The 50 Most Notable Players In Bucs History
May 12th, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
The Buccaneers take great pride in dedicating this season to celebrating a half-century of play in the National Football League.
To mark the occasion, it’s time to honor the 50 most notable players in franchise history, counting down toward No. 1. These rankings are based on production and impact as Buccaneers only, so Tom Brady’s unmatched accomplishments with the Patriots don’t count.
We’ll group five players at a time in each column, wrapping up well before the 2025 season gets underway. While you won’t agree with every choice, all selections made a valuable contribution to the franchise.
50. Mark Cotney
This hard-hitting safety was a 7-year starter who joined the Bucs in their inaugural 1976 season after being obtained from Houston in the veteran allocation draft. Cotney used his 6-foot, 205-pound frame to punish receivers who dared to go over the middle at Tampa Stadium.
Cotney finished his career with 17 interceptions, 7 fumble recoveries and 5 sacks. He also posted a sack and a pick in the postseason as a key member of an impressive defense.
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49. Mike Washington
A third-round pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1975, Washington was an All-America corner at Alabama. Tampa Bay surrendered a third-round pick to acquire Washington, who started 97 games over nine seasons. He ranks fourth all-time on the franchise list with 28 interceptions and Washington scored four defensive touchdowns before suffering a head injury in the 1984 season opener at Chicago. Washington passed away in 2021 at the age of 68.
48. Richard Wood
Nicknamed “Batman,” Wood was a star linebacker at Southern Cal, winning two national championships under John McKay. When Hugh Culverhouse hired McKay as the franchise’s initial head coach, the Bucs worked out a deal to acquire Wood from the Jets. He played in 132 games as a Buccaneer and averaged 136 tackles as a starter. He led the Bucs in tackles four times and was a captain on the 1979 team that reached the NFC title game behind the league’s stingiest scoring defense.
Bucs 2008 first-round pick Aqib Talib.
47. Aqib Talib
This talented but troubled cornerback was chosen in the first round of the 2008 draft, the last selection process overseen by Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden. Talib made an immediate impact with four interceptions as a rookie, tying Rondé Barber for the team lead. In his second season as a Buccaneer, Talib registered 15 pass breakups and 5 picks.
Ex-Bucs cornerback Ricky Reynolds (1987-1993).
In 2010, Talib led Tampa Bay with six interceptions, despite playing only 11 games due to a hip injury and an NFL-issued suspension for his involvement in a battery of a taxi driver.
46. Ricky Reynolds
A 7-year starter for Tampa Bay at corner, Reynolds was a second-round pick out of Washington State in the 1987 draft. He started 103 games as a Buccaneer, picking off 17 passes and forcing 8 fumbles. He also reached the end zone on an interception and a fumble recovery before signing with the Patriots as a free agent in 1994.
At the time of his departure from Tampa, Reynolds started more games at defensive back than any player in franchise history.
May 12th, 2025 at 7:02 pm
What an awesome series!!
Looking forward to every article.
May 12th, 2025 at 7:10 pm
This is awesome Ira. I didn’t remember Washington’s stats.
May 12th, 2025 at 7:23 pm
Taking me back to my childhood! Thanks Ira!! GO BUCS!!!
May 12th, 2025 at 7:32 pm
If Wood is No. 48, then Ira has dementia and should be humanely put down.
May 12th, 2025 at 7:44 pm
Thanks Ira! I grew up in a USC family so when McKay came to the Bucs with so many SC players I was hooked. Growing up in Southern California we did not get a lot of Bucs games. I can remember in the 80s subscribing to a Bucs newspaper that was mailed to me. The previous week’s issue with the game preview would arrive Monday after the games. Thank God for Joe Bucs Fan
May 12th, 2025 at 8:01 pm
Great series..
Some of us will know every name on the list..
Cotney : John Lynch 1.0, great memories.
May 12th, 2025 at 8:14 pm
Woods Bucs played a real 3-4 and what a LB corps with David Lewis, Cecil Johnson and Dewey Selmon.
May 12th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
To this day, everytime I hear someone say, “Don’t shoot yourself in the foot/leg” …
Talib
Guess no one ever told him that.
May 12th, 2025 at 8:35 pm
Aqualung
Yup. Those were some damn fine defenses.
May 12th, 2025 at 8:39 pm
🙂
May 12th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
Batman Wood was my favorite growing up and remains really high on my list. Actually was just telling my daughter about him. Bat stickers on his elbow pads and would jump over the line of scrimmage at the snap. Look him up youngsters. He was a cool dude.
May 12th, 2025 at 8:59 pm
I was a big fan of Mark Cotney who delivered the hardest hit in Tampa Stadium when he KO’d Washington’s Frank Grant who had just caught a ball over the middle. Yes, it was harder than the Scott Brantley sideline hit on Eric Hipple. Fierce hitter.
May 12th, 2025 at 9:00 pm
Outstanding stuff Ira!!!!! Bringing back some memories here!
May 12th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
Batman Wood- haven’t heard that name in forever!
Was a bit before my time, but I do remember he was a ferocious tackler.
May 12th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
Awesome! I look forward to seeing the entire list.
Wayne Haddix had best be on the list, that guy all by himself made the Bucs defense in Tecmo Super Bowl a beast to go against. Also 7 INTs and 3 TD returns in one season was quite an impressive feat for a guy who didn’t do anything else in his career.
May 12th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
Nice Series Idea Ira
May 12th, 2025 at 9:47 pm
Ira, I love this. Will be watching for the next group. Bringing back a lot of memories. Batman. David Lewis. Dewey Selmon. Hugh Green. Remember that LB crew?
Remember Dave Pear. Jim Obradovich. Gary Huff. Jerry Eckwood. Rock Berns. And the Throwin Samoan!
Back when the news was the local papers. And the evening news. That was it. No internet. No ESPN
May 12th, 2025 at 9:51 pm
This is going to be a great piece Ira ! When I think of the 50 greatest bucs , big time plays are apart of my thinking . That’s why GMC would NEVER be on my list . The A-train always running over defenders
Sapp tent spiking Jamal Lewis
You go Joe ! You go Joe !
Barber with the original Philly special !
Any many more . I will be looking forward to each piece coming out .
GO BUCS !
May 12th, 2025 at 10:30 pm
This was and these will be great reminders to great memories. The Bucs had this little boy from the Selmon brothers on.
May 12th, 2025 at 10:34 pm
The Selmon brothers played at a small high school just about 50 miles from my high school here in NE Ok. So every time Tampa was televised I would sure watch them. Wasn’t often that they would get televised. I remember several of these guys Ira (mostly from college) and I’m gonna enjoy researching them as you’re writing about them. As a fairly new fan I keep getting surprised the more I read about this team. Learning about these guys and the years they played is really interesting and I’m looking forward to this series. Thanks.
May 12th, 2025 at 11:35 pm
LOL the Blowin’ Samoan.