When fans think of the Buccaneers, most, if not all, remember the 2002 and 2020 Super Bowl winning teams. Prior to that, the Bucks are generally regarded as his football dark ages, filled with many losing seasons. Even with those caveats, many players shined through impressive years and stints. Players who are largely forgotten in the hearts of fans except for the most dedicated and dedicated supporters.
For this series, we wanted to highlight players who are underrepresented or not often mentioned when talking about team history. The number of players listed for each entry varies by position.
The only rule is they were the Bucks from 1976 to 1996. This fits the prerequisite of wearing the original ‘Bukko Blues’ uniform and is worth remembering.
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If you turn the clock back and follow the history of the team, a look at Tampa Bay quarterbacks prior to the 21st century isn’t all that glamorous.
Former “throw-in Samoan” Jack Thompson’s era didn’t last long. He drafted Steve Young, but after going 3-16 as a starter, he traded him to San Francisco, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. The organization’s attempts to find a quarterback were largely unsuccessful.
Despite all the missteps in drafting and developing quarterbacks, a handful of signal-callers did reasonably well in Tampa Bay until, like Young, they found great success elsewhere.
Forgotten Bucks at QB
1. Doug Williams
The numbers Doug Williams has recorded in Tampa Bay do not do him justice compared to today’s modern day and what he has overcome to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in team history.
Recruited offensive coordinator Joe Gibbs (that Joe Gibbs), head coach and general manager John McKay decided to acquire Williams the Bucks first-round pick in the 1978 NFL Draft. As such, he was carrying the burden of leading a lower-ranked team to that point.
Former Bucks QB Doug Williams – Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Prior to that, the Bucks were 0-14, 2-12 in their first two seasons. In 1977, the Tampa Bay quarterback combined he had three touchdowns and he had 30 interceptions. With Williams leading the offense, the team began to go from being a laughingstock to being a worthy contender.
In his rookie year, Williams made dramatic progress, starting 10 games and winning four of them. The next season, the Bucks surprised the NFL by going 10-6 to advance to the NFC Championship Game.
What really speaks and reminds us of Doug Williams’ impact is the fact that between 1976 and 1996, the franchise’s only winning season was when he was quarterback.
Overall, Williams started 67 regular-season games and four playoff games, going 33-33-1 and going 1-3 in the playoffs.
Things were going well for the Bucks, but Williams left after a contract dispute and played in the USFL from 1984 to 1985. At the time, Gibbs was the head coach of the Washington Redskins. He called on Williams to return to the NFL, but no one expected what would be legendary next.
A playoff starter in 1987, Williams will face John Elway in Super Bowl XXII. He threw for 340 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 42-10 rout and was named MVP of the game. Williams also became the first black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl.
By most standards, Doug Williams had a successful career in the NFL. Although he did a good job of leading the Bucks to a respectable position, his departure signaled a decline in both the team’s performance and attendance. In fact, when he left for his USFL and found success with the Redskins, some Bucks fans said there was a “Doug Williams curse” in Tampa Bay.
Adding to this difficulty, he was a black NFL quarterback in the 1970s, which meant he had to overcome circumstances beyond his control. At a time when there were very few quarterbacks of color, Williams was the catalyst for the success of subsequent quarterbacks and proving skeptics wrong.
2. Vinnie Testaverde
The Bucks struggled to find a long-term solution as quarterback after Williams, and they tried to solve the problem by picking Vinny Testaverde first overall in 1987. In doing so, they released Steve Young as Joe Montana’s backup, which turned out very well for the 49ers.
Although it will become more apparent in hindsight that the quarterback’s environment is more to blame for poor play than the quarterback himself, Testaverde’s tenure is notable and worth remembering.
Former Bucks QB Vinnie Testaverde – Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated
He was a starter from 1987 to 1992, going 24-48 with 77 interceptions and 112 interceptions as a starter. While not impressive numbers, his interception totals were bolstered by a dismal 1988 season of 13 touchdowns to 35 interceptions.
The Bucks had five wins on the season when Testaverde started, but they actually improved before his arrival.and 2015 article by Tampa Bay Timeshe talked about the high expectations placed on him and how he met them.
“Coming to a team like Tampa Bay, coming to a team that didn’t win much before I got there, was stressful in itself,” Testaverde said at the time.
“When I came to the Bucks, we had a lot of young talent, Mark Carrier, Bruce Hill, Ron Hall, a lot of rookies learning together and making a lot of mistakes.
With Testaverde unable to live up to draft status and already approaching 30, it was no wonder the team let him go.
What surprised me was that he continued to spend money after that. 15 more seasons After 1992, he moved to the NFL, ending his career with the Panthers in 2007. During that time, Testaverde was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Ravens and Jets, and later in his career with the Cowboys, Patriots and Panthers. In his last match he finished the match at the starting point. kneel down At the end of the game in Tampa Bay.
He never became a franchise quarterback, but while many expected him to lead a team in the 1990s, there were very few, if any, good quarterbacks in those days. For that reason, and the fact that he discovered an association with the NFL, it’s worth adding him to the list of forgotten buccaneers. Testaverde remains the Bucks’ all-time passing yards hauler of 14,820, ahead of Tom Brady (14,643) and behind only Jameis Winston (19,737).
3. Trent Dilfer
The final entry on the quarterback list is Trent Dilfer, the top draft pick invested in the quarterback position after Testaverde. The Fresno State graduate was selected sixth overall in 1994 and will be a full-time starter heading into his second season.
Bucks QB Trent Dilfer – Photo Credit: USA Today
From 1994 to 1999, Dilfer led the Bucks to a 10-6 record from the NFC Central cellars and helped them secure a wild card spot in 1997.
The team, which was facing two district opponents at the time, beat the Lions 20-10 in the home playoff game, but lost 21-7 to the Packers in the district round. At that point, the defensive cornerstones were Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Rondo Barber. Each has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, barber introduction It’s around the corner.
Dilfer had the best record of the entire season that year, with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, and was named to the Pro Bowl. After two more seasons with the Bucks, he signed with the Ravens in 2000, where he wrestled with an overwhelming defense as the starting quarterback and helped the Ravens win a Super Bowl.
As a thought-provoking “what if” scenario, it’s worth considering whether the Bucks would have reached a similar peak in 2002 had he continued his career in Tampa Bay instead.
Overall, Dilfer tied 38-38 as the starter for the Bucks and bridged the struggles and successes that defined franchise history. In the time gap, it’s easy to forget that he was the team’s first Pro Bowl quarterback, and he wasn’t as bad as the quarterbacks before him. Dilfer’s 79 Tampa Bay starts are still the most by a Bucks quarterback.
