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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 club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The club 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. Prior to the 1977 season, Tampa Bay switched conferences and divisions with Seattle, becoming a member of the NFC Central division. The Seahawks eventually rejoined the NFC in 2002, leaving the Buccaneers as the only NFL team not to play in their original conference. As a result of the league's realignment prior to the 2002 season, the Buccaneers joined three former NFC West teams to form the NFC South. The club is owned by the Glazer family and plays its home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Jon David Gruden is an American professional football coach who is an advisor for the Milano Seamen of the European League of Football. He held his first head coaching position with the Raiders franchise during their Oakland tenure from 1998 to 2001, where he won two consecutive division titles and made an AFC Championship Game appearance. Gruden was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, which he led to their first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXVII the same season. At age 39, he was the then-youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl. He served as Tampa Bay's head coach through 2008, setting the franchise record for wins, but made only two further playoff runs. After his firing from the Buccaneers, Gruden was featured as an analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcasts from the 2009 to the 2017 seasons.
Michael Rashard Clayton is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 15th overall in the 2004 NFL draft.
Sammy James Davis, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He is a businessman and owner of the Austin Capitals, an American Basketball Association franchise. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round with the 30th overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies. Davis also played for the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Paul Blake Gruber is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers. He was selected by the Buccaneers with the fourth overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft.
Shawn Swaboda Lee was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 11 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1988–89), the Miami Dolphins (1990–91), the San Diego Chargers (1992–97), and the Chicago Bears (1998) in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by Tampa Bay in the sixth round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He played college football for the North Alabama Lions. Lee started in Super Bowl XXIX for the Chargers. He and fellow Chargers lineman Reuben Davis were nicknamed "The Two Tons of Fun".
The 1988 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 13th season in the National Football League the 13th playing their home games at Tampa Stadium and the 2nd under head coach Ray Perkins. Perkins had by now rebuilt the Buccaneers as the NFL's youngest team, having replaced so many veterans that leadership became an issue. A strong draft produced several starters, including standout offensive tackle Paul Gruber. The team was largely competitive and showed an ability to outplay opponents in the second half of games, but continued their tendency toward mental errors, and finished with a disappointing 5–11 record. Second-year quarterback Vinny Testaverde was inconsistent: an effective leader at times, as in their late-season upset of the AFC-leading Buffalo Bills, mistake-prone at others. His 35 interceptions are still a team record. His frequent costly errors caused the coaching staff to lose confidence in him, and at one point to replace him with backup Joe Ferguson. The team finished the season on a strong note with wins in two of their final three games, including respectable performances against two playoff contenders.
Frank Murphy is a former gridiron football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats.
Jeffrey Allen Carlson is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played three seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots. He previously had played for Weber State University and Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, California.
Jeffrey Eugene Davis is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the 1980s. He played college football for Clemson University, and received All-American honors. He played professionally for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Charles Douglas Davis is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes and was selected in the second round of the 1974 NFL draft.
Carlton Mitchell is a former American football wide receiver. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Florida.
Vernon Hargreaves III is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators and was selected 11th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2016 NFL draft.
Carlton Davis III is an American football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Auburn and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Tevita Tuliʻakiʻono Tuipulotu Mosese Vaʻhae Fehoko Faletau Vea, otherwise known as Vita Vea, is an American football nose tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington and was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Vea won Super Bowl LV with the team over the Kansas City Chiefs, and was selected to the Pro Bowl the following year.
Marvin Stewart Jr. is an American football safety for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft, and has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns.
Deadrin Senat is an American football nose tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at South Florida, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Anthony Nelson is an American football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa.
Khalil Davis is an American football defensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Nebraska. He has been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams, and Birmingham Stallions.
Robert Hainsey is an American football center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame. He was a 2020 senior class award finalist and was named to the 2020 All-Atlantic Coast Conference second team.
References
- ↑ "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-09-23.