Personnel
Staff
| 1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
| |||||
| 1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Malcolm Glazer |
| General manager | Rich McKay |
| Head coach | Sam Wyche |
| Home field | Tampa Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 7–9 |
| Division place | 5th NFC Central |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Team MVP | MLB Hardy Nickerson |
The 1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 20th season in the National Football League (NFL).
The season began with the team trying to improve on a 6–10 season in 1994, a season in which the team won 4 straight games at the end of the year, and four of their final five. It was Sam Wyche’s final season as the team's head coach.
Prior to the season Malcolm Glazer took over ownership of the team, then the Bucs drafted defensive lineman Warren Sapp and linebacker Derrick Brooks, both of whom are recognized as two of the team's greatest ever players. The Buccaneers' first-ever draft pick, Lee Roy Selmon, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
There had been rumors as far back as the end of the 1993 season that new owner Glazer, who purchased the team from the estate of the late Hugh Culverhouse, would move the team after funding to improve Tampa Stadium was not obtained, [1] but a referendum kept the Bucs in Tampa for 1995. The possibility of moving the Buccaneers to Cleveland, Ohio was an undercurrent throughout the 1995 season once Art Modell’s relocation of the Browns to Baltimore was announced. [2]
Bucs’ head coach Sam Wyche gained some notoriety for saying "Five dash Two" to reporters during a press conference after the seventh game of the season, referring to the team's 5–2 record at the time. Tampa Bay had won 9 of its previous 12 games, going back to the end of the 1994 season, and many observers felt they had become a sleeper NFC playoff contender. However, the good luck and victory string soon ran out, and the team would go 2–7 for the remainder of the season.
Following the week seven overtime win over Minnesota, Tampa Bay lost three in a row before beating expansion Jacksonville, only after Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin decided to go for a 2-point conversion when scoring a last-minute touchdown. It failed and the Bucs won 17–16, giving them a sweep of that season's new expansion teams, as they had beaten Carolina 17–10 in week 5. Two more losses followed, and the 6–7 Buccaneers had a prime time ESPN Sunday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers, who were playing without future Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White due to injury. Tampa Bay pulled out an overtime win over the eventual NFC Central champion Packers to make their record 7–7, ensuring that their streak of 10-loss seasons—dating back to the 1983 season—would end. The Buccaneers had remained in playoff contention through fourteen games for the first time in a 16-game season since 1981, when they won their second division championship in three seasons under coach John McKay and quarterback Doug Williams. (the Buccaneers qualified for the expanded playoff tournament during the strike-shortened 1982 season, their last postseason appearance until 1997).
The Bucs, however, lost to the Chicago Bears by 21 points at Soldier Field in the penultimate game of the season, ending their playoff hopes. In the season finale at home against a surging Detroit Lions team who were riding a six-game winning streak, Tampa lost decisively in a nationally televised Saturday game. The game became infamous due to a sideline argument between Wyche and quarterback Trent Dilfer; it was later revealed that Wyche planned to pull Dilfer for young backup quarterback Casey Weldon regardless of how the game was going, triggering Dilfer's furious reaction and also angering teammates of the very respected if inconsistent starter. The Buccaneers' overall passing attack in 1995 was anemic: they passed for the fifth-fewest yards in the league, had the second-worst team passer rating (60.3), and set an NFL record for fewest team touchdown passes (5) in a 16-game season, and didn't have a single passing touchdown for the months of October and November. [3]
Rumors also swirled that Wyche, knowing he would be let go by new owners without a winning record after a 5–2 start, ordered the team to wear orange jerseys and orange pants for the season finale (which at the time, would have been a first to wear the same colored top and bottom other than white), but after several players refused to wear it, the idea was scrapped. New owner Malcolm Glazer decided Wyche's tenure as coach was done, and started the search for the next coach of the Buccaneers, a search that would bring in coach Tony Dungy, who would turn the Buccaneers into a perennial playoff team (a 54–42 record and four playoff appearances in six seasons with the Tampa Bay), and build the foundation for their first Super Bowl win in 2002.
