.
The Buccaneers officially unveiled several key positional coaches, bringing in Chandler Whitmer as quarterbacks coach and Marcus West to lead the defensive line. They also announced T.J. Yates as the new pass game coordinator, and Ken Zampese will step in as senior offensive assistant/pass game specialist. Rounding out the new additions are Andrew Smith, joining as assistant offensive line coach, and Luke Smith, who will serve as assistant special teams coach.
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The team also promotions from the 2025 staff. Tim Atkins moved up to safeties coach, while Rashad Johnson was elevated to cornerbacks coach. Additionally, Chad Wade was named the new head strength and conditioning coach.
Chandler Whitmer is making a significant leap from the college scene, bringing an incredible developmental track record from Indiana directly to the Bucs. As co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Hoosiers last season, he played a pivotal role in Fernando Mendoza’s transformation into college football’s top player, guiding him to both the Heisman Trophy and a national championship. Whitmer was a hot commodity, drawing interest from several NFL teams, but his decision to join the Buccaneers earlier this month is a major coup for Bowles.
T.J. Yates follows new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from Atlanta, where Yates spent the past five seasons, most recently as their passing game coordinator. Meanwhile, Marcus West joins the Bucs after two seasons as the defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills.
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