Keyshawn Johnson Reveals A Piece Of Bucs History

October 16th, 2021

During the aftermath of Jon Gruden’s football career crumbling this week, former Bucs great Keyshawn Johnson revealed an interesting nugget of Tampa Bay history on ESPN TV.

Johnson is now a major personality ot BSPN after his stellar 11-year wide receiver career (1996-2006). But it seems that career could have extended at least one more season — in Tampa for the 2007 NFC South champs.

Johnson was talking on air this week about how Chucky was all about winning and his own needs, and a bit of a fraud otherwise. Their relationship fell apart when Johnson was in Tampa (as old school Bucs fans know), but Johnson said they were on good terms (not buddies) as colleagues at BSPN.

He told a story of Chucky and then-Bucs-general-manager Bruce Allen calling him after the 2006 season and asking him to unretire and play for Tampa Bay. It seems Chucky preferred Johnson over fading-fast receiver Michael Clayton.

The Bucs already had stud receivers Ike Hilliard (3rd-and-Ike!) and Joey Galloway, and Joe suspects Chucky saw Johnson as the ideal No. 2 receiver in that mix.

Johnson said he was done at 34 years old and he had no interest.

Bucs fans know how the 2007 season went. Tampa Bay’s passing game was mediocre, though starting QB Jeff Garcia made the Pro Bowl because he only threw four interceptions. And the Bucs crumbled at home in the opening round of the playoffs to a physical Giants team that soon after won the Super Bowl.

Might that Bucs-Giants playoff game been different with Johnson on the field?

Also interesting was Johnson sharing how Chucky called him when he took the Raiders job in 2018 to get his take on personnel and a potential coach that Johnson knew.

Johnson said it was an hour-long phone call and it was classic Chucky — because Johnson believed Chucky had no interest in his take on personnel and just wanted to learn about the potential coach.

53 Responses to “Keyshawn Johnson Reveals A Piece Of Bucs History”

  1. Rick Says:

    Keyshawn was a turd.

  2. BuccoDav Says:

    Loved Key at USC and with the Bucs… but he is not a stand up guy. Nothing like taking shots at a guy who is already down. Seems like he is salivating at this opportunity.

  3. Kentucky Buc Says:

    Keyslow was half as good as he thought he was.

  4. Lets Roll Says:

    If Keyyawn was white they wouldn’t allow him to throw dirt on a dead man.

    If it was Dunnnngy, this story would have only made it through ONE news cycle and NOBODY would have been allowed to talk about it.

  5. Lets Roll Says:

    This is not a race issue, this is just a tactic, of FREEDOMs ENEMY.

    Wake up sleeping Giant, wake up. The AMERICAN DREAM IS REAL.

    As my most favorite person in history once said, let us “judge a person by the content of their character and NOT the color of their skin!”

  6. Lets Roll Says:

    This is not a race issue, this is just a tactic, of FREEDOMs ENEMY.

    Wake up sleeping Giant, wake up. The AMERICAN DREAM IS REAL.

    As my most favorite person in history once said, let us “judge a person by the content of their character and NOT the color of their skin!”

  7. 1sparkybuc Says:

    I remember Meshaun disrespecting a WR on the Jets team he had just left, and that player was instrumental in beating the Bucs in their first meeting after the trade. One of the few things Gruden handled well, was booting his sorry ass off the team in the middle of the season. Gruden was a great OC, but sucked as a HC in my opinion. Players respect a coach that’s a man of his word. That’s not Chuckie.

  8. Aaron Says:

    Y’all are paid to write and somehow “beleived” got posted?

  9. Colonel Angus Says:

    If it was Dungy, there would be no story because Dungy wouldn’t say dumb sh!t.

  10. FortMyersDave Says:

    1SparkyBuc: 3 words that always go together: Keyshawn, flashlight, Chrebet.

    Man that loss was a kick in the package for us Buc fans but it did show what meshawn was about. Gruden and Keyshawn could not co-exist on the sideline because they were too much alike as far as swollen egos and narcissism go……

  11. Sparky Says:

    In this 15 years since Meshawn stopped playing he has only stopped talking long enough to eat and take the occasional breath and yet still hasn’t produced any content worth hearing.

  12. Francisco Guzman Says:

    This guy picked against us last year to lose in the playoffs. He’s a clown in my opinion.

  13. Ben green Says:

    The ability to offer an opinion on this subject is relegated to whom ever is moderating, or whatever laundry you support. Ben has had encounters with both, not enough to label either one a racist. I know this about key, he’s in it for key and nobody else

  14. Ben green Says:

    He’s also a terrible analyst, who doesn’t deserve his job. Just because you played in the league, and bitched when you didn’t get the ball, it doesn’t make you an analyst

  15. sasquatch Says:

    Say what you will about Keyshawn, but Chucky is no less of a turd. He was just a turd with power.

