Bucs Add Veteran QB John Wolford

May 9th, 2023

The Bucs signed a veteran quarterback who played for Todd Bowles and owns a Super Bowl ring.

John Wolford is in the house as of today. He was an unsigned free agent of the Jets in 2018, Bowles’ final season in New Jersey.

Wolford was cut by the Jets after the 2018 preseason. He landed in the defunct AAF and then resurfaced the following spring with the Rams, where he stayed for four seasons.

The Wake Forest star is a small dude a fraction under 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds. He was 1-2 as a starter last season in Los Angeles, where he was a teammate of Baker Mayfield. In 2021, Wolford was the Rams’ No. 2 quarterback behind Matthew Stafford when Los Angeles won the Super Bowl.

Probably the most important Bucs-related connection is Wolford played for Rams head coach/offensive guru Sean McVay. Elements of McVay’s offense are a big part of the Seattle offense under Seahawks playcaller Shane Waldron, the former Rams QB coach. And new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales is bringing that offense to Tampa with his own spin.

No, 27-year-old Wolford will not be competing for the Bucs’ starting QB gig.

85 Responses to “Bucs Add Veteran QB John Wolford”

  1. Thomas Edrington Says:

    WHO??????????

  2. Buc4evr Says:

    1td, 4 ints. the race to the bottom starts here.

  3. Marine Buc Says:

    Not great but not bad for a 3rd string QB who is being signed by a crash stapped franchise.

    I know some of you are already hating on this guy but at least he has prior experience in a similar offense.

    Would you rather have Ryan Griffin back? Who has ZERO NFL experience after nearly a decade?

  4. Marine Buc Says:

    Come on JOE…

    ENOUGH WITH THE MODERATION BULLSPIT!!!!!!!

  5. Oxycondoms Says:

    Finally backup competition for trask

  6. rrsrq Says:

    been there, done that is our Bucs new QB. Been to the playoffs, been to the Super Bowl, potential familiarity with the offense… Trask better come with it, he will need to block out the noise – but may the best QB win, I am expecting playoffs with a shut down defense and an offense that can score more than 18 ppg…

  7. Redeemer Says:

    Lovely, we have a backup who played in the aaf. Guess it’s better than the cfl

  8. SB~LV Says:

    lol
    PT Barnum

  9. SufferingSince76 Says:

    This guy is the veteran, mentor-type quarterback they were talking about bringing in?

  10. ModHairKen Says:

    Uninteresting.

  11. TDTB2022 Says:

    So Kyle Trask is almost out the door…

  12. TDTB2022 Says:

    We are about to find out how quickly Kyle can learn this offense.

  13. Usfbuc Says:

    Idk why everyone seems surprised by this signing. Did some of you think we were going to be trading for a QB? We were going to have three QBs and this guy has connections to the Bucs coaches and some aspects of the offense. This could also be a confidence building move by the Bucs for Trask because with this signing Trask should be locked in to at least be the backup QB.

  14. EEK Says:

    been there, done that kind of guy

    actually the perfect 3rd string qb — no competition to be a starter and he’s been a backup on a championship team

    if he sees the field, it’ll be a lost season

  15. CrackWise Says:

    Baker and Wolford are the same QB type.

    Kyle being painted into a corner?

    Regardless, Trask will get a shot, just curious if the OC will give him a game plan built around his skill set.

  16. Vlad The Impaler Says:

    One team’s trash is another team’s treasure….

    …Let the tank begin!……*sigh*

  17. Tye Says:

    So basically a nobody…

  18. 1#bucsfan Says:

    Camp meat.

  19. Da Bucs Guy Says:

    Been there, done nothing type of a guy.

  20. Dooley Says:

    I actually like this signing, since the news broke a little earlier I looked at Wolfords Wake Forest tape and some of the tape where he got some burn because of Jared Goff was hurt in 2019. If you can find the game Wolford played against the Cardinals it gives a decent glimpse of his capabilities. Pleasantly surprised tbh and getting someone who worked with Waldron before he got to Seattle and left w/e impression he had on Canales.

    Not saying he’ll push to start or that I’d want him to, but this addition makes a lot of sense. So now, Traskfield has a guy familiar with the nuances of what will be our new playbook to potentially draw from in the QB room. Plus, he’s only 27. I’d take Ryan Griffin back in an asst. QB Coach role if he doesn’t wind up anywhere else. Other media outlets that cover our Bucs have been floating that idea around about Griffin every offseason the last 2-3 years.

  21. captivajim Says:

    Not a good sign–for Trask ,,or the BUCS

  22. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    LFG…..6-11 moves

  23. All_da_way Says:

    Trask needs to show he is a fast learner as he has two QBs now with more experience at the NFL level and also have experience in a Waldron/McVay system.

    If Trask can succeed he will be at least an NFL average player moving forward with room to do so much more in terms of potential. If Trask fails he may have to find his shot elsewhere IMO.

  24. Pewter Power Says:

    Not sure what people expected! If the signing of a third quarterback is the sign of tanking maybe you shouldn’t be watching football. We were a quarterback away from tanking last year. Brady somehow avoided injury

  25. #99 the Big fella Says:

    Do some of you guys understand that this is a third string quarterback that we signed? We did not sign a starter and you guys are still complaining. I think some of you guys come on here and post just to be able to read your own posts.

