The Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1976. Owner Hugh Culverhouse paid a franchise fee of $16 million as the team became the 27th team to join the league.
Head coach John McKay had a rough beginning, as the Bucs early in their existence lost 26 games in a row. McKay had had great success at the University of Southern California winning four national championships. As head coach, McKay persisted with the Tampa Bay Bucs. By their fourth season, the team reached the 1979 NFC championship game. They beat Kansas City and Philadelphia to advance to the NFC championship, only to lose to the Los Angeles Rams.
Some of the key players were Lee Roy Selmon, the franchise’s first draft choice in 1976 as well as quarterback Doug Williams and running back Ricky Bell. Selmon was Defensive Player of the year in 1979, Williams would go on to win a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins.
The nickname of the Tampa Bay franchise, the “Buccaneers” is a reference to the pirates who frequented Florida’s coast during the 17th century.
The hiring of Jon Gruden
In 2002, owner Malcolm Glazer conducted a widely known head coach search. The hiring of Jon Gruden from the Oakland Raiders resulted in a trade of draft choices. The trade involved multiple draft choices. The Bucs’ gave up their first and second-round picks in 2002. The trade also involved their first-round pick in 2003 and their second-round selection in 2004. $8 million in cash consummated the trade.
Gruden, who had lived in Tampa in the early 1980s when he father was a running backs coach and later a scout for the Bucs was elated. Gruden made Glazer look good with the trade, as he led the team to victory in Super Bowl XXXVI. The Bucs defeating Gruden’s old team, the Oakland Raiders. Some of the key players of this championship team include defensive tackle Warren Sapp, NFL Defensive Player of the Year linebacker Derrick Brooks, and fullback Mike Alstott.
Other Coaching Candidates for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers considered
The Glazers considered and offered the head coaching job to several other candidates before settling on Gruden. They interviewd University of Florida head coach Steve Spurrier, former New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. They offered the job to all three beofe Gruden. Spurrier would later become the head coach of the Washington Redskins.
Selmon, Brooks, and Sapp all have had their numbers retired by the Buccaneers. Sapp was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013, his first year of eligibility.
The Buccaneers first played at Tampa Stadium from 1976 to 1997. Build in 1966, the stadium initially had a capacity of 40,000. In 1968, Tampa Stadium hosted its first NFL game, as the Washington Redskins played the Atlanta Falcons. Renovations in 1976 expanded the capacity of the stadium to 72,000, which included luxury suites. In 1995 the Bucs renamed the stadium Houlihan Stadium. In 1998, funded by local bonds, Raymond James Stadium was built adjacent to Houlihan Stadium, which was soon demolished. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to play their home games at Raymond James Stadium
Tom Brady leads the Bucs back to a Super Bowl victory
Eighteen years after their first Super Bowl victory, 43-year-old quarterback Tom Brady led the Bucs to another Super Bowl win, Super LV, as Tampa Bay defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 for their second title in franchise history. Key players included tight end Rob Gronkowski, wide receiver Mike Evans, and linebacker Devin White.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers currently play in the National Football Conference (NFC) South Division along with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints.
Barry Schustermann
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