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[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Will Bucky Irving do it again?

Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Is Bucky Irving's rookie success duplicatable?

Last year, Tampa Bay Buccaneers' running back Bucky Irving exploded onto the scene and into the hearts of Tampa Bay fans as a rookie. Long before he had stadiums chanting his name, Irving was a fourth round pick and a backup role player. After a few months of NFL football that backup role player started to look like a pretty premium prospect and wound up finishing his first NFL season with 1,122 yards— The first time a Buccaneer runner topped 1,000 yards in a season since Doug Martin's 2015 campaign.

Along with his 1,122 yards, came eight touchdowns. Irving was everything the Buccaneers could have hoped he would be when they selected him with the 125th pick in the Draft. Despite finishing the season with gaudy numbers, Irving didn't take over the reins from Rachaad White until the season was well underway. It wasn't until the month of November, when Tampa's breakout rookie saw back-to-back games with double-digit carries.

This year, things will be a little bit different. Tampa Bay's backfield is no longer a committee headed up by Rachaad White and the Buccaneers are no longer an objectively terrible rushing offense. Prior to last year's phenomenal output, the Buccaneers' running game had been mired by a multi-season streak of last place finishes.

Heading into 2024, Tampa hoped to develop a rushing attack. On the brink of 2025, the attack has been developed and is now supposed to be excellent. For Bucky Irving and the Buccaneers' rushing attack, there are now expectations. For Irving specifically, he has the unique opportunity to etch himself deeper in the Buccaneers' record books.

Bucs’ fans may be very accustomed to a superstar skill position player attempting to maintain a 1,000-yard streak, however, this one has nothing to do with Mike Evans. Last season, Irving famously became Tampa Bay's first 1,000-yard rusher since the iPhone 6 was in its prime. This year, he has a chance to be just the third player in team history to start his career with consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons— The other two, James Wilder and Errict Rhett.

@Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving can make history in 2025 with another 1,000-yard season in just his second year in the league. He would join James Wilder in 1984-85 and Errict Rhett in 1994-95. Not bad for a fourth-round draft pick. @FanStreamDFW pic.twitter.com/dMm2l1hzS9

— Timm 'IndyCarTim' Hamm (@IndyCarTim) June 29, 2025​

Irving's performance throughout last season solidfied him as the starter by the end of the year and cemented his place atop the depth chart moving forward. The rookie season of Bucky Irving was easily one of the most captivating storylines Tampa Bay football had to offer year ago and it has a chance to go down in team folklore. For Buccaneers' fans, the hope is year two will look a lot like year one and follow the Wilder/Rhett story arc, rather than the Cadillac Williams/Doug Martin arc.

For more Bucs coverage check us out here:

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Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/6/3...-irving-do-it-again-tampa-bay-bucs-buccaneers

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Can you guess this Bucs safety in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bucs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Bucs Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Bucs Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Friday, July 4, 2025
Thursday, July 3, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
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Bucs Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the Bucs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/5/24461919/sb-nation-buccaneers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Can you guess this Bucs lineman in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bucs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Bucs Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Bucs Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Saturday, July 5, 2025
Friday, July 4, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Bucs Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the Bucs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/6/24462381/sb-nation-buccaneers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Can you guess this Bucs running back in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bucs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Bucs Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Bucs Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Sunday, July 6, 2025
Saturday, July 5, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Bucs Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the Bucs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/7/24462894/sb-nation-buccaneers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Can you guess this Bucs receiver in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bucs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Bucs Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Bucs Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Monday, July 7, 2025
Sunday, July 6, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Bucs Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the Bucs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/8/24463645/sb-nation-buccaneers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Tristan Wirfs to miss start of the season after undergoing surgery

Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Bucs offense just suffered a big blow

The Buccaneers received some unfortunate news on Wednesday morning as Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported that star left tackle Tristan Wirfs will miss some time to start the 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery on his right knee.

The Bucs will start the season without All Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who underwent surgery on his right knee Tuesday and will likely miss at least the first couple games of the regular season. Wirfs aggravated a right knee injury in the offseaon that forced him to miss only…

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) July 9, 2025​

It’s a big loss for the Bucs offense as Tristan Wirfs is arguably the team’s best offensive player and you might be able to make a case he’s their best player on the team overall.

Fortunately, this was done still in the offseason so Wirfs hopefully won’t miss too much time in the regular season, but it’s still going to be a challenge replacing him.

#Bucs All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs is a strong candidate to start year on PUP after undergoing a knee scope, per sources.

Wirfs wants to get this done now so he can be available for much of the season. @NFLSTROUD first on the news. PUP would cost him at least four games. pic.twitter.com/kLiCi3O9G6

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 9, 2025​

As far as who could replace Wirfs, the Bucs signed veteran tackle Charlie Heck in the offseason and he figures to have a good shot at being that guy. Heck split time with the Cardinals and 49ers last season where he started two games. He has 23 starts in his career.

Hopefully this is something that has been taken care of and not a thing that could linger on and cost the all pro left tackle more time. We will see when Wirfs is back but for the start of the season, the Bucs are going to have to roll without him.

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/9...right-knee-surgery-baker-mayfield-todd-bowles

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Can you guess this Bucs defensive end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bucs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Bucs Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Bucs Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Monday, July 7, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Bucs Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the Bucs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/9/24464330/sb-nation-buccaneers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Can you guess this Bucs specialist in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bucs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Bucs Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Bucs Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Bucs Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the Bucs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/10/24464994/sb-nation-buccaneers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Can you guess this Bucs lineman in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bucs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Bucs Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Bucs Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Friday, July 11, 2025
Thursday, July 10, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Bucs Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the Bucs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/12/24466267/sb-nation-buccaneers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Can you guess this Bucs safety in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bucs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Bucs Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Bucs Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Saturday, July 12, 2025
Friday, July 11, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Bucs Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the Bucs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/13/24466765/sb-nation-buccaneers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Super Bowl champion announces retirement

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Ndamukong Suh has officially retired from the NFL.

