Crushing Bones, Making A Name
January 25th, 2021
Jordan Whitehead
Among the top-20 most embarrassing plays of The Lost Decade was one that helped launch the career of a true Bucs hero in yesterday’s NFC Championship game.
Nearly every Bucs fan saw that embarrassing play. Why? Because the Bucs were undefeated and it happened against the Steelers on Monday Night Football in September of 2018.
It was the play that knocked safety Chris Conte out of football. (You can re-live the video nightmare below.) But the blow to Conte also opened the door for then-rookie Bucs safety Jordan Whitehead.
The hard-hitting Whitehead, who flashed his ferocity that preseason, brought his violent game to the regular season in the second half against Pittsburgh. And he’s been a starter ever since.
Former Bucs defensive coordinator called Whitehead a true sudden player after that game, a real “‘heat-seeking missile” in run defense.
Fast-forward to yesterday, and the nation got to see Whitehead’s old-school style on full display at Lambeau Field. He forced two fumbles, the second from Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones.
Jones came across the middle and caught an Aaron Rodgers checkdown pass. Whitehead hunted him like a Great White, closing in a blur from nine-yards away. Devin White recovered and rumbled deep into Packers territory, setting up the Bucs taking a 28-10 lead, aka the winning touchdown.
Whitehead, 24, has long been a gets-no-credit kind of guy. He’s not a Pro Bowl-level safety, but he’s certainly part of the Bucs’ elite run defense, and he steadily improves while he continues to be a bone-crushing safety in a league that’s trying to make them extinct.
A hit later in yesterday’s game saw Whitehead crush his own bones; he left with a shoulder injury, and Bucco Bruce Arians gave no definitive update the shoulder today.
Joe’s just feeling extra appreciation for Whitehead today … and throw an assist to Chris Conte.
Dear America, Jordan Whitehead has been doing this for 3 years.
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) January 24, 2021
That's just… 💪💪💪#HereWeGo
📺: #PITvsTB on ESPN pic.twitter.com/W7RKgGjFqs
— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2018
January 25th, 2021 at 2:42 pm
We need him and Winfield in 2 weeks more than we need Brown. Not sure where Cappa is with his injury.
January 25th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
Dude was a wrecking crew yesterday. Hope he is ok because he launched his shoulder into that guys quad. very hard hit. Hope he’s here for KC!
January 25th, 2021 at 2:49 pm
Revis’s cousin. Also from aliquippa pa. !baller.
January 25th, 2021 at 2:49 pm
If Winfield was a gametime decision…he’ll be ready….
I’m not sure which is a worse career-ender…..Conte or Brees…..I think Brees….because nobody knew Conte….
January 25th, 2021 at 2:49 pm
Glad he is on our team, honestly doesn’t collect alot of penalties for his level of play either
January 25th, 2021 at 2:51 pm
Don’t forget our guys get a guaranteed $60,000 for making it to the Super Bowl with a chance at $130,000.
January 25th, 2021 at 2:52 pm
no more Conte’s ever please Back then Conte epitomized the Bucs team/mindset==bend and break and then lose and then finally offense gets the ball so Jameis can throw to ME in triple or worse coverage and get another interception. all game long.
January 25th, 2021 at 3:00 pm
Hope Whitehead and Winfield are ok as we are going to need them both against Mahonnes and Kelsey.
January 25th, 2021 at 3:11 pm
I could be way wrong but I think he separated it. They gotta wait for the swelling to go down to see what his shoulder looks like later this week.
January 25th, 2021 at 3:11 pm
Love to watch Whitehead play. Old school approach and you can tell he is being coached up and learned a lot about the game growing up. Put the helmet on the ball, he can tackle! With him, Winfield, and Edwards. That is a very good and young trio!
January 25th, 2021 at 3:12 pm
Winfield will play..AB will play.. Vita will steamroll that KC line.. hope Jordan is good…and my name here still rings true
January 25th, 2021 at 3:45 pm
Wiley and Acho were just talking about him on there show.
