Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Josiah Trotter (45) intercepts the ball during the third quarter at Paycor Stadium.
Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2026 opener got hyped as Baker Mayfield versus Joe Burrow. Except Josiah Trotter stole the show in front of the latter quarterback, literally. And delivered NFL history in the process against the Cincinnati Bengals during week one despite taking the 33-27 loss.
Trotter stepped in front of this laser throw by Burrow to draw the Bucs within a touchdown.
But here's the history Trotter hits, per Bucs insider for ESPN Jenna Laine following the game.
“From Elias: Josiah Trotter is the first NFL rookie with a pick six and a sack in his NFL debut since sacks became an official stat in 1982,” Laine posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter. “He is also the ninth player in NFL history with a sack and interception in his NFL debut since 1982.”
So Trotter makes quite the first impression on his new head coach Todd Bowles. And immediately proves to the Bucs front office that they di right in taking the linebacker in the second round of the April draft.
Trotter arrived to the league with “alpha energy” according to NFL Network draft expert Lance Zierlein. Plus he came with famed league bloodlines, as his father is former Philadelphia Eagles star linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. Yet this Trotter came with some notable flaws in pass coverage during his run at Missouri.
Except those flaws looked non-existent during the aerial takeaway of Burrow. Trotter also delivered 11 total tackles with the sack and pick six. He became the only Buccaneer to deliver double-digit tackles.