Ndamukong Suh has announced that he will be officially retiring from professional football. Suh was the second overall pick of the Detroit Lions in the 2010 Draft. Suh's domination of the NFL began early. As a rookie, wearing Reebok-branded NFL jerseys, Suh tallied 10 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception. Five seasons and 36 sacks later, Suh had become infamous for his aggressive style of play.

In 2015, Ndamukong Suh made financial headlines signing a six-year, $114 million contract with the Dolphins. Three years later, Suh landed next to Aaron Donald— Any offensive line's nightmare. The tag team of Suh and Donald helped get the Rams to the Super Bowl where LA would fall to Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in a 13-3 slogger.

Two years later, Suh would be back on the Super Bowl stage again. This time, he would be suiting up alongside Brady rather than across from him. Suh, Brady, and the Bucs would go on to be crowned Super Bowl champions demolishing Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Suh (with 1.5 sacks) and the rest of Tampa's pass-rush helped lead the charge, holding the Chiefs to just nine points.

Suh returned to Tampa for a title defense in 2021— His third season as a Buc, before playing in 8 games for the Eagles the next year. Suh hasn't taken an NFL snap since 2022 and officially announced his retirement on the year anniversary of his father's passing.

July 12, 2024 was the hardest day of my life.

It’s the day I said goodbye to my father, the man who raised me, shaped me, challenged me, and believed in me before I believed in myself.

He wasn’t just a dad. He was my idol, my coach, and my anchor.
He taught me what it meant to… pic.twitter.com/WkefQaDrsQ

— Ndamukong Suh (@NdamukongSuh) July 12, 2025​

Suh is a player that has seen a varying degree of highs and lows throughout his time in the league. With his career laid to rest, he may not be remembered as a Tampa Bay Buc— Suh's career arc resembles more of a hired gun, mercenary-style athlete, however, his contributions to a championship team and one of the single greatest defensive performance in modern-NFL history should not go forgotten.

For more Bucs coverage check us out here:

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Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/1...nces-retirement-tampa-bay-bucs-buccaneers-suh

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Can you guess this Bucs receiver in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bucs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Bucs Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Bucs Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Sunday, July 13, 2025
Saturday, July 12, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Bucs Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the Bucs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/14/24467370/sb-nation-buccaneers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Buccaneers unveil the original 1976 jersey for their 2025 home opener

TAMPA, FL - June 09, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2025 Asset Shoot at AdventHealth Training Center. | Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneer

These are sick.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today unveiled the return of the team’s original 1976 jersey, a revival of the iconic design worn by the franchise in its inaugural season. The team will debut The ’76 Jersey during its 50th season home opener against the New York Jets on September 21, marking the first time in nearly five decades the Buccaneers have taken the field in their complete original 1976 uniform. The jersey is exclusive to this 50th season for the Buccaneers.

The modern rendition of the 1976 jersey is a tribute to the team’s inaugural uniform design and its role in shaping the franchise’s identity. Heading into the team’s 50th season, the Buccaneers have evolved from a modest expansion team into one of the NFL’s premier franchises, achieving two Super Bowl championships, an NFC South-high seven division titles, and countless moments that have inspired generations of fans. The reintroduction of the club’s original look celebrates that legacy, honoring the players, moments, and victories that have defined 50 seasons of Buccaneers football.

“The ‘76 Jersey represents a piece of Buccaneers history and serves as a tribute to the generations of fans and players who shaped this franchise,” said Buccaneers Chief Operating Officer Brian Ford. “As we launch into our 50th season, we’re proud to reintroduce The ‘76 Jersey and the tradition it embodies. It is a reminder that every Buccaneers fan, from the originals to the newest generation, is part of an evolving story that started in 1976 and continues being written today.”

The ‘76 Jersey captures the original design detail from the franchise’s inaugural season, featuring the iconic orange numbers with red outlines that the team only wore during that debut season. Each jersey includes a special Creamsicle 50th season patch and the iconic three‑stripe sleeve pattern – red, orange, and red – faithfully recreated from the initial design and updated for today’s NFL fit. Completing the throwback set are Creamsicle-era helmets, paired with white pants and striped socks. An added twist to the design features the words “Hey! Hey! Tampa Bay!” stitched on the inside collar – a tribute to the team’s first fight song, which debuted in 1979, marking the franchise’s breakthrough season.

This latest iteration of the signature 1976 look was a collaborative effort with Nike, the NFL’s exclusive uniform provider, to create a seamless blend of heritage and performance. The uniform incorporates Nike’s Vapor F.U.S.E. lightweight stretch-woven fabric, made from 85% recycled material, and features Nike’s Dri-FIT technology and precision laser perforations for enhanced airflow and increased comfort.

The ‘76 Jerseys are available for purchase online at shop.buccaneers.com and in person at the Buccaneers Team Store at Raymond James Stadium. The Team Store is open an hour earlier today at 10 a.m. After that, the Store is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The team has created a dedicated page on its website – click here for The ‘76 Jersey homepage.

(Courtesy of the Buccaneers Communications Department.)

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/1...l-1976-jersey-for-their-2025-home-opener-jets

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Can you guess this Bucs receiver in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bucs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Bucs Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Bucs Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Monday, July 14, 2025
Sunday, July 13, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Bucs Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the Bucs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/15/24468098/sb-nation-buccaneers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Buccaneers Quarter Century Team: Quarterbacks and Running Backs

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

We kick off our quarter century team countdown with the backs.

The first 25 years of the 21st century contained the most successful seasons in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history – a tapestry being slowly untangled from the largely painful memories of the 1970s-90s and re-weaved into one of the more illustrious and respectable amongst the NFL at-large.

While there was still a great deal of agony, embarrassment, and general discontent from the mid-aughts through most of the 2010s, Bucs Nation has two Lombardi trophies and some all-time greats with which to revel.

Let’s do our best to pull from the history books of recent past and present to form an all-quarter-century roster to rival any other’s in the NFL.

We begin on offense with the quarterbacks and the running backs.

Quarterback​

Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

1st team: Tom Brady​

There’s no debate here: Tampa’s QB1 is the GOAT.