  16. Ben green Says:

    This is in no way a defense of gruden. But KJ is a disingenuous, self deflecting turd. He probably feels that way about multiple coaches/GM’s that he’s played for. Why anybody listens to this guy is beyond Ben. He’s pretty see through to me

  17. Ben green Says:

    KJ also had a problem with Jeff’s “preferences”

  18. Lets Roll Says:

    DuNNNgy has said worst. He openly supports MURDER of CHILDREN in the womb AND supports SODOMY.

  19. Lets Roll Says:

    DUNNgy is no Christian, he is a poser

  20. David Says:

    Of course there’s a lot of Keyshawn haters here, this town seems to be filled with a lot of haters for a lot of different reasons but it doesn’t change the fact that Keyshawn is probably 100% more truthful than Gruden ever has been. Gruden is a caricature, an overrated coach, someone who looks out for himself Waymore than anyone else. How he ever got this mantle of being a great quarterback coach is beyond me. He never developed a quarterback in his life. He got lucky with a couple good years in Oakland.
    That said I am grateful he brought the Bucs a Super Bowl and I still think he deserves to be in the ring of honor.

  21. Lets Roll Says:

    Dr. King on the other hand. #RealMan #WishWeStillHadHim

  22. Lets Roll Says:

    Not Haters. Just not as STUPID as most places. Its called thinking for ourselves.

    The owners should be forced to sell before we are forced to cancel our HISTORY.

  23. Lets Roll Says:

    PLANTATION anyone??? The color of your skin dont matter. ITS YOUR DNA that matters.

    #Jesus

  24. Jerry R Jones Says:

    Keyshawn wanted a “Tom Brady” throwing him the ball his entire career. He was a whiner, always whining. Pretty sure he wrote a book called, throw me the damn ball, or something close to that.

  25. Swampbuc Says:

    Fraud knows fraud. Let them both roast. Key’s come-upance is coming, given that anything privately shared is now for the public. Maybe this will eventually be a good thing, as no one is truly politically correct unless they are an eggplant.

  26. Natron Says:

    Gruden was a overrated coach, and Johnson was a overrated possession receiver Always liked Keenan McCardell way better, who also had his problems with Gruden

  27. webster Says:

    You guys are idiots. Sure keyshawn had a book titled throw me the ball but i can guarantee you none of you idiots read it to understand what all the book entailed. And if u think the book was only about throw me the ball for stats then that further makes my point. Also i love the white people in 2021 that want to always bring up MLK name as if that proves they are not racist or even clueless. MLK died when 90+% of white people in his day had an unfavorable view of him and were calling him a communist and a threat to america. MLK died over 50 years ago yet white people who throw out MLK name today as if they are not racist can not bring up a current black person who is worth quoting. Why? Because 90+% of those same white people who bring up MLK call todays black leaders communist or bad for america just like they did when MLK was living. They hated Ali when he was pointing out what was going on in america. But as soon as he could not speak any more due to his disease and eventually died, then they want to say how great he was. Keyshawn has been consistent and he told us in 2003 gruden could not be trusted so the fact he is saying it now should come as no suprise. As a matter of fact, many buc fans black and white wanted gruden fired and the ownership did just that and their statement at the time was “we heard the fans and we listened.” Also, many ex players celebrated the firing when it happened backing up keyshawn’s claim. You can call keyshawn a turd if you want but he is on tv without any baggage. And if you dont want to seem racist, quote a black person who has not been dead for over 50 years. Trust me, MLK was not the last black person worth quoting and if you think so then you are definitely clueless and part of the problem.

  28. Swampbuc Says:

    webster — take a vaium or something dude.

    BTW — do you really think you know racial categorization by reading these posts? How do you tell what someone’s race is by what they write?

  29. Joe Says:

    BTW — do you really think you know racial categorization by reading these posts? How do you tell what someone’s race is by what they write?

    Stereotypes.

  30. Lets Roll Says:

    I can quote Lil Wayne and Lil Pump if you want me too. Fact still remains. Content of character over color of skin….

    You ignorant dumb asz inbreed.

    Mr. King set the bar HIGH. #GoatOfManking

  31. webster Says:

    Swampbuc and since you talking about setting the bar high i have to say u are an idiot. Lets not talk about joe montana because johnny unitas set the bar high. Lets not talk about tom brady because joe montana set the bar high. Gtfooh. Like i said if u think a man who died over 50 years ago is the last black man we should listen to then you are the problem sir

  32. Lets Roll Says:

    BTW

    MLK>Ali

    Ali was a puppet who was allowed to live out his miserable life. Although I love the man, I hate what he stood for.

    Mr. Dr. King on the other hand, dude went out a Martyr for Christ and mankind. One can only hope and DREAM to replicate his legacy in life.