January 25th, 2021 at 3:46 pm
Winfield been wearing a brace on his shoulder most of the season too…
January 25th, 2021 at 3:47 pm
Their show. Lol
January 25th, 2021 at 3:49 pm
I like that he doesn’t just go for the big hit, but also wraps up. Who was that db we used to have who kept breaking his forearms on big hits?
January 25th, 2021 at 3:49 pm
@SC Bucs
Cappa fractured his ankle. That’s a 6-8 week injury before trying to get back into football shape. He won’t be back until next season unfortunately. On the bright side, Stinnie has more than held his own. Credit to Licht for finding him, Gilbert for coaching him up, and Stinnie for stepping up.
January 25th, 2021 at 4:01 pm
Jason: Germaine Phillips maybe?
January 25th, 2021 at 4:04 pm
He probably won a lot of new fans to Tampa Bay with his warrior play yesterday. Game ball.
January 25th, 2021 at 4:11 pm
What was the actual injury Conte suffered from that play? Other than pride, that is.
January 25th, 2021 at 4:19 pm
kid is wreckin games with his hits and energy….
i love it!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
January 25th, 2021 at 4:40 pm
Jermaine Phillips
January 25th, 2021 at 4:40 pm
Kelcie may have swept one thoughts cutting over the middle. They may need to lasso Hill to catch him, that man can motor and I heard he’s pretty good at beating on 3 year olds.
January 25th, 2021 at 4:43 pm
Jordan brought the wood to Green Bay. He sacrificed his body for the team. Best game as a Buc. Really hope he’s able to play with the same aggression in two weeks. Our defense is peaking at just the right time and now we have two weeks to heal up and put it all on the line. Getting a limited and rusty Vea back was the x factor yesterday. His impact will be felt in the SB.
January 25th, 2021 at 5:28 pm
That Defense was must watch football.
January 25th, 2021 at 5:45 pm
Chris Conte playing with Ryan Smith… literally the two worst starting defensive players I’ve ever seen. In fact, I’ll go further, Ryan Smith is THE worst defensive back I’ve ever seen, at any level. The guy has zero feel for the game – got constantly burnt. I can’t wait for someone to sign him thinking he’s on the Bucs Super Bowl roster so he must be good. LOL!
January 25th, 2021 at 5:52 pm
Been a Whitehead fan since he was drafted and brought here. He stood out in the 2018 preseason. He may not be flashy but he is a headhunter. He will be in the SB unless his shoulder was pulverized.
January 25th, 2021 at 6:26 pm
SC Buc fan…
Joe…
Based on Whitehead talking last night, it sounds like he will be ready for the Super Bowl.
Not sure about Winfield. He better be 100% if he does go because they can’t afford to play him on a bum ankle with Tyree Hill out there.
As for Kappa, he won’t be back he broke his leg. And Stinnie has been awesome
January 25th, 2021 at 8:03 pm
“he launched his shoulder into that guys quad. very hard hit.”
True dat Robert. Now perhaps he could teach Carlton Davis how to tackle.
Davis repeatedly goes high as in neck and shoulder high and then gets stiff armed as the receiver runs on thinking…get outta here with that weak sh*t Carlton.
They NEVER think that when Jordan arrives!
January 25th, 2021 at 10:11 pm
It looked like a serious injury the way they had it bandaged up… Man I hope he can play in the SB… Dude deserves it!!
January 26th, 2021 at 2:30 am
@rodmunch
But Ryan Smith is also the best gunner in Bucs history.
January 26th, 2021 at 3:26 am
Simms and Florio called him Jermaine Whitehead lol
January 26th, 2021 at 7:06 am
oh yeah….hes all over it….who dat?
January 26th, 2021 at 8:53 am
I’ve been saying for a few weeks that Edwards is playing so well that he’s going to push Winfield to SS and Whitehead out of a job…but not having him on the field in that 2nd half made me rethink that. We’ve got three really talented safeties.