NFL

The Tampa Bay became the 27^th NFL franchise in 1974 and in 1976 went 0-14 in their first season. The Bucs are the last team in the NFL to go winless in an entire season. The Buc initially started in the AFC South but was moved to the NFC Central, which is now the NFC South. In their first two years in the league the Bucs lost twenty-six consecutive games which is the NFL record. The Bucs finally won their first game on December 11, 1977 against the New Orleans Saints. Only three seasons removed from the winless season the Bucs won the NFC Central division with a 10-6 record and found themselves in the NFC Championship game but lost to the Los Angeles Rams 9-0. The Bucs have complied six division championships over the course of their history.

The Bucs prided themselves on great defense play since their beginnings. With the likes of great defensive players such as defensive end Lee Roy Selmon who was the Bucs very first draft choice in 1976. Despite the Bucs early history woes Selmon had great individual success being named to the Pro Bowl team six times, Defensive Player of the Year in 1979, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Bucs would win the NFC Central again in 1982 with a 9-7 record which enabled them to make the playoffs three times out of the last four seasons.

After a very long drought of unsuccessful seasons in the 1980′s and early 1990′s the Buc regain there old form from the late 1970′s acquiring future Hall of Fame player defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Sapp was drafted in 1995 and had his most productive seasons with the Bucs making seven Pro Bowls and being a very important player on their 2002 Super Bowl XXXVII winning team. Coach John Gruden helped the Bucs get over the hump with their Super Bowl victory which the previous coach Tony Dungy couldn’t do. The Bucs with their stellar defense finished with a 12-4 regular season record and a blow out of the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII. Key players of their Super Bowl run were linebacker Derrick Brooks, who became a ten time Pro Bowl selection, defensive end Simeon Rice, who lead the entire NFL in sacks with a 121 among active players upon retirement in 2007, safety John Lynch, and running back Michael Pittman.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play in the NFC South with the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and the Atlanta Falcons. The division has been one by each team in the last five season. Since their Super Bowl victory in 2002 the Bucs have been poor to average to good but never making an significant impact within the NFC. With a NFC that had been improving with the overall quality of teams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to develop and acquire talent before they revert back to an insignificant team once again.