Plenty of skepticism accompanied Brady when he migrated south after 20 years and 6 championships in New England. Was he washed? Could he operate in a brand new environment without Bill Belichick’s steady, but unceasingly obstinate hand?

Well, Tampa’s first winning season in 10 years, its first playoff appearance in 13 years, and first Super Bowl win since 2002 decidedly answered those questions.

Brady played just three seasons (50 games) with the Bucs but cemented his legacy with 14,643 yards, 108 touchdown passes, and just 33 interceptions to go along with a refreshingly positive 32-18 record. He’s the team’s single-season leader in touchdown passes (43), yards (5,316), and game-winning drives (5, twice).

Tom Brady to Scotty Miller touchdown at the end of the half in the 2021 NFC championship game was huge!pic.twitter.com/2p3WXGMG7p

— TB EGO (@TomBradyEgo) January 7, 2024​

Brady’s helped spark a cultural rejuvenation that has transformed the Bucs into one of the most consistent franchises in the NFL within the last five years (sixth-best overall record, four straight division titles, and five straight playoff appearances). While that wasn’t solely the TB12 Method at work, it also wouldn’t have happened without his influence.

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

2nd team: Baker Mayfield​

We’re pulling from recent history once again, which does go to show how dismal Tampa’s QB situation has been for the better part of this millennium. That said, it’s impossible to deny Baker Mayfield’s accolades in his short time in the bay.

Wow, Baker Mayfield. Incredible 3-second stiff arm and conversion on Nick Bosa like keeping candy away from a child. pic.twitter.com/RvhlUxlgnx

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) November 10, 2024​

His resurgence has helped the Bucs pick up seamlessly from where the Brady era left off, as Mayfield has led a prolific offense each of the last two years (earning two offensive coordinators head coach promotions in the process). In just two years, Mayfield has totaled 8,544 yards and 69 touchdowns (the latter leads the NFL in that timeframe), as well as some barreling scrambles (541 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns).

Add in two Pro Bowl nods, and Mayfield gives the Bucs the swagger and ceiling they sorely lacked for many years.

Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Honorable Mention: Jameis Winston​

“Winning” will never be the first word that comes to mind when waxing poetic about the Jameis “eat a W” era. “Wild” is a fair descriptor, probably not as much as “wrenching,” but still fair.

The former No. 1 overall pick is the team’s all-time passing leader (19,737 yards, 121 touchdown passes), whether we like it or not, and no one can question how hard the guy played for the team during his 5 years and 70 starts. There were some fun highlight-reel plays and genuine flashes of brilliance. However, the turnovers and numbskull decisions never went away (c’mon, his last pass as a Buccaneer was literally a game-ending pick six), and that’s held true every other place he’s been.

Still, you can’t call him a total failure, and I guess that’s something. Maybe.

(FWIW, I tried to use a better Flameis highlight than below but the NFL has a strangehold on Jameis clips apparently, and they block embeds from almost every platform.)

Jameis to Breshad the sequel.

That's three scores for , two for . pic.twitter.com/YKkOT3v43U

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 15, 2019​

Running Back​

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

1st team: Doug Martin​

While it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the man formerly known as Muscle Hamster, Doug Martin is undoubtedly the team’s best pure tailback of the last two-and-a-half decades.

Martin – who played 6 seasons and 68 games with Tampa – sits at 4th on the team’s all-time rushing list with 4,633 yards and third in rushing touchdowns with 26. His rookie season stoked major excitement in 2012 when he ran for over 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns en route to a Pro Bowl nod, but two subsequent years plagued by injury stymied those hopes.

He burst back onto the scene in 2015 with another 1,400-yard year that earned him first-team All-Pro and another Pro Bowl appearance…and then the injuries tanked him again in 2016-17 before he played one last season with the Raiders.

He should’ve been more, but sadly that’s the theme for most of the team’s most prominent backs from this era.

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

2nd team: Michael Pittman​

Pittman served as a key accessory on the perfectly adequate offense that helped the franchise to its first Super Bowl victory in 2002. He wasn’t as dynamic as Warrick Dunn (who absolutely would’ve earned his place on this list if not for just three seasons in red and pewter in the 2000s), but he served as an excellent foil to the team’s other offensive weaponry at the time.

A honed dual-threat option, Pittman averaged a clean 4.2 yards per carry in 6 seasons for the Bucs, totaling 3,362 rushing yards (6th all-time in franchise history) to go along with 284 receptions for 2,361 yards (4th and 3rd all-time for the franchise, respectively). His 5,723 yards from scrimmage are 7th all-time in team history.

Pittman was never THE guy, but he was arguably the most consistent contributor Tampa has seen in the backfield thus far.

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Honorable Mention: Cadillac Williams​

Another forlorn Buccaneer who got his tantalizing potential undercut by injury, the Cadillac rolled onto the scene with an Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2005 before getting stripped for parts there soon after.

Nagging injuries dinged him his first two years before suffering a devastating patellar tendon rupture in 2007 – an injury which, at the time, was difficult to repair and even more difficult to rehab from. Williams fought back and returned to action the following year, 14 months post-injury, but once again endured the cruel hand of fate with a torn patellar tendon in his other knee.

Despite the adversity, the team stuck with him, and he became the first known NFL player to recover from such an injury in both knees. He nearly won Comeback Player of the Year if it wasn’t for another player coming back from a season-ending knee injury (Tom Brady), as Williams logged 1,040 total yards and 7 touchdowns.

Unfortunately, he was supplanted the following season by the more dynamic LeGarrette Blount, and that’s when his time in Tampa came to an end. While it wasn’t a ride off into the sunset, Williams played well in his limited opportunities, and he remained a fan favorite and inspiration as someone who refused to give up despite his body breaking down.

He finished fifth all-time in team rushing yards (3,677 yards) and 10th in yards from scrimmage (4,586).

Fullback​

Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

1st team: Mike Alstott​

There is, and never will be, another fullback like the A-Train.

