Dream Team Project
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Dream Team
The all-time Buccaneers lineup, position by position. Every player here suited up for the Buccaneers. Disagree with a pick? Leave a comment or nominate someone below.
How we pick
One real lineup per franchise, judged on what each player did in this uniform: impact, playoff moments and longevity with the team first, league honors second. Players are measured against their own era, and every entry is checked against the team site, the Pro Football Hall of Fame or Pro Football Reference.
The roster
Our picks, grouped by unit.
Offense
11 playersQB
Tom Brady
Only three seasons, but they brought a title and a Super Bowl MVP.
Super Bowl LV champion & MVP; 2021 Pro Bowl; led NFL in passing yards and TDs 2021
Sources: Wikipedia
RB
James Wilder
Workhorse of the 1980s who still leads the franchise in rushing yards.
1984 Pro Bowl; 1984 2nd-team All-Pro; Buccaneers career rushing leader; NFL-record 492 touches in 1984
Sources: Wikipedia
WR
Mike Evans
Holds nearly every team receiving record after 12 seasons in Tampa.
Super Bowl LV champ; 6× Pro Bowl; Buccaneers career leader in receptions, yards and TDs
Sources: Wikipedia
WR
Chris Godwin
Tough, versatile receiver and the perfect partner to Evans.
Super Bowl LV champ; 2019 Pro Bowl; 2019 2nd-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
WR
Mark Carrier
Top receiver of the lean late-80s teams and long-time team yardage leader.
1989 Pro Bowl; 1,422 receiving yards in 1989
Sources: Wikipedia
TE
Jimmie Giles
Big-play tight end of the first Tampa Bay playoff teams.
4× Pro Bowl; Buccaneers Ring of Honor
Sources: Wikipedia
LT
Paul Gruber
Twelve-year tackle who was the team's one constant through the losing years.
2× 2nd-team All-Pro (1991, 1992); Buccaneers Ring of Honor
Sources: Wikipedia
LG
Ali Marpet
Seven-year starter at guard and center, at left guard on the title team.
Super Bowl LV champ; 2021 Pro Bowl
Sources: Wikipedia
C
Tony Mayberry
Ten-year center who made three straight Pro Bowls as the team rose.
3× Pro Bowl (1997-1999)
Sources: Wikipedia
RG
Davin Joseph
Eight-year right guard who was a two-time Pro Bowler.
2× Pro Bowl (2008, 2011)
Sources: Wikipedia
RT
Tristan Wirfs
Rookie starter at right tackle on a title team, All-Pro on both sides since.
Super Bowl LV champ; 5× Pro Bowl; 2× 1st-team All-Pro (2021 at RT, 2024 at LT)
Sources: Wikipedia
Defense
11 playersDT
Warren Sapp
Hall of Fame tackle and the most dominant interior rusher of his time.
Super Bowl XXXVII champ; 1999 Defensive Player of the Year; 7× Pro Bowl; 4× 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
DT
Gerald McCoy
Six straight Pro Bowls as the lone star on struggling teams.
6× Pro Bowl (2012-2017); 2013 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
DE
Lee Roy Selmon
The first draft pick in team history and its first great player.
1979 Defensive Player of the Year; 6× Pro Bowl; 3× 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
EDGE
Simeon Rice
Speed rusher and All-Pro on the 2002 championship defense.
Super Bowl XXXVII champ; 2× Pro Bowl with TB; 2002 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Derrick Brooks
Never missed a game in 14 seasons; the greatest Buccaneer of all.
Super Bowl XXXVII champ; 2002 Defensive Player of the Year; 11× Pro Bowl; 5× 1st-team All-Pro
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
LB
Lavonte David
Fourteen seasons of elite, underrated play, all in Tampa.
Super Bowl LV champ; 2013 1st-team All-Pro; 2015 Pro Bowl
Sources: Wikipedia
LB
Hardy Nickerson
Tackling machine who made five Pro Bowls in seven Tampa seasons.
5× Pro Bowl; 2× 1st-team All-Pro; NFL 1990s All-Decade
Sources: Wikipedia
CB
Ronde Barber
Hall of Famer who started 215 straight games and leads the team in picks.
Super Bowl XXXVII champ; 5× Pro Bowl; 3× 1st-team All-Pro; Buccaneers career interception leader
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
CB
Brian Kelly
Ten-year corner who had his best season for the 2002 champions.
Super Bowl XXXVII champ; co-led NFL with 8 interceptions in 2002
Sources: Wikipedia
S
John Lynch
Hall of Fame enforcer in the secondary of the great Bucs defenses.
Super Bowl XXXVII champ; 5× Pro Bowl with TB; Buccaneers Ring of Honor
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame; Wikipedia
S
Antoine Winfield Jr.
Do-everything safety who intercepted a pass in the Super Bowl as a rookie.
Super Bowl LV champ; 2023 1st-team All-Pro; 2× Pro Bowl (2021, 2025)
Sources: Wikipedia
Special Teams / Coaching
4 playersK
Martin Gramatica
Kicker of the Super Bowl XXXVII champions and a Pro Bowler in 2000.
Super Bowl XXXVII champ; 2000 Pro Bowl; 2000 2nd-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
P
Josh Bidwell
Reliable punter for six seasons and a Pro Bowler in 2005.
2005 Pro Bowl; 2005 2nd-team All-Pro
Sources: Wikipedia
RET
Karl Williams
Punt returner who still holds the team's career records.
Super Bowl XXXVII champ; Buccaneers records for punt return yards (2,565) and punt return TDs (5)
Sources: Wikipedia
COACH
Jon Gruden
Won the franchise's first Super Bowl in his first season in Tampa.
Super Bowl XXXVII champion head coach; Buccaneers record for coaching wins
Sources: Wikipedia
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