The Bucs ultimately decided to stick with Todd Bowles as the head coach going into the 2026 season. But that doesn’t mean the same coaching staff is also returning. It was already announced on Thursday that Josh Grizzard, Thad Lewis and Thomas McGaughey have been let go, now more changes are coming. The Bucs have decided to fire cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross and defensive line coach Charlie Strong, while safeties coach Nick Rapone has decided to retire, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Bucs Coaches History
Ross was teammates with Todd Bowles at the University of Temple and has been with the Bucs since 2019 joining Bowles on Bruce Arians’ coaching staff. He coached players such as Carlton Davis III, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison, but did not have one player reach the Pro Bowl.
Bucs CBs Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean and CBs coach Kevin Ross – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Strong was in his first year coaching the Bucs’ defensive line but has an extension coaching history, including ties to Tampa as he was formerly the head coach of USF. It didn’t help that Calijah Kancey was injured after Week 2 and didn’t come back till the season finale, but it was a down season for Vita Vea and Logan Hall didn’t step up in a contract year. There was a bright spot with rookie Elijah Roberts, but not enough to keep him safe.
Rapone actually coached Bowles when he was at Temple as the secondary coach and then defensive coordinator. He also joined Bowles with the Bucs in 2020. His star player was Antoine Winfield Jr. who was an All-Pro in the 2023 season and has made two Pro Bowl appearances. He’s also coached Jordan Whitehead, Andrew Adams and current Bucs safety Tykee Smith.
Bucs S coach Nick Rapone – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The general consensus as it pertains to Ross and Rapone particularly was that their coaching tactics were outdated and weren’t properly developing their players in the secondary as much as they should. It was always thought that it would be difficult for Bowles to fire them given his long history with them and Bowles loyal nature, but these decisions had to be done.
Bucs Will Have A New Look Coaching Staff
There have been tons of changes today for the Bucs all along the coaching staff. Bowles remains, but everything else looks different. Grizzard, Lewis, McGaughey, Ross and Strong were all let go while Tom Moore and Rapone retired.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and DL coach Charlie Strong – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
That leaves several vacancies open at the moment. Still on the defensive staff at the moment is co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Larry Foote, passing game coordinator George Edwards and inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell. We’ll see what other moves are made by Tampa Bay.