If Bucs fans are feeling nostalgic because the team brought back safety Mike Edwards, it makes perfect sense. there was Some reunions in middle school For the Bucks this season. It started with strong safety Jordan Whitehead during free agency and continued with the team acquiring Edwards late last week.
Part of the nostalgia comes from having some members in the secondary who were with the same group when the Bucks won Super Bowl LV in their own stadium during the 2020 season. Especially Edwards, Whitehead, fellow safety Antwon Winfield Jr., and cornerback Jamel Dean. All were at different points in their careers, but all were still on their rookie contracts.
Bucks CB Jamel Dean and S Mike Edwards – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
We were close in age, so we had a very close-knit group. That’s why teammates like Dean were just as excited to hear the news of Edwards’ return.
“I was very excited,” Dean said. “I thought, ‘Oh, they’re slowly getting the band back together.'”
From a coaching standpoint, that chemistry and familiarity gives hope that Edwards can pick up where he left off in Tampa.
“First and foremost, from a communication standpoint, he’s made a lot of plays for us in this league,” co-defensive coordinator Larry Foote said. “We don’t know the details of why he became a free agent, but we [were] Now that we’re able to have him back, we’re looking forward to him jumping in and helping our young players. ”
Edwards looks to inspire Bucks
Mike Edwards also spoke to the media Monday about returning to the team that drafted him. He still has a home here so he’s very happy he hasn’t been away for so long, but it’s still been a journey over the past two seasons. Edwards signed with the Chiefs in 2023, won a Super Bowl, and was traded to the Bills in 2024. He was released without getting much playing time and was then traded to the Titans for a week. He shared his overall experience with the media on Monday.
Bucks FS Mike Edwards – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
“After I left here, I went to Kansas City for a year and it was definitely a different experience,” Edwards said. “[It’s] Obviously different [from] Here, yes, [we] It was a good year for me, even though I went to the Super Bowl and won a ring with a different team and had two different kinds of experiences. [as far as] Winning that Super Bowl.
“after that [I] I end up leaving there and going to Buffalo. Things didn’t go well for Buffalo, though. [there’s] Not bad blood, but [I] I ended up leaving there and going to Tennessee and now I’m back here. [I] I had a good trip. Like I said, it’s been crazy and I’ve been all over the place, but I’m happy because I’m back where it all started. ”
There’s a reason the Bucks brought Edwards in. He had seven career interceptions as a playmaker for Tampa Bay, including three career pick-sixes. Todd Bowles’ defense is hungry for interceptions, having not recorded an interception since Week 6. Overall the defense needs to play better in pass coverage. Run in the playoffs.
Edwards understands the mission.
“Hopefully, I can bring a spark or whatever it takes to this team and bring any kind of help,” Edwards said. “So it’s not just the defense, it’s the whole team, and yeah, they struggled, but they had some great parts of the season as well. We might be close to winning one of those games. I watched them and watched the games. [they’re] They’re still a good team.
“They may not be in the record books, but they are still a good team. [they] Place players on both sides of the ball, [we] We’ve got to make a good push for the playoffs and win every week, but I mean, as far as watching from afar and coming down to see them, it’s a good team. [They] We’ve got a lot of players, we’ve got really good teammates, we’ve got really good people that you see in the locker room, so I’m really happy to be a part of that and I hope I can help out in any way I can.”
