Ahead of their Sunday matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles rejected the media’s attempt to inject racial identity politics into the matchup.
Todd Bowles via Tampa Bay Buccaneers YouTube
During a press conference on October 12th, Bowles was asked by one member of the media, “Coach, you and Mike Tomlin are two of the few black head coaches in the league. I wonder what your relationship is like with him and your thoughts on Steve Wilks joining that fold?”
Bowles responded, “I have a very good relationship with Tomlin. We don’t look at what color we are when we coach against each other. We just know each other. I have a lot of very good white friends that coach in this league as well.”
“I don’t think it’s a big deal as far as us being coaching against each other. I think it’s normal. Wilks has an opportunity to do a good job; hopefully, he does it. And we coach ball. We don’t look at color,” he added.
Todd Bowles via Tampa Bay Buccaneers YouTube
Another member of the media then followed up asking Bowles, “But you also understand that representation matters too, right? And that when young, inspiring coaches or even football players, they see you guys, they see someone that looks like them, they could grow up like them. That has to mean something.”
Bowles answered, “Well, when you say, ‘You see guys,’ and ‘Look like them’ and ‘grow up like them’ means that we’re odd balls to begin with and I think the minute you guys stop making a big deal about it everybody else will as well.”
Todd Bowles via Tampa Bay Buccaneers YouTube
The Bucs eventually fell to the Steelers 20-18. Bucs’ quarterback Tom Brady went 25-40 for 243 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked twice for 14 yards.
The Steelers saw quarterback Mitch Trubisky throw 9-12 for 144 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked once for 6 yards. Kenny Pickett also went 11-18 for 67 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked once for 12 yards. Pickett went into concussion protocols late in the third quarter.
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The Bucs had a total of 304 yards compared to the Steelers who had 270. The Bucs also had the advantage in first downs with 20 compared to the Steelers 15. They also barely edged the Steelers in time of possession with 30:01 to the Steelers’ 29:59.
One of the keys to the Steelers getting the win was stopping Brady and the Bucs’ offense when they reached the red zone. Of the four times the Buccaneers got into the red zone, they had to settle for field goals three times.
7 REC | 96 YDS | 1 TD@ChaseClaypool‘s best game of the season propelled the @steelers past the Bucs! pic.twitter.com/kAfAdW7OcD
— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2022
What do you make of Bowles rejecting the media’s attempt to play racial identity politics?