Jason Licht created a Super Bowl-winning Buccaneers roster by bringing in Tom Brady to Tampa and completing an all-in effort that has kept the Bucs as a top team in 2021 as well. The GM did not oversee a playoff team until Brady’s arrival, and the team regressed after Brady unretired last year. However, the Bucs are now leading the NFC South with Baker Mayfield as their quarterback. Despite this, the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora suggests that Licht and second-year HC Todd Bowles may be on the hot seat due to rumors of ownership wanting to start over and rebuild the team.

In his sixth season as a head coach, Bowles is overseeing a No. 13-ranked defense (DVOA places the unit 17th). He has received criticism for his clock management, and the Bucs have experienced a decline compared to the two Brady-Bruce Arians years. Rumors of Bowles potentially leaving emerged late last season, and the Bucs have struggled this year. Despite the team’s chance to make the playoffs, they are facing the possibility of dismantling their current setup.

Here is the latest from the coaching and front office ranks:

• Despite overcoming a controversy last week, Sean McDermott has the Bills at 7-6. While the record is disappointing given the team’s plus-104 point differential, Buffalo is still in the AFC wild-card race. The ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano writes that McDermott may not be entirely safe, with the Bills still having key matchups ahead. Not advancing to the playoffs would be a major disappointment, and it could lead to McDermott’s departure.
• In other Bills news, the team has hired former Buffalo University OC DJ Mangas as an offensive assistant. Mangas also worked with current Bills OC Joe Brady at LSU in 2019. Mangas, 34, has joined the Bills during their Week 13 bye, marking his first NFL job.
• The firing of Syracuse HC Dino Babers will affect the Patriots, as the ACC program has hired Patriots assistant Ross Douglas as the wide receivers coach. It is not yet known if Jerod Mayo will replace Bill Belichick and retain a number of assistants, but the Patriots’ staff may see significant changes.