Haason Reddick’s personal revenge tour starts now.
In Tampa Bay, with the Bucs.
Following a year with the Jets that Reddick labeled “very bizarre” and “weird,” the 30-year old edge rusher is looking to restore his reputation as a double-digit sacker in the league after recording just one sack in New York following a lengthy holdout that limited him to just 10 games.
“It’s a fresh start,” Reddick said Friday. “I know everybody’s worried about last year, but last year was last year. I’m here now and I’m in a different mindset – a different space. I’m ready to put the past behind and move forward. What better place to do that than right here?”
Reddick has recorded 59 sacks in his eight years in the league, including a stretch of four double-digit sack seasons in his final year in Arizona in 2019, his lone season in Carolina in 2020 and a pair of seasons in Philadelphia in 2021-22. That’s the player that the Bucs are hoping to get after signing him to a one-year deal worth $14 million, including $12 million in guaranteed money.
“I’m not going to be surprised if he destroys the league next year,” said Bucs outside linebackers coach Larry Foote, who was his first NFL position coach in Arizona in 2017 after the Cardinals made him their first-round pick.
It was the past relationship with Foote and the Temple alumni connection that he and Todd Bowles have that made Reddick want to pick the Bucs over other suitors in free agency.
Cardinals Olb Haason Reddick
Cardinals OLB Haason Reddick – Photo by: USA Today
“A lot of connections here,” Reddick said. “I went to Temple, so I have that Temple connection with Todd – Coach Bowles – and my guy Rock (cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross) and also Foote. He was my position coach out in Arizona when I got there. A lot of connections and familiarity. It’s a great place and a great organization, so why not?”
The Bucs need more sacks, as the outside linebackers had just a collective 12 sacks last season, which is unacceptable. And in order for Reddick to land what could be a final multi-year contract with a massive pay day, he needs to get sacks, so this should be a perfect marriage.
“It’s a good problem to have on both sides,” Foote said. “You want to get sacks? We want you to get sacks. That’s the nature of this game – it’s a pass-happy game. I just have to keep him grounded. You have to earn the right and play the run. I know he doesn’t mind that. He’s a little guy and he reminds me of Shaq [Barrett] – with a punch. You have to be aggressive in the run game just like you’re rushing the passer.”
Haason Reddick Is The Ballhawk The Bucs Need Up Front
Bucs Olbs Coach Larry Foote
Bucs OLBs coach Larry Foote – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Haason Reddick is just two years removed from an 11-sack season in Philadelphia and three years removed from a career-high 16-sack year that came with five forced fumbles with the Eagles. It’s not just his sack production that intrigues the Bucs. It’s his ability to force fumbles, too.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said at the NFL Scouting Combine that he’s looking for ballhawks this offseason, and Reddick, a two-time Pro Bowler, has forced 17 fumbles in his career.
After Tampa Bay’s outside linebackers forced a collective forced four fumbles last year, that’s an area that the Bucs could certainly use some help with. Reddick was asked what makes him an effective turnover machine when it comes to forcing fumbles.
“Repetition,” Reddick said. “Not to sound cliché but practice makes perfect. Knowing that I’m unorthodox at the position, my knack was how can I be different? What could I do besides just getting to the quarterback to stand out? That was something that I worked on and had to drill a ton and a ton and a ton again.”
Foote said that Reddick’s speed off the edge allows him to be proficient at forcing fumbles.
“That’s a speed thing,” Foote said. “When you beat the guy so clean you have time to find the ball and slow down and focus on it. Normally when guys win clean and fast they can get that ball out.”
Haason Reddick Will Bring A Needed Edge To Tampa Bay’s Defense
Bucs Olb Haason Reddick
Bucs OLB Haason Reddick – Photo by: USA Today
Haason Reddick admitted he watched quite a few Bucs games last year, including the playoff loss to the Commanders in the Wild Card round. He saw Tampa Bay’s inability to get off the field and stop Washington’s final scoring drive, which consumed the final 4:41 off the clock and knows he can help the Bucs defense.
Tampa Bay’s defense has been missing a certain edge since Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh left the team after the 2021 season. Reddick, who hails from Camden, New Jersey, will bring some needed edge to Todd Bowles’ unit.
“You’ve got to have an edge to play this game,” Reddick said. “I know based off the rules it’s getting less and less physical every year, but this is a physical sport at the end of the day. You don’t make it far without having a certain edge and a certain grit to you. So I definitely plan to bring that.”
Despite being an undersized edge rusher listed at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds on the team’s website, Reddick says he’s bigger and packs a punch in both the run game and as a pass rusher.
“I’m actually around 245 right now in my bulking phase,” Reddick said. “We’ve been training and keeping that up, and probably got to put on a couple more pounds to get ready for training camp. You know how that weather is, and getting ready to shed some weight off.”
Reddick sounds excited to be in Tampa Bay after being traded to New York in 2024. He didn’t pick the Jets last year, but he’s picking the Bucs this season and he’s ready to redeem himself as a pass rusher after a down year.
“I’m very anxious,” Reddick said. “I feel like some people may have fell asleep [on me]. But if anything, more so for myself. I’m just happy to be in a great place and be able play football and enjoy it the way I’ve been able to most of my career.”