Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The phrase Tampa Bay is often used to denote a geographic urban area containing a water surface, also known as Tampa Bay , which includes the towns of Tampa , St. Petersburg , Clearwater and Bradenton . Unlike Green Bay ( Wisconsin ), there is no municipality called Tampa Bay. In the names of professional sports clubs, Tampa Bay is a franchise used by the Bakkanirs, Tampa Bay Rowdies teams , Tampa Bay Flight , Tampa Bay Lightning , Tampa Bay Storm and others, meaning that they represent the entire region, not just Tampu or St. Petersburg.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (since 1976)

League Championship Winners (1)

• Super Bowl Winners (1)
  • 2002 (XXXVII)

Conference Winners (1)

• NFC: 2002

Division Winners (6)

• NFC Center: 1979, 1981, 1999
• South NFC: 2002, 2005, 2007

Playoff Ops (10)

• NFL: 1979, 1981, 1982, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007

1976-1978

The Bakkaniers joined the NFL League in 1976, joining the AFC West division. The following year, the "pirates" moved to the NFC Central division, due to the fact that in 1976 another team appeared - the " Seattle Seahawks ", which exchanged conferences. As a result, Seattle ended up in AFC West, while Tampa remained in NFC Central.

The Bakkaniers began their performance in the NFL disastrously, setting an anti-record - they suffered 26 defeats in a row after their first official game.

The first victory was won in 1977 against the New Orleans Saints . The team coach was immediately fired. Then the Pirates won again, this time against the Arizona Cardinals . The coach of this team was also fired.

1979-1982

A season later, the situation in Tampa improved. With a combination of Dog Williams quarterback, Jammy Gills tight end, Ricky Bell early runner and future NFL Hall of Fame Lee Roy Salmon , the Bakkaniers began the season with 5 straight wins. This achievement was portrayed in Sports Illustrated .

Until the end of the season, there were only 4 games left to play, Tampa needed to win at least one of them in order to enter the playoffs for the first time in his history. Tampa lost the first game to Minnesota Vikings , with a score of 23-22. Then Tampa was defeated by the Chicago Bears (14-0) and the San Francisco Forty Niners . In the last game of the season, the "pirates" played against the " Kansas City Chiefs " under a terrible rain, but won 3-0 and for the first time in their history reached the playoffs.

In the Divisional Round, Tampa defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24–17 and reached the Conference Finals. However, they were defeated by the Los Angeles Rams (9-0).

In 1981, the "pirates" again reached the playoffs, winning a landslide victory over the Detroit Lions . But then, in the divisional round, the Bakkanirs were "destroyed." Dallas Cowboys won 38–0.

A season later, Tampa was unable to get into the playoffs. This will be the last exit in the playoffs, under the ownership of Culverhouse.

1983-1996

In this period of history, dark times began for Tampa. Team quarterback Dog Williams left the team because he was not happy with his salary. The team could not reach the playoffs for all 14 years.

1997-2001

The death of Culverhouse complicated the situation in Tampa - the club almost became bankrupt, which surprised a lot of people. Culverhouse's son (Hooch Culverhouse Jr.) agreed to sell the Bakkanirs. The owners of the Major Baseball League (MLB) teams New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles were interested in acquiring the "pirates." However, at the last minute of the auction, Malcolm Glaser bought Tampa for $ 192 million, which was a record in world sports. Malcolm literally immediately gave his sons ( Brian , Edward and Joel ) some powers in the team, but mostly the sons were responsible for the finances of the club. The team stayed in Tampa. Glaser invited Tony Dungey , the Minnesota Waikings defense coordinator, to head coach, and in 1998 completed the construction of a new team stadium - Raymond James Stadium (before that, the Bakkanirs had played at the Tampa Stadium ).

In the first season after the arrival of Tony Dungey, the failures of the Bakkanirs had not yet ended, and Tampa did not reach the playoffs again. In the 1997 season, “pirates” started with five victories in a row, thanks to this the team again appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The Bakkaniers reached the playoffs like a wild card team. Tampa defeated the Detroit Lions (20–10), but was defeated by the Green Bay Packers (21–7) in the division round. Expectations for the next season were extremely high.

In 1998, the "pirates" began to play in the new stadium (Raymond James Stadium), but ended the season with a score of 8-8 and did not get into the playoffs, which surprised many.

1999 was a much more successful year for Tampa. The pirates finished the season with a score of 11-5 and the third time in their career they won in their division. In the divisional round, Tampa defeated Washington Redskins (14–13), but was defeated by the future Super Bowl winner, St. Louis Rams, in the Conference finals.

In the 2000 and 2001 season, Tampa again reached the playoffs, but as a wild card team. And both times she was defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles. Tony Dungey was fired after a crushing defeat with a score of 31-9.

2002: Super Bowl Holders

After the dismissal of Tony Dungey, the pirates again vacated the head coach. Malcolm Glaser turned his gaze to Auckland Raiders head coach John Gruden . True, to sign it, I had to give Auckland 4 draft picks. The reason for everything: Gruden was still under contract, and his services were extremely high, since John led Raiders to the championship in his division for two years in a row.

After the arrival of Gruden, the new head coach of the team seriously thought about the line of attack of the "pirates". The Quarterback Brad Johnson , the receivers Kishon Johnson , Joe Jurevichius became a powerful force under the leadership of Gruden, who taught Tampa the Eastern attack system. But not only the attack brought the Bakkanirs Super Bowl. Protecting the “pirates” at that time was the best in the league, which included players such as Warren Sapp , John Lynch and Derrick Brooks (all were drafted by Tampa). However, the defense was already at a very high level, so John was mainly engaged in the attack.

