Chucky Slaps “Phenomenal” Label On Jason Licht
July 28th, 2025
Click on through to shop at BillCurrieFord.com. Incredible financing offers are in effect for EVERYONE in July! Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the famous Ira Kaufman discount on top of their great everyday prices. Just ask! Don’t Worry, Drive Currie!
BY IRA KAUFMAN
He’s back in the Ring of Honor and back on the Buccaneer bandwagon.
To say Jon Grudden is bullish on Tampa Bay’s fortunes this fall is a massive understatement. He loves the roster Jason Licht has forged and he has complete confidence Todd Bowles can bring out the best in a young, deep group.
“They’ve won four straight division titles and they’ve got a really good nucleus coming back,” Gruden told me from his lair in Tampa. “I love the Bucs. I think they’re going to be in the Final Four for sure.”
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Gazing around the rest of the NFC South, Gruden sees a potentially dangerous rival lurking north along I-75.
“I think Atlanta can challenge,” he says. “They’ve made some nice offseason acquisitions. Do I trust Raheem Morris? Yes I do. I think they really helped themselves by getting (defensive coordinator) Jeff Ulbrich.
“They have a Top 10 offense that’s balanced and I like Michael Penix. He’s going to excite their team; but I’m really impressed with Tampa. I think clearly they’re the best team in the division, but they’ve got to stay healthy.”
Licht and Gruden share the same agent in Bob LaMonte.
“Love Jason Licht,” says Gruden. “He’s done a hell of a job. You’re never going to make the right draft pick 100 percent of the time or please ******* like you, Ira. You’re going to miss some picks — it’s not a perfect science. But Jason has homegrown this team and then he’s been able to go out and get guys like Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield.
“That’s phenomenal, it really is. The offensive line is as good as there is in the league and I think these two rookie corners are going to be really good players. I think they’ve got the best head coach in the division, the best offensive line, the most proven quarterback and the best kicker.”
Josh Grizzard is Tampa Bay’s fourth different offensive coordinator in as many years, but Gruden has confidence in a 35-year-old assistant, who will be calling plays for the first time.
“It’s not like Dave Canales was a 20-year veteran or Liam Coen was a 15-year veteran,” Gruden says. “I think Grizzard will be fine. He’s got a lot to work with and he’s got a pretty good idea what to do. If he wasn’t a sharp guy, he wouldn’t have gotten the job. Todd Bowles knows what he’s doing.”
The Bucs failed to play complementary football in 2024 as a struggling defense couldn’t keep up with a dynamic attack. Gruden sees a potential turnaround for a embattled unit.
“Let’s see what Haason Reddick can do,” Gruden says. “YaYa Diaby is going to be better this year. He wasn’t as productive last season. I think Anthony Nelson is still good and Vita Vea is something else. They do have an arsenal of guys they can throw at you.”
In the back end, Gruden likes the safety tandem of Antoine Winfield Jr. and second-year pro Tykee Smith.
“If Winfield’s healthy, they’re going to be better,” Gruden says. “He wasn’t himself last year, but the guy’s a great player. To have him and Smith back there working together is very exciting, but some of those young corners have to come through.”
When Gruden looks at the tight end room, he sees talent and depth.
“What goes unnoticed is Cade Otton can block,” he says. “Here’s the thing with the tight end position — if we’re going to call someone a true tight end, they’ve got to be able to block in the ‘C’ gap. You’ve got to be able to run block and pass protect so we can throw play-action passes. Otton can do that and he’s more than a functional receiver. And I’m anxious to see more of this Payne Durham guy … there’s something about him. Devin Culp can fly. Overall, it’s a strong group.”
July 28th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Way to Go Ira!!, Gruden I believe is spot on. So glad he is back!!.
Yes, don’t kid yourself ATL will be a challenge, bet on it. Agree to win this division again they must stay healthy. If Mayfield goes down for any length of time or any nagging injury prevents him from being him, it could absolutely mean the division. Let’s hope the defense is much improved at the line and well heck everywhere, front to back. That would surely help, especially if the new OC needs to get acculmated.
Anyway think Gruden is spot on in his analysis.
Go Bucs
July 28th, 2025 at 5:56 pm
Thanks Ira. Nice article.
July 28th, 2025 at 6:03 pm
NFCS x5 – CRAZY
ATL hasn’t won the division in 8 years. CAR 9. Bucs have a good thing going. It’s not hard to imagine the wheels falling off.
EVEN CRAZIER
The last three seasons have been rebuild years. Next year the team will be 100% reloaded. If they don’t spend any of their $26M in cap, they’ll have almost $60M in available spend. Evans, Zyon, Goedeke, Otton are all coming back! Plus, new talent at MLB and tons of depth.
SUPER BOWL WINDOW
Bucs may have a 3-4 year window for the next ring.
July 28th, 2025 at 7:16 pm
Home grown success. That will make the national media look like fools. 2020 was a ton of fun in that way.
Licht is going to makes us attend preseason games by his dominance in the draft.
I know I am looking forward to this preseason.
Great job Ira!!!
July 28th, 2025 at 8:26 pm
******** like you! LOL!!
Love that Gruden is a fan of the Bucs and a true Tampa guy.
July 28th, 2025 at 9:16 pm
Gruden always loves everyone.
July 28th, 2025 at 11:13 pm
Raheem, ovèr-rated. Had 2 game lead in the division and could not get it done.
July 29th, 2025 at 6:36 am
Here in St. Louis for my annual 5 day baseball camp with my grandson here. 110 heat index. Somehow coaching my own boys seemed alot easier but age has softened me a bit. Haven’t missed a JBF article though. Seems like some of our comments have been rather negative, as usual our coach and QB taking most of the hits. Ira, good article. So Chucky thinks the Falcons are for real. Hey yee of little faith! We’re going to weather the injuries. We’re still the team to beat, not only in the South but in the whole league! Our team has the goal of making a statement week one. And that’s what we’re going to do. Don’t let the negativity distract us. Trust your gut. We’re a better team than we were last year! Whoever here is betting against Mayfield doesn’t know much about football. Let the Grind begin. And it’s gonna be a stump grinder that the Falcons are fixing to go up against week one!
July 29th, 2025 at 8:19 am
If I didn’t know better I might think Chucky is trying to get a leg up on his old job if Bowles is gone next year. Chucky liking a QB and a GM in the same day?
Good stuff as always Ira!
go Bucs!
July 29th, 2025 at 11:11 am
GO BUCS
July 29th, 2025 at 9:37 pm
And we know how much Gruden loves those genius defensive calls where Vita and Kancey are dropping deep and the twigs are trying to rush the passer.