Not A Good Sign For Will Gholston
May 27th, 2025
Has the end arrived?
When the Bucs hold underwear football practice this morning at One Buc Palace, unless a transaction is announced before the first horn sounds, one Bucs veteran likely won’t be there.
That is defensive lineman Will Gholston. And it seems the Bucs veteran may have played his last Bucs game, or perhaps has turned a page to another chapter of life.
Joe brings this up because when the Bucs signed nine-year veteran punter Riley Dixon in March, he was assigned No. 92, Gholston’s number. Joe wouldn’t think the Bucs would hand out a respected veteran’s number — to of all people, a punter — if Gholston was expected to return.
Gholston was drafted in the fourth round in 2013 and lasted 12 seasons. That is seriously good value. He was never a star, but at worst, he was solid. He was often good.
Gholston was really strong against the run, a virtuous trait in the eyes of Bucs coach Todd Bowles, and probably one good reason the Bucs have had success against the vaunted Philly Tush Push.
Another example of Gholston being solid against the run came as a defensive end in 2016. The Bucs were battling for a wild-card berth (which eventually went to the Lions in a tiebreaker) when they faced the slimy Saints in New Orleans on Christmas Eve.
That was the famous Molly Hamster healthy-scratch game.
Early in the second half, Gholston was hurt. With him out, slimy Saints coach Sean Payton began pounding Mark Ingram to the right and the Bucs struggled to stop Ingram. The Bucs lost that critical game 31-24.
Former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter loved Gholston and deemed him a “glue guy,” which was a high compliment from Koetter. A glue guy may not be a starter but he does dirty work and can be counted on. In the past seven seasons, Gholston has missed just one game.
For a guy in the trenches, that’s remarkable.
Gholston sure seemed to kick up his game when Ndamukong Suh joined the Bucs in 2019. Joe remembers seeing Suh in minicamp and Gholston was alongside him everywhere the beastly Suh went. Suh could be seen gesturing to Gholston various moves with his arms while Gholston listened and watched intently.
Smart man to heed the words of a future Hall of Fame player.
So if this is really the end of Gholston’s Bucs days, Joe doffs his cap. Gholston arrived in Tampa with little fanfare but left with 196 Bucs games under his belt and a big, fat, shiny, gaudy ring.
Joe knows Gholston loved Tampa so much he moved his family here from Michigan. Readers may not know Gholston’s backstory but he came from an upbringing that left him homeless at times.
Gholston stayed away from the dark sides of life and instead chose to work hard, go to school, and Joe thinks it’s safe to say he became a success with generational wealth.
Joe likes seeing good things happen to good people and Gholston is good people. Gholston wants to be a high school football coach, and some local school would be very wise to hire him.
With Gholston’s experiences, he sure could steer kids both on and off the field.
May 27th, 2025 at 12:11 am
He’s one of my all time favorite Buccaneers.
I love William Gholston very.
I still remember when Schiano drafted him. And Akeem Spence. Solid picks in the 4th round.
Gholston helped to transform the Bucs like Lavonte David did. Like Mike Evans did.
God bless you William Gholston.
Thanks for fighting on every single snap.
Go Bucs!
May 27th, 2025 at 12:25 am
Well said Teacherman.
I’m sure Gholston will be missed around there. Amazing return on investment in Will. A guy I hardly noticed but always appreciated.
May 27th, 2025 at 12:31 am
I think that was a sign of the end for JPP too. Hall wore his number ever since. I don’t think the punter guy can be allowed to keep 92, though. I don’t think it’s allowed.
May 27th, 2025 at 12:39 am
He was one heck of football player. Really nice career. We will miss him.
May 27th, 2025 at 1:16 am
Would love to see Will return if he wants to, but fhat may not be the case.
Wishing him the best, whatever he may choose to do.
May 27th, 2025 at 2:24 am
Reading Joe’s histories we get to know some character of the players of our beloved Bucs. Reading this it’s no news but a well deserved salute to one warrior on and off the field. Thank you both for the great work and wish Gholston could fulfill his desire on his next path.
May 27th, 2025 at 2:53 am
I mean, the drafting of Elijah Roberts basically spelled the end for WG. God bless him, he’s had a great run but the writing has been on the wall for him for a couple seasons now.
May 27th, 2025 at 3:16 am
One of my favorite players. He was solid man. He was ways there always available. He always stood out to me.
May 27th, 2025 at 4:37 am
Awesome article Joe. I’m with Teacherman … Will has long been one of my favorite Bucs.
I credit him for being a critical part of our 2020 Super Bowl season. He really stepped up when Vita Vea went down in Game 5. Played over 600 defensive snaps that season (2nd most in his career), and gave us 3 sacks plus 17 other QB knockdowns (those 20 QB hits were the most on the team). Big Will played the whole season in beast-mode that year.