An all-time franchise great and fan favorite, he loomed as the original One Who Knocks: a harbinger of gridiron doom and destruction who reaped the souls of hopeless defenders large and small for more than a decade in red and pewter.

Whether it was defiantly plundering Washington’s goal line or ruthlessly railroading the entire Cleveland defense twice over with extreme prejudice, Alstott holds the rare distinction of getting his highlight reel reposted on Instagram on any day of the week for no reason, yet every true fanatic will stop their scroll and gawk at his hard-nosed glory every single time. His medieval, pauldron-like shoulder pads, neckroll thicker than a rhinoceros hide, and thighs that could be mistaken as belonging to a minotaur all created a mythic aura not since replicated in any respectable fashion since he retired in 2007.

Alstott remains second place in total touchdowns (71, most among running backs), second in rushing yards (5,088), and fourth all-time in scrimmage yards (7,372) for the team. A six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, Alstott will maybe one day get his due and receive a serious discussion about his Hall of Fame legitimacy in a modern age of fullback play that is a far cry from his halcyon reign.

Until then, Bucs’ faithful, young and old, will continue to rep the iconic No. 40 and blow the whistle for the A-Train. Choo choo, and without further ado...here’s a highlight reel. Enjoy your Wednesday!

The greatest football highlights:

MIKE ALSTOTT RUNNING PEOPLE OVER pic.twitter.com/DMU2328sVC

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) June 21, 2024​

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Share some of your favorite memories in the chat, Bucs Nation! What stories and moments stand out to you all when thinking about the above-mentioned players?

Stay tuned for Thursday when we do wide receivers and tight ends.

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/1...g-backs-tom-brady-mike-alstott-baker-mayfield

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Can you guess this Bucs linebacker in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bucs player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

We’re back for another day of the Bucs Nation in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Bucs Nation in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Monday, July 14, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

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Bucs Nation in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the Bucs player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/16/24468683/sb-nation-buccaneers-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Buccaneers Quarter Century Team: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

We continue shouting out our quarter century team with the rest of the skill players.

We continue the breakdown of our all-quarter-century team on offense, this time diving into the receivers and tight ends of the last 25 years.

Let’s keep it rolling!

Wide Receiver​

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

1st team: Mike Evans and Chris Godwin​

The two best receivers in Buccaneers history are your undisputed first-teamers, what a shocker.

Standing tall as one of the best receiver tandems in all of football for nearly the last decade, Evans and Godwin have served massively important roles in bringing the franchise back to glory, and their suffering in the 2010s finally got paid back in kind with a Super Bowl win and a previously unseen streak of success.

No. 13 hardly needs much fluff here. With respect to Mike Alstott, Evans is the most prolific offensive player in team annals as he continues to solidify his case for a gold jacket and a bust in Canton, OH. Evans’s 12,684 receiving yards aren’t just easily best in Bucs history but are currently top 25 in NFL history, and his 105 receiving touchdowns are top 10 all-time.

Good morning Buccaneers fans! Just some Mike Evans highlights to start your day… #WeAreTheKrewe ‍

pic.twitter.com/xi26MMc5ER

— SleeperBucs (@SleeperTBBUCS) April 8, 2025​

For 11 years, we’ve been treated to dozens of highlight-reel grabs, big-time touchdowns and, of course, the vaunted 1,000-yard streak that continues to this day. We’re closer to the end than the beginning, but it sure seems like Evans still has some good tread left on the tires (just gotta keep those hamstrings healthy).

While Godwin might not be a Hall of Famer, he has consistently served as 1b to Evans’s 1a and has done so despite multiple severe injuries. One of the best slot receivers of his generation, Godwin has racked up impressive numbers to the tune of 579 receptions (18th among active players), 7,266 yards (23rd active), and 39 touchdowns (29th active) – all second place behind Evans in team history.

Tom Brady to Chris Godwin highlights pic.twitter.com/fcbPPsr01A

— RandomTomBradyHighlights (@TomBradyDaily) March 26, 2025​

With the 29-year-old recently signing an extension with Tampa, he should continue to cement his legacy as long as he recovers from his broken ankle as expected.

Kim Klement-Imagn Images

2nd team: Joey Galloway and Vincent Jackson​

While neither came on par with Evans or Godwin, both Galloway and Jackson garnered some fondness among Bucs faithful for their contributions to generally not-so-great teams.

Coming in a 1-for-1 swap with the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a discouraged Keyshawn Johnson, Galloway injected some needed speed into the Bucs’ offense during the mid-aughts. Despite being in his mid-30s during his tenure, Galloway rebounded from a first-year groin injury to post three straight 1,000-yard seasons and 22 total touchdowns. He’s currently seventh all-time in receiving yards for Tampa (3,912; sixth among receivers) and 6th all-time for receiving touchdowns (28; fourth among receivers).

Jackson came over from the Chargers in 2012 and holds the distinction of being one of Tampa’s best free agent signings to that point. With so many high-profile busts at the receiver position (from Michael Clayton to Alvin Harper), Jackson provided a steady hand for the better part of five years.

He earned a Pro Bowl nod in his first season, grabbing 72 catches for 1,384 yards and 8 touchdowns. He continued his featured play the following year before settling into a co-starring role with Evans in 2014, the latter then just a fresh-faced but extremely talented rookie. Injuries and age slowed Jackson down at that point, but he still finished fifth in receiving yards (4,326) and 11th in touchdowns (20, seventh for receivers) for the team. He also still holds Buccaneers records for receiving yards in a single game (216) and the longest single reception (95 yards).

Jackson sadly passed away in 2021 due to chronic alcoholism, but he is still remembered positively for his on- and off-field contributions in Tampa.

Honorable mention: Keyshawn Johnson and Mike Williams​

Two players who notched some big moments in red and pewter but could’ve been more were Keyshawn Johnson and Mike Williams. However, personal issues got in the way for both, and the result left a lot to be desired.