  33. webster Says:

    Letsroll…cool you quoted the only speach you know of mlk. Sure he said content of your character. But im willing to bet you hate the riots you see. I bet u have a problem with that. I bet you call that a danger to america. I dont see you quoting MLK when he said riots is the voice of the voiceless. Oh thats right, thats not in the talking points of far right people who act as if you are not racist because you quote one line from mlk most famous speech. Gtfooh

  34. Lets Roll Says:

    Webster,

    Maybe its just me but you seem like a dude that has short man syndrome.

  35. Alanbucsfan Says:

    Interesting how Gruden gets criticized (rightfully so) for a leaked private email conversation, yet Johnson gets special attention for publicly gossiping about and trashing his ex coach.
    If he said it to his face, fine. If he didn’t, he’s a coward.

  36. Lets Roll Says:

    Hear is a quote from a black contemporary, Officer Tatum, “I caught them in the Biggest Lie EVER”.

    Race has NOTHING to do with what is happening. Its all about the $$$$$ NO MATTER THE COLOR oF yo skin.

    Wake the F up and Grow up juvenile

  37. Lets Roll Says:

    Webster,

    Maybe its just me but you seem like a dude that has short man syndrome.

  38. Lets Roll Says:

    If I was a fish, consider me caught. TIRED of the baiting.

  39. Anonymous Says:

    STEREOTYPES….now that’s hilarious 😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣

  40. webster Says:

    I guess my last post was not allowed through. I will clean it up joe. Swampbuc…i dont need this thread to know who is white. I have read countless post on this website to know who is white.

    Lets roll you show your ignorance and think blacks only listen to rappers ie lil wayne. Why dont you quote bill russell or kareem abdul jabbar who have decades of knowledge even today or lebron james? You and swamp buc only want to praise MLK. U know nothing about megar evers who was killed in front of his house in front of his kids for telling america what was wring. U dont know who harriet tubman was who was the architect of the underground railroad. She herself made her way to freedom but it was not enough. She went back to free her family and countless other slaves while gruden poo poos female refs. You dont want her on the $20 bill but are cool with slave owners on our currency. MLK did not set the bar. He added to the bar. The fact people like you two can only quote ONE black person as doing great as it deals with race relations is why you are clueless and part of the problem.

  41. webster Says:

    Lets roll u are an idiot. Nothing bout ali was a puppet. America took his belts away because he talked out against america and the treatment of blacks and the worst war in history. Your dumb@$$ has no clue what a puppet is

  42. webster Says:

    Joe why are my comments not coming through?

  43. DavidBigBucFan99 Says:

    Let’s Roll that’s how Webster could tell you were white talking all this MLK mess and what not with that stupid term you all made up, race baiting.It has nothing to do with stereotypes. White men are the only ones who use that term. It’s used so people can wash their hands of all the atrocities and injustices committed against one particular group of people in this country. White people mostly men started and caused the racial problems we have in this country at this moment in time. It’s a waste of time to say this but read the true history of this country. Go read a book. Now that the totalitarian rule is not in your favor guys like you and others everywhere want to whine and cry another stupid term, reverse discrimination ,Your MLK dropping doesn’t make you look good and he really wasn’t a great “Christian” martyr for Christ. He was amoral, a womanizer adulterer who Christ would not approve of IF you ever read the Bible, as are a number of the more famous white preachers as well. You drop the name of some dead guy like he’s special but you down trod Dungy like he’s a worthless p.o.c. even though he’s always spoken with respect and his faith out in the open but you “idolize” MLK. Nice one guy.

  44. sasquatch Says:

    Who made this a discussion about race?

  45. Joe Says:

    Who made this a discussion about race?

    Sure as hell wasn’t Joe!

  46. Anonymous Says:

    It’s a cruel jest to ask a boot less man to pull himself up by his own bootstraps!

  47. adam from ny Says:

    like whoa…

    i am not black or white…

    my skin color is grey, but at night or in certain lighting i can look a bit pewter

  48. mg Says:

    Supreme court justice Thomas and Economist Thomas Sowell are my two favorite Americans. These two would be the best in 2024. They are black and I am white.

  49. heyitsadam Says:

    I was at that playoff game in 07. Clayton lost that game for us. He had a big drop and had an interception bounce off his chest.

    Keyshawn for all his faults, would have been an upgrade.

    And freaking Mark Dominik EXTENDED Clayton. That POS.

  50. Scooter Says:

    In 2001 KJ had 106 catches but only 1 touchdown. I guess he was allergic to the endzone that year.

  51. JimBuc2 Says:

    @LetsRoll
    You were given a pulpit at JBF by whom? This is a respected sport blog dedicated to, and created for fans of the Tampa Bay Buccanneers. You disrespect those fans, and both Joes in spewing your racial vanities. Understand something right now; this is not your personal platform.
    LFG Bucs!

  52. Destinjohnny Says:

    Play freebird

  53. Mike Johnson Says:

    Screw Keyshawn. I never liked him with his me me attitude. Interesting he is one of the very few Bucs who have come out against Gruden repeatedly. Everybody knows he and Gruden had some classic disagreements.