NFL · NFC South
Breaking Tampa Bay Buccaneers news, roster moves, free agency and draft coverage, game recaps and the storylines shaping Tampa Bay’s season — tracked all year long.
Full Buccaneers archiveFalconsPanthersSaintsNFL NewsAll teams
Latest Buccaneers stories
Full archive →
Tampa Bay Buccaneers history & legends
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1976, the same year as the Seattle Seahawks, and lost their first 26 games. They turned things around quickly, reaching the NFC Championship Game in just their fourth season. The Bucs compete in the NFC South.
Super Bowl history
Tampa Bay has won two Super Bowls. After the 2002 season, Jon Gruden’s team, built on a dominant defense, routed the Oakland Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII. After the 2020 season, Tom Brady led the Bucs past the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV, making Tampa Bay the first team to win a Super Bowl in its home stadium.
Best players in Buccaneers history
- Derrick Brooks – Hall of Fame linebacker and 2002 Defensive Player of the Year.
- Warren Sapp – Hall of Fame defensive tackle and 1999 Defensive Player of the Year.
- Lee Roy Selmon – The franchise’s first-ever draft pick and first Hall of Famer.
- John Lynch – Hall of Fame safety on the Super Bowl XXXVII defense.
- Ronde Barber – Hall of Fame cornerback who spent his entire career in Tampa.
- Tom Brady – Won his seventh Super Bowl ring with the Bucs in Super Bowl LV.
- Mike Evans – Record-setting receiver known for his long run of 1,000-yard seasons.
- Mike Alstott – Bruising fan-favorite fullback.
- Doug Williams – Led the franchise to its first playoff runs in the late 1970s.
Biggest rivalries
The New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers make up Tampa Bay’s NFC South rivals. Before the 2002 realignment, the Bucs played in the old NFC Central against teams like the Green Bay Packers.
