Baker Mayfield
The Bucs imploded last season, losing seven of nine games to finish 8-9 and send fans spiraling into rage.
That rage hit psychotic levels when Todd was retained, and then again when legendary Mike Evans, Mr. “I’m a Buc for Life,” punted on millions of Team Glazer dollars and opted to leave Tampa Bay for the 49ers.
But what was the Bucs’ 2025 meltdown like for players?
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht offered a window into that world during his sitdown this week with the team’s official website.
“This team is really hungry right now,” Licht told Buccaneers.com. “And the way it ended last year, I think really lit a fire under a lot of players. I’ve had several of them telling me that they can’t wait until OTAs start (spring practices) to get out there.
And I had several of them after the season ended last year, texting or calling or whatever, saying, ‘This is not going to happen next year.’ I’m excited to see the energy and just the way they’re going to go about it and attack it this year.”
Joe loves hearing this, but it makes Joe wonder where the hunger Licht reference was after the Bucs lost on Thursday Night Football to the Falcons to drop their record to 7-7. Bowles broke from his public persona after the game and tore up the team in a profanity-laced rant to reporters — yet the players didn’t respond.
Ten days later, the Bucs lost to the middling Panthers and followed that up by losing to the tanking Dolphins, which had rookie backup seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers starting at quarterback.
Yes, teams can get re-energized and bounce back. The Bucs have a great chance to accomplish that with their offensive line returning healthy, many new assistant coaches in critical roles, and with what hopefully is a group of free agents with the right attitude.
However, several players and coaches remain from last season’s implosion. It will be critical for everyone associated with the Bucs to not tolerate an ounce of whatever virus infected the roster last season and was left untreated.
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Jason Licht Says Bucs Are Still The Team That Was 6-2 To Start Last Season