Tampa Bay Buccaneers HISTORY
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team History The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the NFL in 1976 in an expansion that saw the league grow to 28 teams. They quickly began to set a reputation for futility, becoming the first team to go winless in NFL history with an 0-14 record. The team went on to lose 26 straight games before finally overcoming the equally abysmal New Orleans Saints in 1977. In 1979, the Bucs, led by African American quarterback (a rarity at the time) Doug Williams, turned things around and made it as far as the NFC Championship game before falling to the Los Angeles Rams. Williams left the team after the 1982 season. He would eventually go on to win the Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins. The Buccaneers, in contrast, would go on to suffer 14 consecutive losing seasons, finally ending up in the black in 1997, one year after bringing Tony Dungy aboard as head coach.
After a .500 season in 1998, Dungy went on to make the playoffs every year until 2001, his even-handed style tempering the personalities of such outspoken stars as WR Keyshawn Johnson and DE Warren Sapp. In 2002 conflicts with the owner resulted in Dungy being let go, and Jon Gruden was lifted from the Raiders to be his replacement. The move proved to work out well for both teams, as Gruden led the Bucs to a 48-21 victory over his former team in Super Bowl XXXVII, and Dungy went on to win Super Bowl XLI as the coach of the Indianapolis Colts.
The Buccaneers have yet to repeat the success of 2002, but remain a competitive force in football today and a consistent threat in the NFC South Division.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Memorable Moments
December 1976
The Buccaneers end their inaugural season with a 14th straight loss, the first winless season in NFL history.
December 11, 1977
The Buccaneers win their first game ever, a 33-16 defeat of the New Orleans Saints, ending a streak of 26 consecutive losses.
December 1979
The Buccaneers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-17 to make it to their first NFC Championship game
September 1996
Tony Dungy is hired as head coach. Dungy would create a new winning attitude in Tampa that would see a consistent return to the playoffs.
September 1997
In one of the most important moves in team history, the team does away with the “Bucco Bruce” pirate logo and creamsicle colors and replaces them with a much more intimidating Jolly Roger flag and red, white and pewter color scheme.
September 2002
Jon Gruden takes over as head coach of the Buccaneers.
January 26, 2003
Tampa Bay beats the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, 48-21.Tampa Bay Buccaneers Records
All-time regular season franchise record: 194 - 300 - 1
All-time playoff franchise record: 6 - 8
All-time franchise passing leader: Vinny Testaverde - 14820 yards
All-time franchise rushing leader: James Wilder - 5957 yards
All-time franchise receiving leader: Mark Carrier - 5018 yards
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Playoff Results
2004
NFC Wildcard Game: won 27 - 20 at Seattle Seahawks
NFC Divisional Playoff: lost 17 - 47 at Atlanta Falcons
2003
NFC Divisional Playoff: lost 23 - 29 vs. Carolina Panthers
2001
NFC Divisional Playoff: won 45 - 17 vs. Green Bay Packers
NFC Championship Game: won 29 - 24 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowl: lost 17 - 20 vs. New England Patriots
2000
NFC Wildcard Game: lost 28 - 31 at New Orleans Saints
1999
NFC Divisional Playoff: won 49 - 37 vs. Minnesota Vikings
NFC Championship Game: lost 11 - 6 vs. St. Louis Rams
1989
NFC Wildcard Game: won 21 - 7 at Philadelphia Eagles
NFC Divisional Playoff: won 19 - 13 at New York Giants
NFC Championship Game: lost 3 - 30 at San Francisco 49ers
1988
NFC Wildcard Game: lost 17 - 28 at Minnesota Vikings
1986
NFC Wildcard Game: lost 7 - 19 at Washington Redskins
1985
NFC Divisional Playoff: won 20 - 0 vs. Dallas Cowboys
NFC Championship Game: lost 0 - 24 at Chicago Bears
1984
NFC Wildcard Game: lost 13 - 16 vs. New York Giants
1983
NFC Wildcard Game: won 24 - 17 at Dallas Cowboys
NFC Divisional Playoff: lost 7 - 51 at Washington Redskins
1980
NFC Wildcard Game: lost 13 - 34 at Dallas Cowboys
1979
NFC Divisional Playoff: won 21 - 19 at Dallas Cowboys
NFC Championship Game: won 9 - 0 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl: lost 19 - 31 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
1978
NFC Divisional Playoff: won 34 - 10 vs. Minnesota Vikings
NFC Championship Game: lost 0 - 28 vs. Dallas Cowboys
1977
NFC Divisional Playoff: lost 7 - 14 vs. Minnesota Vikings
1976
NFC Divisional Playoff: won 14 - 12 at Dallas Cowboys
NFC Championship Game: lost 13 - 24 at Minnesota Vikings
1975
NFC Divisional Playoff: won 35 - 23 vs. St. Louis Cardinals
NFC Championship Game: lost 7 - 37 vs. Dallas Cowboys
1974
NFC Divisional Playoff: won 19 - 10 vs. Washington Redskins
NFC Championship Game: lost 10 - 14 at Minnesota Vikings
1973
NFC Divisional Playoff: lost 16 - 27 at Dallas Cowboys
1969
NFL Divisional Playoff: lost 20 - 23 at Minnesota Vikings
1967
NFL Divisional Playoff: lost 7 - 28 at Green Bay Packers
1955
NFL Championship Game: lost 14 - 38 vs. Cleveland Browns
1952
NFL Divisional Playoff: lost 21 - 31 vs. Detroit Lions
1951
NFL Championship Game: won 24 - 17 vs. Cleveland Browns
1950
NFL Divisional Playoff: won 24 - 14 vs. Chicago Bears
NFL Championship Game: lost 28 - 30 at Cleveland Browns
1949
NFL Championship Game: lost 0 - 14 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
1945
NFL Championship Game: won 15 - 14 vs. Washington Redskins
All-time playoff record: 19 - 24
SOURCE: Pro Football Reference |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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