In the opening match of the season, the Bakkaniers were defeated by the New Orleans Saints, and then won 5 victories in a row. In the next game, against the Philadelphia Eagles, who knocked out the pirates from the playoffs for two years in a row, Tampa was defeated again. In the end, the Bakkanirs won the new division for themselves (the Bakkanirs were moved to the NFC South to Carolina Panthers , Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints), setting a new team record - 12-4. Derrick Brooks became NFL's best quarterback.

In the divisional round, the Pirates defeated the San Francisco Forty Niners (31-6) and reached the final of the Conference, where the Bakkanirs were supposed to play against the Philadelphia Eagles.

As soon as the match began, the Eagles had already seized the advantage, but Tampa was able to come forward, thanks to the efforts of Brad Johnson, Joe Jurevichius and fullback Mike Alstatt . A few minutes before the end of the match, the "pirates" were with a score of 20-10. It would seem that victory has already been won. But this became clear only after the return of the interception to the touchdown, which made the cornerback Ronde Barber . The Bakkaniers won with a score of 27-10 and for the first time in their history reached the final of the Super Bowl.

The final was held on January 26, 2003 in San Diego , John Lynch's hometown. The Bakkaniers rivals were the Auckland Raiders, a team that John Gruden led the season earlier. “Pirates” defeated the “Raiders” with a score of 48-21. The main contribution was made by the protection of Tampa. The Bakkaniers made 5 interceptions ( Dexter Jackson - 2, Dwight Smith - 2, Derrick Brooks), 3 of which were returned to touchdown, thereby setting the NFL record.

2003-2008

After winning the Super Bowl, the Bakkanirs began to perform extremely unstable. Leaders gradually began to leave the team: Brad Johnson, Kishon Johnson, Joe Jurevichius and others. But the most powerful shock was the dismissal of two of the best defenders of the "pirates" - Warren Sapp and John Lynch. All this happened under the new general manager of Tampa - Bruce Allen . In 2005, Tampa spent her 30th season at the NFL and was able to advance to the playoffs (11-5), but was defeated by the Washington Redskins with a score of 17-10 in the wild card stage. In 2005 and 2006, the “pirates” could not get into the playoffs. In 2007, the Bakkaniers finished the season with a score of 9-7 and this time got into the wild card stage, where they lost to the future winners of the New York Giants Super Bowl. In 2008, the Bakkaniers club re-signed John Gruden and Bruce Allen, who were supposed to be in the team's location until 2011. Everything turned out very optimistic, “Bakkanirs” went 9-3 and, it would seem, the playoffs have already been reached. However, Tampa suffered 4 defeats in a row and remained “overboard”.

2009—2011: Era of Rahiim Morris

In January 2009, the Bakkaniers fired John Gruden. His place was taken by defense coordinator Rahiim Morris . Bruce Allen was also fired, and Mark Dominic took his place. The composition also underwent changes: Derrick Brooks, Joey Galloway and Jeff Garcia left the team. Tampa signed Kellen Winslow Junior and quarterback Byron Laftwich to the tight end , while drafting quarterback Josh Freeman .

Tampa started the season extremely unsuccessfully (0-7). Leftvich and Josh Johnson (both quarterbacks) were fired from the team. Drafted Josh Freeman became the main quarterback. In the first match, he defeated the Green Bay Packers. Tampa ended the season failing - 3-13.

In 2010, the Bakkanirs surprised many, ending the season with a score of 10-6, but failed to reach the playoffs. Starting quarterback Josh Freeman spent a terrific season with 25 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, a record at the Bakkanirs. Also, a very successful season was spent by the drafted receiver Mike Williams and Ranninback LeGarrett Blount .

In 2011, there were a lot of expectations from Tampa. However, the Bakkanirs finished the season with a score of 4-12. As a result, Rahiim Morris and the attack coordinator were fired.

2012: The Pirate's Way

3 weeks after the dismissal of Rahim Morris, the club signed on to the post of head coach Greg Shiano , who had previously coached the NCAA Rutgers Scarlet team a season earlier. The slogan “Pirate's Way” has become extremely popular among fans of the team and television broadcasts.

On the first day of the transfer window , the Bakkaniers were signed by Vincent Jackson (receiver) and Karl Nyx (off-line). However, this was not enough for Tampa: the season ended with the result of 7-9, and the team again did not get into the playoffs. The only bright spot was the team's newcomer ranninbek Dog Martin , who was drafted by Tampa at the 31st peak. In the first season, the “pirates” Dog scored 1,454 yards on the takeaways, bringing with it 11 touchdowns. Team quarterback Josh Freeman improved his results compared to the 2011 season (16-2), throwing 27 touchdowns and 17 interceptions and 4,065 yards, setting 2 Bakkeniers records.

2013

During the transfer window , the Bakkaniers made a real “boom!” By exchanging the best cornerback of the League Darrell Revis (for 2 round-peaks) with the New York Jets , who had to miss the entire 2012 season due to a rupture of the cross ligaments. The San Francisco Forty Niners cefti , Dashon Gouldson , who became a free agent, was also signed. At Draft, under 43rd peak, another cornerback was chosen - Jontan Banks . The Bakkaniers' defense, which in 2012 was the worst against transmissions, has increased significantly.

However, the season began again in a bad way. In the first two games of the season, Tampa suffered an unfortunate defeat from the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, missing field goals at the end of both matches, leading to defeats.

After the defeat of the Saints, there was talk in the Internet resources that Greg Schiano did not have a relationship with the team and that he was “losing control”.

• With 62 yards, Matt Bryant's field goal, which triumphed against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006, was the second longest field goal in NFL history. NFL record - 63 yards.
• Until December 26, 2007, Bakkanirs remained the only team that never returned kick-offs to touchdown in the regular season. This “black streak” broke when Michael Sporlack returned a kick-off in a match against Atlanta Falcons.

• Official site