Tristan Wirfs just got called the one thing no star player wants to hear. You heard that right. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles dropped an S-bomb on his All-Pro left tackle.
Wednesday press conferences usually put you to sleep. Not this one. Bowles stood before reporters. “Is there anything Tristan likes more than getting out on the edge pulling like that against some of those DBs?” a reporter asked.
Bowles tried to evade the question. “I definitely don’t want to see it, but he likes carrying the ball,” he said. But the reporter persisted. “We’ve seen some offensive linemen as lead back. You’ve done that. Have you tinkered with the idea of putting him back there?” He asked.
“No, we’ve tinkered with the idea of Vita [Vea], but we haven’t tinkered with the idea of Tristan,” Todd replied. The persuasion followed. “Why not?” Asked the reporter. Bowles smirked, landing the word that ended the discussion for good.
The “Selfish” Label That Signals Greatness
Todd Bowles’ Hopes Take a Hit Amid Bucs Locker Room Reports
Nov 16, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles reacts during the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
“He’s selfish. He wants the ball,” said the Bucs HC. Damn! The richest offensive lineman in NFL history ($140.6 million, if you’re counting) just got labeled selfish. But here’s the thing. Bowles said it with a grin. He said it while praising the entire offensive line for bulldozing Buffalo for 202 rushing yards last Sunday. Meanwhile, Spencer Brown from the Bills couldn’t stop gushing about Wirfs after the game.
“That boy can fly,” Brown said. “He can jump out of pools… He’s rich, he’s got a full head of hair, and he’s good at football. That’s a pretty good start.” Wirfs earned every penny of that praise. He raced ahead like a runaway freight train on Sean Tucker’s 43-yard touchdown run. Tucker followed his lead block straight to the end zone. It looked like something out of a video game.
Bowles doubled down on his comment. “He wants to recover an onside kick,” the coach added. “I think that’s on his bucket list.” NFL coaches don’t joke about selfishness lightly. But this was respect wrapped in a velvet glove. The Bucs now face the Rams this Sunday night.
Los Angeles boasts the second-ranked scoring defense in the league. They allow just 17.2 points per game. That’s playoff-level stinginess. Tristan Wirfs missed the first three games this season. Knee surgery slowed him down. He finally looked like himself again against Buffalo. His PFF run-blocking grade hit 81.2. That ranked second on the team.
This weekend brings a bigger challenge. Jared Verse awaits. The Rams’ 2nd-year edge rusher has 40 quarterback pressures this season. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024. He wants a piece of Wirfs.
Real Test Knocks in Hollywood
The Rams defense ranks 11th against the run. They surrender just 100.7 yards per game. That’s nowhere near Buffalo’s generous unit. Meanwhile, athleticism defines Wirfs.
He moves like a tight end. He pulled on multiple runs against Buffalo and created highways for Tucker and Rachaad White. Baker Mayfield sees the value. “It makes our lives easier,” the quarterback noted.
The Bucs need easier right now. They lost 3 of their last 4. Injuries decimated the roster. Mike Evans broke his clavicle. Chris Godwin is still working back from a fibula fracture. Bucky Irving nurses ankle and shoulder issues. Yet the team fights on. And Bowles refuses to make excuses.
Wirfs embodies that spirit. He wants the ball. Wants to score. Wants to dominate. That’s not selfishness. That’s championship DNA.
The Bucs offensive line graded well across the board. The problem lies elsewhere. Luke Goedeke posted 76.9 overall. Graham Barton hit 74.6. The unit clicked. Now they face a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Bowles smiled when he called Wirfs selfish. He knows what he has. Players who want the ball in crucial moments win games.
Maybe wanting the ball isn’t so selfish after all. Maybe it’s exactly what Tampa Bay needs as winter approaches and the playoff chase heats up. The Rams will find out Sunday night. And Tristan Wirfs might just get his chance to prove Bowles right in the best possible way.
Main Image: Kim Klement Neitzel – Imagn Images