In desperate need of a playmaker through the air, the Bucs shipped two first-round picks to the New York Jets at the turn of the new millennium to acquire Johnson, then widely considered a top-10 receiver in football. Johnson did in fact deliver some pop Tampa sorely lacked, contributing 8 touchdowns in his first season before posting two straight 1,000-yard seasons and a Pro Bowl nod.

@gurutampa
Keyshawn Johnson game-winning TD vs Detroit Lions December 9, 2001. . . . #buccinaroundpodcast #bucs #nflhistory #2001 #touchdown

♬ оригинальный звук - ꧁ ꧂

However, Johnson’s acrimonious relationship with head coach Jon Gruden due to his lack of consistent opportunities (infamously earning the moniker “Meshawn”) led to his early departure after the 2003 campaign, resulting in the aforementioned swap with Galloway. Johnson still finished seventh among wideouts for receiving yards (3,828) and eighth for touchdowns (17), but one has to wonder what he could’ve done had he been able to smooth tensions over with Chucky.

Just a fourth-round pick out of Syracuse in 2010, Williams stepped into a starring role as part of the “Youngry” Buccaneers, an exceedingly brief period in the early 2010s where it seemed like the Bucs had a bright future ahead of them.

Alongside Josh Freeman and LeGarrette Blount, Williams put together a 65-964-11 stat line as part of a 10-6 Bucs team that unfortunately got a poor draw of an extremely tough division (they finished third despite the 10 wins) and a disadvantageous set of Wild Card tiebreakers that kept them out of the playoffs.

Williams put together two more good seasons and earned a big-money extension, but soon after dealt with injuries and multiple off-field concerns – the most prominent of which getting stabbed in the leg by his brother. He was traded away for a Day 3 pick to the Bills and played sparsely for one more season before disappearing.

He tragically passed away from sepsis in 2023 at only 36 years old.

Tight End​

Just a disclaimer that Kellen Winslow, Jr. was disqualified from this list for his multiple serious off-field transgressions that’ve got him sitting in the pokey for the next 10 years.

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

1st team: Cameron Brate​

Tampa’s tight end history has been far from illustrious – Jimmie Giles still being the record-holder in, well, everything since he retired in 1986 illuminates that fact pretty clearly.

But there was one man who approached a couple of those records during his Bucs tenure, and it’s the Harvard Man himself Cam Brate. Brate played nine years in Tampa, nearly all of it as an ancillary piece rather than a featured player, but he still earned reps and produced despite playing for four different coaching staffs.

Just like that... Brady to Brate for SIX. #GoBucs #NFLPlayoffs

: #TBvsGB on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/cHuzDq5flQ pic.twitter.com/kdeWZkTFoQ

— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2021​

While his most memorable catch might be snagging the Lombardi Trophy during the team’s drunken Super Bowl boat crusade, Brate still finished second amongst tight ends in team history for catches (273), yards (2,857), and touchdowns (33).

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

2nd team: Rob Gronkowski​

When Brady caught his charter flight down to the bay, not too many people were shocked when his loyal human golden retriever soon followed him out of retirement.

Gronkowski’s year off proved to be rejuvenating, as he cozily slotted right in with Evans, Godwin, and (unfortunately) Antonio Brown to form an unstoppable unit for TB12 en route to the Super Bowl victory (Gronk scored twice in the Big Game).

Tommy & Gronky for

: #TBvsATL on FOX pic.twitter.com/72LUCVh178

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 5, 2021​

He came back in 2021 and produced even more despite missing more games due to nagging injuries, but that was the end of it as Gronk called it quits for good in 2022. Gronkowski’s time as a Buc was brief but impactful, finishing with 100 catches, 1,425 yards, and 13 touchdowns.

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images

Honorable mention: Cade Otton​

This was close between Otton and O.J. Howard, but we’re going to give it to the former for his continued, consistent contributions to the most recent Bucs teams.

While Howard, a former first-rounder, showed tantalizing potential his first two years in the league, multiple serious injuries derailed him and basically ended his career before he was even 30 (he’s been out of the league since 2022).

Otton, meanwhile, served as a useful target in Brady’s final year and has contributed significantly to Baker Mayfield’s tenure – even briefly moonlighting as the primary offensive driver in 2024 when the receiver room got ravaged by injuries. In his young career, the 26-year-old Washington product has started 42 out of 47 games and totaled 148 catches, 1,446 yards, and 10 touchdowns – his year-by-year totals going up in almost every category with every passing year.

Otton’s chances of rapidly ascending the team’s tight end accolades seem very strong, so it will be fun to see what he can do (provided he re-signs with the team when his rookie deal expires in 2025).

Nobody:
Me: Cade Otton highlights on the timeline pic.twitter.com/OjNKEZBXBe

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) October 28, 2024​

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Any memories you’d like to share, Bucs Nation? Let everyone know in the comments.

Friday will highlight the offensive line before the weekend. We’ll then start fresh with defense on Monday!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/1...vers-and-tight-ends-mike-evans-rob-gronkowski

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

NFL execs name Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs the best tackle in the league

Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Tristan Wirfs takes the top spot.

Coming off the 2019 season, the Buccaneers’ organization was a few months away from permanently altering the franchise’s trajectory. The Buccaneers’ 2020 offseason was highlighted by the addition of the greatest quarterback of all time. While Tom Brady coming to your team is easily enough to overshadow any other addition, Tampa did not just add Brady. In the draft, they went out and got a premier franchise building block to protect him. Tristan Wirfs was Tampa’s first round pick that year and has gone on to become everything Jason Licht and company would have hoped he would be. Wirfs began his career as Tom Brady’s right tackle before becoming Tampa Bay’s blindside defender for Baker Mayfield.

Buccaneers’ fans received some bad news about Wirfs recently when it was revealed that he will be missing the start of the 2025 season, however, NFL personnel still values him as the league's best.

