This season is a special one for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The two-time Super Bowl champion organization is celebrating its 50th season of existence. To honor the occasion, the Buccaneers are revealing the Top 50 players in the franchise's history, dating back to their inaugural year in 1976.
On Thursday, the Buccaneers revealed their Top 10 players in franchise history. Former Buccaneers linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks among the Top 10, and unsurprisingly, was named the No. 1 player in Buccaneers franchise history.
Brooks took to Twitter to thank the Buccaneers for the honor, while thanking his teammates over the years for helping him become a better player. Brooks also gave thanks to the Glazer family for the honor.
I wanted to earn the right to be their Captain every single day by being the best teammate possible. Thank You to entire Bucs organization stating with the Glazer Family! Happy 50th Birthday Bucs! @Buccaneers
— Derrick Brooks (@DBrooks55) August 29, 2025
Derrick Brooks named Buccaneers' No. 1 player in Top 50 list celebrating franchise's 50th season
Brooks receiving this honor is not a shock whatsoever. He was the Buccaneers' best player in franchise history and one of the best linebackers in the entire NFL.
The Buccaneers used the 1995 NFL Draft to stack up their defense. They first selected defensive tackle Warren Sapp, then traded back into the first round to ensure they could draft Brooks, the Florida State star and National Championship winner. The Buccaneers knew he was going to be good, and the resume speaks for itself.
After his first two seasons with the Buccaneers, he made the Pro Bowl for 11 of the next 12 years of his career. In 2002, Brooks won the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year Award after recording 118 total tackles (88 solo, 30 assisted), 11 passes defended, five interceptions, three interceptions returned for touchdowns, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. Speaking of the 2002 season, that was the year the Buccaneers won their first Super Bowl ever, defeating the then-Oakland Raiders 48-21. In that game, Brooks recorded the game-winning pick-six.
In his 14 years with the Buccaneers, Brooks recorded 1,713 yards (1,300 solo, 413 assisted), 84 passes defended, 68 tackles for loss, 25 interceptions, 24 forced fumbles, and 13.5 sacks. Brooks was a five-time First Team All-Pro, a four-time Second Team All-Pro, a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, and the winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2000. After retiring in 2008, Brooks made it into the Hall of Fame in 2014 on his first year on the ballot.
Given all the accolades and his contributions to the team during his playing career, it's not a shock that Brooks was named as the No. 1 player in the franchise's Top 50 players list. And Brooks is appreciative of the honor.