Tampa Bay's power duo is sticking around for years to come.
The Buccaneers have signed coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht to multi-year contract extensions, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported Thursday, per sources. The team later announced the news.
The extensions are deserved for both Bowles and Licht, the two men in charge of guiding the Buccaneers to a five-year run of success in a division that was once notorious for annually producing a different champion. Since their win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, Tampa Bay has owned the division, winning four straight titles. Licht has compiled the rosters responsible for each of those triumphs and hired Bowles to replace Bruce Arians following the latter's retirement in early 2022.
"Jason and Todd's excellent leadership and vision have been critical to our organizational success, and the winning culture they have established has us well positioned into the future," Buccaneers owner/co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement released by the team. "Jason has evolved into one of the top talent evaluators and general managers in the NFL, while Todd has led us to three consecutive division titles and is one of the league's leading defensive minds. Under their guidance, we will continue building towards another championship."
Given a longer runway than most general managers, Licht has compiled quite a memorable run in the second half of his tenure in Tampa. After wading through the often treacherous life without a franchise quarterback (especially once the Buccaneers realized Jameis Winston wasn't their man), Licht scored one of the most shocking free-agent additions in NFL history when Tom Brady left New England for Tampa Bay in 2020.
Brady's arrival transformed the Buccaneers into instant contenders, leading to a wild-card playoff berth and eventual Super Bowl win in their first season together. Though they never again reached the football mountaintop before Brady retired, their pairing kicked off a five-year run of success that continued through the 2024 campaign, including four division titles and two playoff victories.
Licht scored another win following Brady's retirement when he took a risk on Baker Mayfield, a former first-overall pick who had entered an uncertain period following his trade to Carolina, release and signing with the Los Angeles Rams. The signing has already paid off tremendously, leading to consecutive career seasons for Mayfield and a pair of playoff appearances. Mayfield's production has been so significant, each of the quarterback's last two offensive coordinators (Dave Canales and Liam Coen) have been hired as head coaches elsewhere.
"I am very grateful to the Glazer family for the trust and belief they have shown in what we are doing here," Licht said in the same statement. "Their commitment to providing the resources along with their dedication to fostering a winning culture throughout our entire building are the primary reasons for the great success we have enjoyed these past five seasons. I am also very excited to continue working alongside Todd well into the future as we continue our mission of finding and developing talented players and chasing additional championships for our great fans."
Calculated risk has paid off for Licht on the field and the sideline. He promoted Bowles after the former Jets head coach had spent the previous three seasons as Arians' defensive coordinator, ascending to the top job and building upon the momentum gained by Arians and Brady.
Although the NFC South hasn't produced the greatest challenge to Tampa Bay in recent years -- two of their three division crowns have been earned with records of 9-8 and 8-9 -- the Buccaneers have established themselves as kings of the division with Bowles at the helm and Licht navigating offseason turnover to produce a consistent contender.
"I am extremely appreciative of the confidence that the Glazer family has shown in my abilities to lead this football team. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly and am honored to have," Bowles said. "It starts at the top, and their unwavering commitment to our organization allows us to perform at our best and compete for championships. I am equally excited to continue working with Jason for years to come as we build on the success we've enjoyed and keep reaching for even bigger and better goals."
They'll aim even higher in 2025 with renewed backing from ownership.