| Pick | Round | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1 | Warren Sapp | Defensive Tackle | Miami |
| 28 | 1 | Derrick Brooks | Linebacker | Florida State |
| 43 | 2 | Melvin Johnson | Safety | Kentucky |
| 105 | 4 | Jerry Wilson | Safety | Saginaw Valley State |
| 143 | 5 | Clifton Abraham | Cornerback | Florida State |
| 179 | 6 | Wardell Rouse | Linebacker | Clemson |
| 215 | 7 | Steve Ingram | Offensive Tackle | Maryland |
| 227 | 7 | Jeff Rodgers | Defensive End | Texas A&I |
| 1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
| |||||
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 3 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 21–6 | 1–0 | Veterans Stadium | 66,266 |
| 2 | September 10 | at Cleveland Browns | L 6–22 | 1–1 | Cleveland Stadium | 61,083 |
| 3 | September 17 | Chicago Bears | L 6–25 | 1–2 | Tampa Stadium | 71,507 |
| 4 | September 24 | Washington Redskins | W 14–6 | 2–2 | Tampa Stadium | 49,234 [a] |
| 5 | October 1 | at Carolina Panthers | W 20–13 | 3–2 | Memorial Stadium | 50,076 |
| 6 | October 8 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 19–16 | 4–2 | Tampa Stadium | 41,732 [a] |
| 7 | October 15 | Minnesota Vikings | W 20–17 (OT) | 5–2 | Tampa Stadium | 55,703 [a] |
| 8 | October 22 | Atlanta Falcons | L 21–24 | 5–3 | Tampa Stadium | 66,135 [a] |
| 9 | October 29 | at Houston Oilers | L 7–19 | 5–4 | Astrodome | 31,489 |
| 10 | Bye | |||||
| 11 | November 12 | at Detroit Lions | L 24–27 | 5–5 | Pontiac Silverdome | 60,644 |
| 12 | November 19 | Jacksonville Jaguars | W 17–16 | 6–5 | Tampa Stadium | 71,629 [a] |
| 13 | November 26 | at Green Bay Packers | L 13–35 | 6–6 | Lambeau Field | 59,218 |
| 14 | December 3 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 17–31 | 6–7 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 52,879 |
| 15 | December 10 | Green Bay Packers | W 13–10 (OT) | 7–7 | Tampa Stadium | 67,557 [a] |
| 16 | December 17 | at Chicago Bears | L 10–31 | 7–8 | Soldier Field | 49,475 |
| 17 | December 23 | Detroit Lions | L 10–37 | 7–9 | Tampa Stadium | 50,049 [a] |
| Notes: Division opponents in bold text | ||||||
| NFC Central | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| (3) Green Bay Packers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 404 | 314 | W2 |
| (5) Detroit Lions | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 436 | 336 | W7 |
| Chicago Bears | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 392 | 360 | W2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 412 | 385 | L2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 238 | 335 | L2 |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) South division. They joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team, along with the Seattle Seahawks, and played its first season in the American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
Trent Farris Dilfer is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the head coach for the UAB Blazers football team. Dilfer previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He achieved his greatest professional success as the starting quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens during their Super Bowl-winning season in 2000.
Shaun Earl King is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tulane Green Wave and was selected in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. King was also a member of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Detroit Lions, as well as the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League (AFL) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Richard James McKay is an American professional football executive who is the CEO of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Prior to joining the Falcons, he was the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1994 to 2003 and was a part of their Super Bowl XXXVII-winning season.
This article details the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers American football franchise.
The 2005 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 30th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 8th playing their home games at Raymond James Stadium, and the 4th under head coach Jon Gruden. The season began with the team trying to improve on their 5–11 record in 2004; they made a complete reversal from last season by going 11–5, clinching their first winning season, playoff appearance and division title since 2002. Cadillac Williams won Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Buccaneers would lose in the Wild Card playoff game at home to the Washington Redskins.
