“Tampa’s D Stinks”
September 25th, 2026
Former Bucs QB Chris Simms was a special guest in the Team Glazer suite last December and is a well-known figure in franchise history — in part because he nearly died on the field 20 years ago this week.
Now and NBC Sports Xs and Os guru, Simms spoke publicly this week about his spleen after a hit in a Bucs uniform. He also talked about the sad state of his beloved Buccaneers.
Simms is no fan of Zac Robinson’s offense and he doesn’t see Baker Mayfield snapping out of his funk soon.
But he saved his harshest words for the other side of the ball.
“Tampa’s D stinks,” Simms said. “It stinks. It’s not good. The front-4 is a huge letdown. They’ve been non-existent.”
Two years ago, Simms and NBC colleague Devin McCourty, the former Belicheats defensive back, torched the Bucs defense in great detail as one that does not adjust to opponents and they together pointed a finger of shame at Todd Bowles. That’s counter to most national analysts, which continue to laud Bowles defenses even when they’re bad.
All Joe can do his hope with fellow Bucs fans that a magic fix is coming soon.
Simms picks the Bucs to lose to the Vikings on Sunday, 28-17, and drop to 0-3.