NFL coaches, executives, and scouts have named Tristan Wirfs the top tackle in the NFL

"He doesn't have the flashy plays that Sewell has, but everything is so easy to him," an NFC executive said. "He can handle whatever you want out there and won't look particularly stressed… pic.twitter.com/VxVcGyQG0O

— BucsGameday (@BucsGameday) July 16, 2025​

Jeremy Fowler, via SI.com, compiled a list of the top players at each position group. His offensive tackles list was headlined by number 78 on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wirfs, no stranger to the list, was given top-spot honors based around his athleticism and his pass block win rate.

Tampa Bay Bucs’ fans certainly do not need a reminder of how great Tristan Wirfs has been for the team, but they will be getting a reminder of how valuable he is come this September when the only ‘Wirfs’ jerseys are in the stands.

For more Bucs coverage check us out here:

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@Will_Walsh_NFL(YouTube)

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/1...ackle-in-the-league-tampa-bay-bucs-buccaneers

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Mike Evans contract projection: A top wide receiver, but also an aging one

Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

What can the Buccaneers expect to pay Mike Evans if they give him an extension this offseaon?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick off their training camp in less than a week. That means real football is almost back, and it can’t come soon enough. Tampa Bay is in the midst of preparing to defend their NFC South title, which the team has controlled for the past four seasons. It’s been another offseason of upheaval at offensive coordinator, with Liam Cohen departing to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Josh Grizzard taking the reins.

While the team is still reeling from the news of Tristan Wirfs’ surgery and subsequent absence from the start of the season, there are other roster and contract matters to attend to. One of the biggest remaining questions is about the future of star wide receiver Mike Evans. Now entering the final year of his contract with a hefty $25.4 million cap hit (second-largest on the team behind only Baker Mayfield), it could make a lot of sense for general manager Jason Licht to consider an extension.

That’s all clouded a bit by the selection of wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft and the recent extension for Chris Godwin. That would seem to suggest that Evans isn’t in Tampa Bay’s future plans, which might come as a shock to many. Evans has been the quite literal model of consistency for a top NFL receiver, notching 11 straight 1000-plus-yard seasons and six years of double-digit receiving touchdowns. He’s shown outstanding chemistry with Baker Mayfield and has been a stalwart in one of the NFL’s best passing attacks.

The other side of the coin is that Evans missed three games due to injury in 2024, and is entering his age 32 season, a time historically when many receivers begin to decline physically. He produced the second-lowest yardage total of his career last season (1004) and the lowest yards per reception mark (13.6).

There’s no easy way to move on from Mike Evans after this season, as he will cost the Bucs $13 million in dead cap due to void years if he’s allowed to walk in free agency. The only way to avoid that dead cap is to keep it rolling with another extension. Will the Bucs consider it? Let’s take a look at a potential extension to see how feasible it is.

What would the numbers for an extension for Mike Evans contract look like?​

Mike Evans is one of the most famous wide receivers in the NFL, and that will undoubtedly play into his extension talks. Even if he isn’t at peak physical performance anymore, he’s still a WR1 with a ton of production and consistency to his name. However, given his age and the injury in 2024, it’s doubtful he’ll be looking at top-of-the-market money.

At this stage, I see Mike Evans contract comps in players like D.J. Moore, DeVonta Smith, and Nico Collins. D.J. Moore leads that group with $27.5 million APY and 39.7% guaranteed. DeVonta Smith comes in just behind at $25 million APY and 45.3% guaranteed. Nico Collins is on the low-end with $24.25 million APY and 44.1% guaranteed.

While I think you could make an argument that all three of those players are better long-term options than Evans at this stage, all three of those players also signed their deals in 2024. The cap went up significantly this year, and with it, so did the top-end receiver contracts.

Using those contracts as a starting point, here’s my projection for a potential Mike Evans extension:

Mike Evans projected contract extension: 2 years, $50.5M ($25.25M APY), $25.25M guaranteed, $15M signing bonus​

This contract would give Evans a small raise commensurate with the salary cap increase and slot him in as the 13th-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL. Evans would come in just below Moore’s APY, but beat his guarantees with 50%. He’d come in just above Smith and Collins.

That’s a lot of money for a receiver who will be entering his age 33 season in 2026, the first year of the new deal. But given Evans’ history, talent, and consistency, I think this is where the market will value him. There are plenty of receiver-needy teams that would be happy to pay him if he hits free agency next offseason, particularly if he keeps the 1,000-yard streak alive.

That being said, I’m still not sure if the Bucs are the team that will pay him. Tampa Bay is already paying Chris Godwin $22 million APY and has a pair of young, interesting (and cheap) options in Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan waiting in the wings. Given those moves and the estimated cost of this extension, the writing may be on the wall for 2025 being Evans’ final season in Tampa Bay.

What are your thoughts on this potential extension for Mike Evans? Are you in favor of trying to keep Evans through the end of his career, or allowing him to test free agency in 2026? What kind of contract would you offer Evans?

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/1...aneers-contract-extension-analysis-projection

 

[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Buccaneers Quarter Century Team: Offensive Line

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

We’ll conclude the offensive side of the team with the trenches.

We’ll conclude the offensive side of the Buccaneers’ all-quarter-century team with a breakdown of the team’s best(ish) offensive linemen of the last 25 years.

Let’s hear it for Fat Boy Friday.

Left Tackle​

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

First team: Donald Penn​

There weren’t many constants in the late aughts and early 2010s for the Bucs, but Donald Penn served as one of them.

An undrafted free agent out of Utah State in 2006, Penn floated around the bottom of the roster for a year before earning 12 starts in 2007, which was enough to secure the long-term blindside spot. He proceeded to spend seven seasons with the Bucs and start 108 straight games, getting a Pro Bowl nod and even catching a couple touchdown passes on top of it.

Penn was never flashy, and he had a rough year or two, but he made up for it with nastiness, tenacity, and smarts. He played left tackle at a generally good-to-great level before the Bucs unceremoniously cut him in 2014 to replace him with Anthony Collins. We probably all remember how that went.

