Missouri is known as the “Show Me State.” Right now, that feels like the perfect slogan for the 2026 Buccaneers.
They ended last season with a collapse, and despite the outcry from fans, they retained their embattled head coach.
Then came a sweeping staff overhaul. Most of the coaching staff was let go, including the offensive coordinator—someone the head coach himself suggested needed more experience. Fair or not, the message it sends is hard to ignore: this wasn’t my fault.
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On the field, the changes have been just as significant. Mike Evans is gone via free agency, and Lavonte David has retired. The team didn’t make a splash to land a dominant pass rusher, instead opting for solid depth pieces along the defensive front. The concern? Many of those additions are north of 30, which always raises the question of whether their best football is behind them.
Most of the veterans brought in were signed to short-term deals—one or two years—which suggests a clear underlying plan: if this doesn’t work in 2026, a full rebuild could be coming.
That puts enormous pressure on the key figures in this organization.
Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield are essentially in “prove-it” situations. Their performance this season will go a long way in shaping the future of the franchise. If the Bucs return to the playoffs and win a game or two, it likely means Baker has bounced back—something that would track with the up-and-down pattern he’s shown throughout his career.
Zac Robinson is also under the microscope. After Bowles placed much of the offensive struggles on the previous coordinator, Robinson now has the opportunity—and expectation—to turn things around.
With so much uncertainty surrounding this team, there’s only one mindset that makes “Show Me!”
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