  26. K2 Says:

    Has knowledge of the offense…and was the backup for the Super Bowl. His knowledge of the system is the important piece of the puzzle. The Bucs didn’t bring him in to win a starting job. But his understanding of the scheme…so please relax…it makes sense.

  27. The Coroner Says:

    Who?

  28. Tucker Says:

    Who? Exactly who they said they were signing someone with experience not a starter.

  29. BucNWaterBoy Says:

    Licht counting out the pennies at the contract table: “thirty four, thirty five, thirty six…that should do it. Welcome to the clipboard holding gig with the Bucs”

  30. lambchop Says:

    I would like to be a backup QB for Tampa Bay.

  31. Rob Says:

    I can’t imagine looking at the Rams QB situation last year and being like “let’s make that our QB situation.”

  32. Doc Says:

    What a clown show.

  33. Dooley Says:

    We signed another UDFA RB, Ike Irabor who I know absolutely NOTHING about. Watching his tape rn from Union College(?) who accepted an invite to NYGs’ rookie minicamp, but Irabor saw a better shot in Tampa so he’ll be with our guys this weekend.

  34. Joe Blow Says:

    Smart move, a cheap vet who knows the system and can help teach it.

  35. JonBucFan Says:

    They needed another back up QB for insurance. The team is broke so they pulled trigger! There’s allot of fans on this site that are either really bad at math and/or delusional.

  36. Redeemer Says:

    It’s not a third stringer. This dude is our backup. Mark it. Trask isn’t an NFL QB

  37. JN Says:

    He stinks. Anything over league minimum is too much $$$

  38. HC Grover Says:

    Bowles next job…HC of the Puppy Bowl. Salary 100 dog biscuits.

  39. captivajim Says:

    Wolford’s career stats ; 58.7% completions , 1 TD & 5 Int’s ..

    I don’t understand this fascination with Seattle / mcVay offense style –Seattle won a SB 9 years ago ..!!

    And McVay after 6 seasons has been in 2 SB’s ; lost one & won the one Bowleszo helped them toward ??

  40. BucU Says:

    If Trask doesn’t have what it takes to start and play well after watching Tom Bradys every move for 2 plus years then he’s toast. And Jason Licht will have totally wasted a valuable 2nd round pick. I can’t wait to find out.

  41. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Come on guys!!! Beggars can’t be choosers…..he’s a better alternative than $8mil for Jameis “America’s Quarterback” Winston.

  42. HC Grover Says:

    And just like that we start to realize what this team is going to be like. Wolford is an Handoff Up the Gut Specialist. Smooth as silk. What a season we are in for.

  43. gp Says:

    HC Grover Says:
    May 9th, 2023 at 3:04 pm

    Bowles next job…HC of the Puppy Bowl. Salary 100 dog biscuits.

    **********************************************************
    That’s only if he wins
    More likely to walk away with the second place salary of 50 dog biscuits

  44. AlabamaBucsFan Says:

    Doesn’t seem like Licht brought John Wolford in to compete for a starting QB gig but to hold the clipboard as a third stringer.

  45. TampaTim Says:

    He’s just a camp arm, I fully expect one more QB to still be brough in.

    With our options as Baker and Trask we will want someone to compete for the #3 roll, while we keep an arm on the practice squad.

  46. HC Grover Says:

    Perfect guy to close out those big loss games on the road in the 4th qtr.to get out of town fast.

  47. Voice of Truth Says:

    So much for been there done that…more like rode the bus, DNP

    Yuk

  48. JBBucs_06 Says:

    slow Bucs news day? No chance at impact

  49. Mord Says:

    The amount of whining and negativity in these comments is amazing.

    This is a solid signing for the role of #3QB … if eh ever needs to play, we’ll be talking about high draft picks in 2024

  50. Infomeplease Says:

    That should do it! Let the season begin!! lfg (please note the non caps)

  51. Bojim Says:

    Give him a chance.

  52. JD Still Says:

    It does make sense, he is here as the third string quarterback and he knows it, He is familiar with the offense that is being installed ,that is a plus, he can be helpful both to the offense ,helping teach it and as an emergency backup , and to the defense , getting them used to it by running it with the scout team against them because of the increasing number of teams that are now running that type of offense , including , Seattle, the Rams , Chiefs , and others.

  53. View from 132 Says:

    If I had known as a youth that a 5 foot something guy could cash NFL checks for years… man… the pre-Internet NFL coverage made all these guys out to be super heroes. There are way more Robins than Batmen out there making cash as “players” – professional meeting attenders and practice teamers.

  54. 74 Bucs Fan Says:

    With Trask being a “slower learner”, I don’t expect him to seriously compete for the starting spot. Mayfield has at least proved he is a very quick learner – starting and winning a game for the Rams with about zero practice.

  55. JeffreyLane77 Says:

    This signing had nothing to do with competition for Trask. They need three Qb’s to run an effective practice. I wouldn’t be surprised if they bring in another Qb.