He proceeded to play six more quality seasons with the Raiders and Washington and earned more Pro Bowl nods before calling it quits in 2020.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Second team: Donovan Smith​

Donovan Smith’s reputation among fans is polarizing, to put it nicely. Whether you hate him or, well, tolerate him, Smith started all 124 games he appeared in for Tampa after being drafted in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, which is remarkably consistent. The only games he missed came in the final season of his tenure in 2022.

While the beginning of Smith’s Bucs career saw him be way more of a turnstile than one would like, Smith started improving around 2018-19 and eventually fashioned an impressive stretch during the team’s competitive apex with Tom Brady – who definitely helped with his pocket awareness and quick trigger but nevertheless.

In the end, he was a good blindside protector for a championship-winning team and put in eight solid overall seasons, so he could’ve been much worse.

Photo by Craig Jones/Getty Images

Honorable mention: Roman Oben​

With Penn and Smith eating up 15 of the last 25 years, down-ballot candidates aren’t exactly awe-inspiring. So with that in mind, we’ll give some flowers to another player who built his career off unspectacular dependability.

Most of Roman Oben’s NFL tenure took place before joining the Bucs in 2002. A third-round pick in the 1996 draft, he played six years for the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns before the Bucs scooped him up on a one-year deal to displace former starter Kenyatta Walker, a first-round pick who struggled immensely as a rookie at left tackle the season prior and was getting kicked over to the right side.

With Oben’s veteran leadership, he helped galvanize a unit that struggled with running the ball under Jon Gruden’s new offensive scheme during the first part of the season. Over the final seven games, including the playoffs, Tampa averaged more than 118 rushing yards per game and logged six of their 10 rushing touchdowns, further enhancing the lethality of that all-time great defense. Individually, Oben also didn’t allow a sack during the playoffs.

He started 29 games for the Bucs before being traded to the Chargers, but his tenure was as important as any offensive lineman’s on the team for quite a while.

Left Guard​

Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

First team: Ali Marpet​

You could stick Ali Marpet at either guard spot or center and it would be deserved all the same.

One of the greatest small-school players of all-time, Marpet became the first Division III athlete ever drafted in the second round when the Bucs called his name at 61st overall in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Part of Marpet’s rise from his frugal beginnings lay primarily with his athleticism – he tested elite at the NFL Combine and looked like the best player at that year’s Senior Bowl. But above all else, Marpet exemplified incredible football character, leadership, and sheer intelligence. He quickly became one of the NFL’s better interior players with his first two years at right guard before playing center and left guard at elite levels from 2017-2021.

A multi-time team captain, Marpet formed an incredible battery during the Super Bowl season in partnership with Ryan Jensen and Alex Cappa to give Tom Brady elite levels of protection and spearhead a run game that found its groove at the right time in the playoffs.

Marpet decided to retire at just 28 in 2022, satisfied with his career achievements and financial earnings and forgoing any more risk for serious injury. He deserved more than the one Pro Bowl he got, as is true with many other Bucs players in the modern age, but he’ll always be fondly remembered by Bucs Nation.

Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images

Second team: Jeremy Zuttah​

Back to the theme of unremarkable dependability, Jeremy Zuttah was sort of Marpet before Marpet – just a step or two below.

A third-rounder out of Rutgers in 2008, Zuttah spot-started a few games at right guard as a rookie before earning a full-time role at left guard the following year. He would bounce between that spot and center over the next five seasons, starting 71 games overall and forming a generally reliable guard tandem with Davin Joseph.

While he eventually got traded away to the Baltimore Ravens in 2014, hence prompting Marpet’s drafting, Zuttah played well for Tampa more often than not and operated as part of the solution, not the problem.

Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Honorable mention: Logan Mankins​

If he felt like putting in more years, Logan Mankins could’ve carved out more of a reputation as a Buccaneer…but then you look at how horrendously awful and dysfunctional the team was in 2014-15 and then you don’t really blame him as much.

A multi-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler with the New England Patriots, Mankins played elite football for one of the best teams in the league before his high cap number landed him in Tampa, at the time desperately in search of a replacement for Carl Nicks – you may remember him as an another high-paid All-Pro who played just 9 games with Tampa due to toe issues and a terrible MRSA infection.

One wouldn’t have blamed him for pulling a Jake Plummer, but Mankins suited up and kept doing what he did best his whole career: beat the absolute breaks off basically every defensive lineman he faced. In 31 starts with Tampa, Mankins remained a very good football player who even made the Pro Bowl in his final season at age 33.

It was a dismal era for the Bucs as a whole, but credit to Mankins for showing up and doing his job better than most of his peers and trying to establish a culture. It didn’t work, but at least he tried!

Center​

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

First team: Ryan Jensen​

It’s hard to express how much Ryan Jensen meant to the culture shift during the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl-winning season and beyond. One could argue he stood as one of the main drivers behind that metamorphosis, side by side with Tom Brady and head coach Bruce Arians.

The Bucs signed Jensen to the richest contract for a center in 2018, and he did not let them down. During his time, he prowled the trenches as not just an elite lineman but as one of the meanest, toughest SOBs to play in recent history.

A glass-eater, a bully, an a**hole; whatever colorful language you choose to deploy, it fits all the same. But above all else, Jensen hated losing, and his pure grit clearly rubbed off on his squadmates over five seasons.

He started 65 games for the Bucs in four years before his tragic pre-season knee injury in 2022. True to form, he fought back from the impossible to start the team’s Wild Card game against the Dallas Cowboys but just couldn’t return to NFL-ready shape and retired soon-after.

A fan favorite and instrumental contributor, Jensen’s time in red and pewter won’t be soon forgotten.

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Second team: Jeff Christy​

In a similar scenario to Roman Oben, the Bucs opted for a grizzled free agent veteran in the early 2000s to help solve their offensive line woes. Pre-dating Oben, however, Christy plugged a massive hole at center when he came to Tampa in 2000. In his prior seven years with the Minnesota Vikings, Christy came to be a Pro Bowl and All-Pro level player.

In his final three years in the league from 2000-2002, Christy maintained a high level of play, earning an additional Pro Bowl nod and serving as the starter on the Super Bowl 37 team. He played and started all but one game during his time in the bay (47 starts), including an additional five playoff games.

