Major Shakeup To Defensive Staff
January 8th, 2026
Defensive staff purge.
The last one out, please flip the light switch off.
Per Aileen Hnatiuk of WFLA-TV Channel 8, the Bucs’ defensive staff is going to look much different in the coming weeks.
Here are the coaches moving on from the defensive side of the ball (so far):
* Safeties coach Nick Rapone is retiring.
* Cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross is gone.
* Defensive line coach Charlie Strong is gone.
It almost smells like Team Glazer told Bowles that he and offensive line coach Kevin Carberry and running backs coach Skip Peete can stay, pending who the new offensive coordinator wants.
No word yet on outside linebackers coach Larry Foote, inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell, and others.
Though no announcement has been made, Joe hopes Team Glazer is forcing Bowles to accept a new defensive coordinator.