The 2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 28th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 6th playing their home games at Raymond James Stadium, and the 2nd under head coach Jon Gruden. The season began with the team trying to defend its Super Bowl XXXVII title of 2002 along with being the first to team win back to back super bowls since the 1998 Denver Broncos and first NFC team to win back to back super bowls since the 1993 Dallas Cowboys. Despite high expectations, several last-minute losses led to locker room tension and front-office struggles. The Buccaneers finished 7–9, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1998 and finished with a losing record for the first time since 1996.
The 2002 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 27th in the National Football League (NFL). It was one of the most successful seasons in franchise history, ending with a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.
The 2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 25th season in the National Football League (NFL).
The 1999 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 24th in the National Football League (NFL). The season began with the team trying to improve on an 8–8 season and return to the postseason after narrowly missing the playoffs in 1998. Rookie Shaun King replaced the injured and inconsistent Trent Dilfer late in the season. King helped rebound the team to their first NFC Central title in 18 years. The team won 10 out of 12 games at one point in the season, including a then-franchise-record six-game winning streak. The defensive side dominated the team, nine times holding opponents to 10 or fewer points. However, offensive output, while adequate, was often unspectacular – case in point, a 6–3 win over Chicago in October. Tampa Bay finished the season 11–5.
The 1998 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 23rd season in the National Football League (NFL) and their first season in Raymond James Stadium.
The 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 22nd season in the National Football League (NFL). Having gone 6–10 the previous season, Tampa Bay finished second in the NFC Central, and secured their first playoff berth since the strike-shortened 1982 season.
The 1977 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 2nd season in the National Football League, the 2nd playing their home games at Tampa Stadium and the 2nd under head coach John McKay. After one lone season in the AFC, it was the franchise's first season in the NFC, competing in the Central division. It continued the losing streak that encompassed the entire 1976 season, and extended it to 26 games, second only to the Chicago Cardinals who lost a total of 29 games in a row from 1942 to 1945. Fear of becoming the Buccaneers’ first victim provided motivation to opposing teams. It took nearly two seasons for the Buccaneers to achieve their first franchise victory, a 33–14 win over the New Orleans Saints in the second-to-last game of the year. The next week, the Bucs earned their first home victory, over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 4th season in the National Football League. All home games were played at Tampa Stadium. After having won just seven games in the previous three seasons combined, the 1979 Buccaneers won ten games for their first winning season. They finished as NFC Central division champions and won the first playoff game in franchise history.
The 1987 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League, the 12th playing their home games at Tampa Stadium, and the first under head coach Ray Perkins. It was a year of great change for the Buccaneers. Perkins had only needed three seasons (1979–1981) to build the New York Giants into a playoff team, and it was hoped that he would be able to repeat the feat with the Buccaneers. They improved over their 2–14 record from 1986 and finished 4–11.
The Buccaneers–Dolphins rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins.
The Buccaneers–Panthers rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers.
The Buccaneers–Saints rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints.
The 2020 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 45th in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under head coach Bruce Arians. The club acquired long-time New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in free agency, and traded for Brady's former Patriots teammate, tight end Rob Gronkowski during the offseason. They improved on their 7–9 record from the previous season by finishing 11–5 to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2007 – though 10 of their 11 wins were against non-playoff teams. They advanced through the playoffs to reach and win Super Bowl LV. They were the first team only having one Pro Bowler to do so since the 2007 Giants, and the first team to play in and win the Super Bowl in their home stadium, Raymond James Stadium. They were the 7th wild card team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl, as well as the fifth team to win three road games to advance to the Super Bowl, joining the 2010 Green Bay Packers, 2007 New York Giants, 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, and 1985 New England Patriots.
The Buccaneers–Falcons rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons.