  56. catcard202 Says:

    2023 Bucs QB room = Woeful, Traskcan and Buster Mayfield.

    (I just threw up in my mouth a little)

  57. Letsbucinggo Says:

    catcard202 Woeful, Traskcan and Buster Maybefield. Bwahwahwahwah!

  58. JD Still Says:

    And then there are the chicken little, sky is falling , all is lost, “fans”, fans for who? Nobody knows.

  59. IE Buc Says:

    This is a good signing. A mentor veteran QB3. That’s what he was signed for, to be QB3. Baker and Trask will be competing but they will be QB1 and QB2. With the undrafted rookie QB they have in camp, they now have enough arms for reps. They got 4 qbs in camp. The only question is if the rookie is good enough for the practice squad.

  60. SteveK Says:

    Trask is ready to rise to the challenge. Go Bucs and may the best man win.

  61. chris bell Says:

    Its a 3rd string qb relax

  62. TDTB2022 Says:

    This, in reality, is the battle for QB2! If Trask does not grasp the system by preseason, he will be our QB3 for a while.

  63. sasquatch Says:

    A-holes gonna a-hole.

    3rd string QB. I don’t know who they thought would be an exciting name to come in as #3… Beeeyaaatches gonna beeeyaaatch.

  64. Jeff’s grandpa Says:

    So that’s the been there done that vet hmmm

  65. Trask To The Future Says:

    TRASK WILL SAVE US

  66. StickinUp4Centers Says:

    I like this abstract strategy of signing the 2nd and 3rd string QBs of a 5-12 team.

  67. Defense Rules Says:

    If you do a little research on Wolford, the signing might make sense. Odds are he’ll probably be running the scout team come Sept (in addition to being an emergency backup). His last 2 years at Wake Forest, he compiled 1200 rushing yards & 16 rushing TDs. With the Bucs facing a number of very mobile QBs this season, might be beneficial to practice against someone like Wolford to teach our young defenders what the word ‘contain’ means.

  68. AnonymousBuc76 Says:

    KT is the unknown commodity in this scenario…

  69. Ken_from_Canada Says:

    This was best 3rd QB signing Bucs could make! Needed someone that can function in the system with little reps in training camp.

  70. Stanglassman Says:

    It’s a really good signing. To the guy who can’t understand the fascination with Seattle / Rams offense? It’s written right there in the article. It’s the new OC’s system. Bringing in a Qb who already has familiarity with it makes sense.

  71. BigMacAttack Says:

    Training camps require 4 QB’s typically to function well

  72. SlyPirate Says:

    HOLD ON …

    John Wolford played for the Rams and so did Baker. That might help both assimilate to the new playbook faster. It’s a stretch but they’ve shared the QB room which has to count for something.

  73. PassingThru Says:

    Good signing, he’ll give Trask a run for his money for 3rd string.

  74. Mike S Says:

    Trask is going to win the job.

  75. ScottyMack Says:

    If you have to worry about who your 3rd string QB is, chances are strong that your season is already done. You can count on one hand the number of times a 3rd string QB made a difference on a team. Last year’s Mr. Irrelevant (Brock Purdy) was truly an aberration. Bucs (and their fans) have a lot more to worry about than whatever stiff they make 3rd string QB.

  76. steele Says:

    CaptivaJim, the fascination with Seattle (and Canales, and this Wolford signing is part of it) is clear when you look at the many connections between Bowles, Jeremy Bates going back to Pete Carroll at USC.

  77. HA-HA-HA Says:

    All new coaches like to have a guy who knows the system. Reid took the Packers backup when he went to Philly.
    Brady liked Gabby because he would do all the grunt prep. I expect Wolford will be able to operate in a similar fashion. Time will which QB he’s preparing.

  78. Buc4evr Says:

    Foles, Wentz, even Marriotta. Those guys are experienced vets. Wolford was not what I was expecting based on Jason’s comments. With this QB trio, the season is going to be very disappointing.

  79. Power of Pewter Says:

    Never heard of him. I assume he makes vet minimum, and impacts the cap situation very slightly.

  80. Bucschamp Says:

    bowles want some of McVays playbook because he can’t figure out his own lol

  81. Goatfarmer Says:

    Excellent. Norm Snead, King Hill or Jack Concannon. We’ll be lucky to do as well as those 67 Eagles. Except no one runs as well as Concannon on the Bucs.

  82. Goatfarmer Says:

    Trask is going to save us……when he becomes the financial associate for boobs that love him for no good reason. What a fargin joke. He’s not been cutting it. Maybe a switch flips and he has an “ahaa” moment. Or not.

    But either way, the Trask Love Fanboi Club will claim he’s the Andrew Luck who got away.

  83. Delusional Intelligence Says:

    Better than nothing, I mean Matt Ryan isn’t going to sign for free.

  84. garro Says:

    He will help both of our guys with the new offense….presumably.
    If he sees the field even in preseason I wil be surprised.

  85. RustyRhinos Says:

    All of the JBFers wana be GMs. He was the Ram’s #2 QB on their Super Bowl Championship team behind Stafford. So he must have some skills.