The Bucs opted to cut him in a salary-saving measure in 2003, but he decided to retire a champion, undoubtedly a foundational piece of the puzzle for that first Lombardi Trophy.

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Honorable mention: Jeff Faine​

One of the more unheralded Buccaneers during his time, the Bucs received four years of quality, borderline Pro Bowl play from Jeff Faine from 2008-11 after bringing him in as a free agent.

He started 51 games and helped galvanize a young unit between himself, Donald Penn, Jeremy Zuttah, Davin Joseph, and Jeremy Trueblood. While injuries bit him more times than you would’ve liked to see (he missed 13 games during his tenure), the former first-rounder showcased his excellent smarts and athleticism on a routine basis.

Say it with me again: Unremarkable. Dependability.

Right Guard​

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First team: Davin Joseph​

Needing to reset a lagging offensive line in the mid-2000s, the Bucs invested their 2006 first-rounder in a talented guard from Oklahoma: Davin Joseph.

They received everything they could’ve hoped for when Joseph went on to start 112 out of 116 games over seven seasons. Joseph not only provided a reliable presence, save for 2012 when he suffered a pre-season knee injury, but he also gave Tampa a high level of play more often than not.

He twice earned Pro Bowl nods (2008 and 2011) and was regarded among pundits as one of the best right guards in the league for a significant stretch of time. When you pick an offensive lineman in the first round, it’s hard to ask for much more than what Joseph gave the Bucs.

Add in his off-field philanthropy (twice named a Walter Payton Man of the Year candidate), and you have one of the better reputations in recent Bucs lore.

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Second team: Cosey Coleman​

As one of the young pieces of the aforementioned early 2000s O-line overhaul, Coleman came to the Bucs in 2000 as a second-round pick after they traded up for him.

He played sparingly in his rookie year but fully took over the right guard spot in 2001, and from there he became a fine contributor during the Super Bowl run and beyond. He and Kenyatta Walker were hardly a perfect pair on the right side, but they were adequate enough for the team’s championship win at least.

Overall, Coleman started 63 games for the Bucs 2000-04. He never reached the heights his potential signaled, but it’s hard to complain about someone who adds something to your roster for half a decade.

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Honorable mention: Alex Cappa​

Alex Cappa served as the second edition of Jason Licht’s now tried-and-true “draft smaller school offensive lineman” approach when the latter selected the former in the third round of the 2018 draft.

A product of Humboldt State in California, Cappa played sparingly in his rookie year and endured some bumps in the road his sophomore campaign when becoming a full-time starter (including a literal broken arm that he just kept playing through). However, it all started to click during the Super Bowl season when he became one of the better guards in football.

Sadly, Cappa broke his ankle in the Wild Card game against Washington and missed the Big Game, but he returned in 2021 fully recovered and played well once again to earn himself a big-time contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.

While it would’ve been nice to see his tenure extend longer than 52 games (46 starts), Cappa served an important role in the time he was with the Bucs.

Right Tackle​

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First team: Tristan Wirfs​

It is not a stretch to already call Tristan Wirfs not just one of the most dominant Buccaneers of the 21st century, but of all time.

The team’s first-round pick in 2020, Wirfs came in as an athletic marvel out of Iowa tasked with protecting Tom Brady and helping to deliver on the team’s Super Bowl. He simply replied, “No problem.”

He dominated from Game 1 and that has not changed since then. In five seasons, Wirfs has started 79 games and earned four Pro Bowl nods and three All-Pro honors (two first-teams, one second-team). Oh, and he’s done it as a right and left tackle, which is not at all an easy feat.

Just 26 years old and locked up for the long-term, the Bucs have a potential Hall of Famer if Wirfs keeps on his current course and hopefully avoids the nagging knee injuries that have been a concern in the last couple years.

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Second team: Demar Dotson​

Demar Dotson got very little attention because of being on largely bad Bucs teams, but Tampa’s titanic right tackle deserved much more respect than he ever got.

An undrafted free agent in 2009, Dotson finally earned his place among the starters in 2012 and never looked back. From there, he started at least 11 games or more in seven of the following eight years. He started 106 games total through FIVE coaching regimes, a testament to his reliability.

He was never an overwhelming force, but he rarely got picked on and consistently provided a high floor. He did struggle with penalties at times due to his high-cut frame (he’s 6-foot-9), but he also played multiple years giving up 4 sacks or less.

When being a solid offensive lineman earns you good money, even 10 years ago, Dotson didn’t have to stick around. He could’ve gone elsewhere, but he stayed on team-friendly deals and played hard for 10 years.

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Honorable mention: Jeremy Trueblood​

This is once again a situation where just a few players have made up a majority of the last 25 years, and Jeremy Trueblood is one of them at right tackle.

Trueblood (a second-rounder) came in with Davin Joseph to address Tampa’s O-line woes. The difference between them, however, was that Joseph played well and Trueblood did not. And that largely held true for most of their respective tenures.

Trueblood did start a lot of games, 84 out of 101, but there was never a stretch where you could say he was anything more than adequate. He was nasty but undisciplined – a well-known penalty magnet who got called for double-digit infractions in four different seasons. His aggressiveness and size (6-foot-8, 320 pounds) made him a decent run blocker, but he was also incredibly stiff and allowed an egregious amount of sacks.

So yeah, he wasn’t very good overall, but neither was his competition for this spot (Kenyatta Walker) so I gave the nod to longevity in this case. On a side note, this section is a fitting allegory for the stunning duplexity of this franchise – on one hand you have a Super Bowl-winning wunderkind in Wirfs who’s on a Hall of Fame track, and then you have Jeremy Trueblood, what a rollercoaster.

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There you have it for offense, Bucs Nation. Drop any memories you have in the comments, or don’t, I’m not a beggar.

We’ll return on Monday with the defense, which should be fun!

Source: https://www.bucsnation.com/2025/7/1...team-offensive-line-tristan-wirfs-ryan-jensen