In celebration of the franchise’s 50th NFL season in 2025, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have compiled a list of the 50 greatest players in the team’s history, including Mike Washington.
Washington was an original Buc but was not originally a Buc. He placed No. 37 on Tampa Bay’s list of all-time greats.
At Lee High School in Montgomery, Washington was an All-State end for the undefeated team that won the AHSAA Class 4A championship in 1970. At Alabama, Washington was a member of the team that won the American Football Coaches Association’s national championship in 1973 and earned All-American recognition from the Football News in 1974.
A third-round selection in the 1975 NFL Draft by Baltimore, Washington did not play for the Colts during his rookie season, and before the 1976 campaign, the expansion Buccaneers acquired the cornerback for a third-round pick in the 1977 draft.
With Tampa Bay, Washington started 97 of his 99 games in the Bucs’ secondary over the next eight seasons before a head injury sustained in the first game of the 1984 campaign prematurely ended his career.
Washington had 28 interceptions, which were the most in franchise history when his career ended and rank fourth four decades later. He returned three interceptions for touchdowns and also scored on a blocked field-goal attempt.
Tampa Bay had a 7-37 record in its first three seasons. But in 1979, the Bucs went 10-6 and reached the NFL Championship Game. Tampa Bay had the NFL’s No. 1 passing defense that season, when Washington had three interceptions.
Washington died in 2021. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.
The top 50 Buccaneers list was led by linebacker Derrick Brooks, with defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, wide receiver Mike Evans and cornerback Ronde Barber in the top five.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.
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