Henry Roldán
One of the NFL’ s youngest franchises has the luxury of having several of the best defensive players in history. Furthermore, they boast among their ranks the best quarterback in the circuit’s history. If you want to know who they are, here is a list of the top 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers players of all time
5.- Best Tampa Bay Buccaneers Players of All Time: Tom Brady (QB)
Don’t be surprised. Brady should appear on this list, despite having worn a Tampa Bay uniform for just two seasons.
At the age of 43, the (still) franchise quarterback arrived in 2020, and it took him only a second to add to his long Super Bowl record by winning the seventh on his list and the second in Buccaneers history.
Moreover, Brady is already the quarterback with the most touchdowns scored in a season for the Bucs, breaking his 2020 mark of 40 in 2021 with 43 TDs, and is first in air yards in a single season with 5,316.
4.- Best Tampa Bay Buccaneers Players of All Time: John Lynch (S)
Lynch lacked one thing to be considered one of the greatest Buccaneers (and NFL) players of all time, and he achieved it in 2021, the year he was selected to the circuit’s Hall of Fame.
In his 11 seasons in a Tampa Bay uniform, Lynch was the leader of one of the best defenses of his era and was instrumental in helping the franchise win its first Super Bowl in 2002.
Lynch remains fifth in franchise games played with 164, fifth in tackles with 541 and sixth in interceptions with 23. On top of that, he was called to nine Pro-Bowl and selected to two All-Pro teams.
3.- Best Tampa Bay Buccaneers Players of All Time: Warren Sapp (DT)
Among the best players in the history of the Buccaneers, Sapp, the franchise’s leader in catches and one of the defensive pillars of the team that won the organization’s first Super Bowl in 2002, cannot be missing from this list.
Despite not being a natural pass rusher, Sapp’s play on the field was so good that he concluded his career with 77 sacks, held the team mark for most catches in a season with 16.5, and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1999.
Sapp, who played 140 games for Tampa Bay, was one of the best defensive players in the circuit between 1997 and 2003, during which time he earned seven consecutive Pro-Bowl appearances and four All-Pro selections. In 2013, in his first appearance on the ballot, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
2.- Best Tampa Bay Buccaneers Players of All Time: Lee Roy Selmon (DL)
Selmon is in the hearts of all Buccaneers fans as the first pick of the 1976 Draft, the first in which the new NFL franchise participated at the time.
In his nine seasons in the NFL, the linebacker only wore the uniform of Tampa Bay, with which he played 121 games and led the team to its first NFC Championship Game in 1979 with a performance that earned him the Defensive Player of the Year award.
An indication of his defensive prowess is that he finished his career with 78.5 catches, although these began to be shown officially in 1982. Selmon also played in six Pro Bowls, was selected to an All-Pro team, was a member of the 80’s All-Fame team and was also the first member of the Buccaneers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.
1.- Best Tampa Bay Buccaneers Players of All Time: Derrick Brooks (LB)
In a list dominated by defensive figures, Brooks’ name stands out as the number 1 of the best Buccaneers players of all time. Brooks was the clear captain of the amazing defense, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors that season, like Lynch and Sapp, who were crucial elements of the 2002 victory.
He played his 14 seasons in a Tampa Bay uniform, between 1995 and 2008, remains the franchise leader in tackles (1,300) and forced fumbles (24), is second with the most games played (224) and holds a record for an outside linebacker in the NFL with 208 consecutive games played.
Brooks was inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 2014, participated in 11 Pro-Bowls, was tabbed to five All-Pro teams and his number 55 is one of three that were retired by the franchise.
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