Todd Bowles

Todd Robert Bowles (born November 18, 1963) is an American professional football coach and former player who is the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Temple and signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 1986 and was a member of the team that won Super Bowl XXII. Bowles was also a member of the San Francisco 49ers.

Bowles has since served as the head coach of the New York Jets and Buccaneers, the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals and Buccaneers, and the secondary coach for the Jets, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and Philadelphia Eagles.

Bowles attended Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He played college football for the Temple Owls (class of 1985), where Bowles was a four-year starting cornerback. His freshman year in 1982 was under Hall of Fame coach Wayne Hardin, and his last three years were under coach Bruce Arians, for whom Bowles would be an assistant coach in the NFL decades later when Arians was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bowles recorded seven interceptions in his four college seasons. Bowles left Temple without graduating; in May 2023, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in youth and community development from Mount St. Mary's University.

Bowles was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent on May 7, 1986. He chose the Redskins over six other NFL teams, and signed a contract that included a signing bonus between $8,000 and $10,000. Bowles competed in training camp with free safety Raphel Cherry, who beat Bowles out to earn a spot on the regular season roster. In his second training camp in 1987, Bowles beat out Curtis Jordan for the starting free safety job when Jordan was released during final roster cuts on September 8, 1987. Bowles intercepted a career high four passes and recovered a fumble during the season and was the starting free safety in Super Bowl XXII, which the Redskins won 42–10 over the Denver Broncos.

On February 1, 1989, after his contract expired, Bowles was left unprotected by the Redskins during "Plan B" free agency, despite being a regular starter at free safety the previous two seasons. This was reportedly due to his poor catching abilities in 1988, as well as his lack of playmaking ability. Bowles negotiated contracts with the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants, but ultimately re-signed with the Redskins. In 1990, Bowles received a salary of $300,000, and started 18 games (including playoffs).

The San Francisco 49ers signed Bowles to start for the team in 1991 after he was left unprotected by the Redskins again. Bowles played in all 16 games and started in 14 of them. He was waived during final roster cuts on September 1, 1992. The next day, Bowles was claimed off waivers by the Redskins. He was waived by the Redskins during final roster cuts on August 31, 1993.

After retiring as a player, Bowles was a member of the Green Bay Packers' player personnel staff under Ron Wolf in 1995 and 1996.

Bowles was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Morehouse College in 1997, and the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Grambling State from 1998 until 1999. He served as the defensive backs coach for the New York Jets in 2000, Cleveland Browns in 2004, and Dallas Cowboys from 2005 to 2007. Bowles was also the Browns' defensive nickel package coach from 2001 to 2003.