May 27th, 2025 at 4:56 am
will was a damn good buccaneer…in the good years and the lean years…
it’s almost like he’s a ring of honor type dude for his tenure alone…but i might be a homer on that call
May 27th, 2025 at 6:11 am
Great article Joe. And I’m with the group this morning paying tribute to Gholston. Great career and success for him and his family. Thanks Will.
May 27th, 2025 at 6:26 am
I heard Will is opening up a cigar bar here in Tampa somewhere. Anyone hear about that?
May 27th, 2025 at 6:31 am
Wish this long time Buc nothing but success in his post football life.
May 27th, 2025 at 6:43 am
I hope there will be some sort of retirement ceremony
May 27th, 2025 at 6:48 am
Good stuff Joe!
One of my favorite dudes!
I will choose not to write Gholston off just yet Joe. Mainly because they have no proven replacement. They have tried to replace him for the last two years and run defense suffered so back he came.
Go Bucs!
May 27th, 2025 at 7:05 am
Big Willy, you will ALWAYS be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer! Thank you for bringing the Bucs to prominence.
May 27th, 2025 at 7:22 am
Great article! If it is the end for Will I hope the Bucs do something nice for him.
May 27th, 2025 at 7:23 am
Wonderful post, Joe. Teacherman – Well said too.
Would love to see him stay, however the jersey number sort of gives a heads-up to the future. Sad to see it happen and it could be his decision. Whichever way it goes, I hope he has a great future and has his life dreams come true off the field.
May 27th, 2025 at 7:40 am
Great all time Buccaneer!!
Just the perfect man for the job.
Thank you for you service Big Bill!!
May 27th, 2025 at 8:14 am
“Joe likes seeing good things happen to good people”
As the responses indicate so do a majority of posters here including me.
Nice guys do NOT always finish last. Nor do mild mannered players off the field not mix it up on the field.
Merlin Olson came across as a giant cuddly Teddybear off the field but on it he was an integral part of the “Fearsomo Foursome”.
May 27th, 2025 at 8:49 am
Teacherman, solid. Gholston is an amazing person and an above-average but not superstar player. The kind that make good teams great. Everyone can’t be a 10. But the ones in the 4th round who end up being a 7 are the guys like Gholston.
Suh is one of the key signings that changed the direction of this franchise from down to up. He was also one of the most important people on Defense in the SB.
Suh deserves ROH. And it should be done soon.
May 27th, 2025 at 8:53 am
Yes Sir, I wish you the best and hope to hear your name as a football coach here in the bay area. Thank you for your services and the second Superbowl ring the Bucs have. You will be missed as well as remembered for for a lot of great things.
May 27th, 2025 at 9:57 am
I mean the guy has a Buccaneers tattoo on him, he’s more dedicated than most of the fans!
May 27th, 2025 at 9:59 am
One of my direct reports ran into him at a club and he told him he was retiring. Reason I believe him is this guy doesn’t follow football but he knew I was a big Bucs fan and showed me a pic. I knew it was Gholston and said he was a good guy. Great player who will be missed!
May 27th, 2025 at 10:01 am
awwww
May 27th, 2025 at 10:27 am
Retiring healthy (relatively) after twelve years in the NFL is a mark of success.
Having earned a nice ring along the way is a bonus.
Not too many ‘first’ round picks can say that!
May 27th, 2025 at 10:30 am
Love the tributes from the Joes and JBF fans.
May 27th, 2025 at 11:12 am
He was a boxer that always answered the bell. It was a great run, wish him nothing but the best. He will make a great coach.
May 27th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Love Will.
A punter should not be wearing his number. That’s sh!tty.
May 27th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Nice tribute.
But 92 to a punter? That has some sting to it…
May 27th, 2025 at 2:37 pm
Outstanding article Joe. We seem to hear a lot about the bad guys in sports and not enough about the good guys. This article illustrates one of the good guys. Great work by the Joe-Joes!!
May 27th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
@defense rules
You nailed it again.
Go Bucs!
Let’s make our fanbase also like the WR room!
Let’s also become “a Brotherhood!”
Go Bucs!
Let’s manifest another Super Bowl!
LFG!
May 27th, 2025 at 2:59 pm
Love Will-G, If he decides to hang up up. Think Todd could consider adding him to the coaching staff??
May 27th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
Good player, better human.
Nothing but great things to say about WG
Heard him on 620 and I was beyond impressed.
The lockerroom will miss him
May 27th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
What a beautiful article, and well deserved. Thanks for writing it.