Did Haason Reddick Pack It In With The Jets?
July 17th, 2025
Bucs OLB Haason Reddick.
Yes, Joe fully understands the summer is talking season in the NFL. Players talk high platitudes about how they will spark a team to a Super Bowl run.
There was something different about free agent signee Haason Reddick. At first, Joe thought he did a helluva sales job saying how he wants to help his younger edge rushers and hopes to help them become respected pass rushers.
OK, great. Still, Joe had a whiff that the sales job was a bit too hard.
Then Anthony Nelson told Joe about ways Reddick was working behind the scenes to do just what he promised.
Maybe Reddick really is the real thing?
A lot of Bucs fans bring up Reddick’s lost season with the Jets where he was basically a no-show after getting traded by Philadelphia. These same fans think Reddick quit, which is a damning word to use to a star NFL player.
Mike Tanier seems to think there is a kernel of truth to this.
Typing for Aaron Schatz’s FTN Football Almanac 2025, Tanier has a bad taste in his mouth about Reddick’s time at the Swamplands of the Jets.
Joe puts stock in Tanier’s words. Why? Tanier is sort of an Eagles beat guy. Tanier, who once taught Joe Flacco math in high school, is no stranger to the media workroom with the Eagles as he lives just across the river in Jersey.
It’s not uncommon for Tanier to be seen at an Eagles practice or an Eagles game. So Tanier has strong intel.
So what Tanier typed about Reddick made Joe frown.
Edge rusher Haason Reddick is a big name who lost his desire to play football after getting traded to the Jets last year: understandable, perhaps, but also a sign that he cannot be counted upon for another double-digit sack season like in 2020 through 2023. Still, Reddick should at least offset the loss of Tryon-Shoyinka.
Yes, Joe can understand how Reddick was deflated by getting traded to the Jets. Reddick thought he was going to be on a strong playoff team. Instead, he ended up with a circus of a rotten franchise and Reddick had no say in the matter.
Still, there is a reason NFL players are called professionals. Think Lavonte David wanted to be mired in losing with the Bucs during The Lost Decade? Of course not, but he still busted his tail. Every week. Usually in a loss.
Same with Mike Evans.
Professionals suck it up and go about earning their pay.
On the bright side here, hearing from Rondé Barber and Nelson how Reddick is a fantastic team guy, Joe sure hopes Reddick’s return to a winning franchise rejuvenates his football passion.
July 17th, 2025 at 12:06 am
“Off-set the loss of Shoyinka”. Is he kidding. Reddick is leaps and bounds better that Shoyinka. Tanier is taking as if Reddick and Shoyinka are on the same level.
July 17th, 2025 at 12:21 am
Important to note that the Jets screwed him over before he even took one sack. He sought a trade with the understanding his contract would be renegotiated once he was traded, and the Jets backed out of that once they had the trade. If Reddick didn’t want to put his body on the line for a garbage Jets organization, and does want to play for us, I don’t see the problem.
July 17th, 2025 at 12:53 am
Coaching matters. Will Bowles hold him accountable or avoid confrontation and turtle, which is his close game strategy.
July 17th, 2025 at 12:58 am
From what I’ve seen and heard, I friendly believe he returns to himself, which is probably around 12 sacks. I think the trade devastated him plus he was battling some injuries in the dysfunctional organization on a dysfunctional team.
I don’t think he packed it in just hard to find the will and the way when nothing around you is going right.
I think he is rejuvenated and revitalized here in Tampa. Especially because that defensive front has a chance to be great.
July 17th, 2025 at 1:07 am
I have doubts about Reddick but who knows. 1 sack in 10 games is pretty bad for a “premiere pass rusher”. Only one start is somewhat of a mystery to me as well. Sometimes a player hits the end of their career with a thud. And sometimes they pack it in. Only Reddick knows which one at this point. Hope he has a lot of redemption on his mind and has an All Pro season.
Go Bucs!
July 17th, 2025 at 1:22 am
Will someone hold him accountable?
July 17th, 2025 at 1:26 am
If a cheetah is expected to be a hippo, and a hippo is expected to be a cheetah…….what could go wrong?
July 17th, 2025 at 1:43 am
He gets a pass from me until he proves he doesn’t have it anymore. Sometimes contract disputes screw up a player. I think there’s a very good chance that last year was an anomaly and apparently the team does too.
July 17th, 2025 at 5:29 am
If the Jets screwed him over he might have had zero motivation to produce for them. I get nothing but strong positive vibes from him ever since his first press conference after signing with the Bucs, and have no concern about Reddick. I’m sure that Licht picked his brain about last season and knows the truth about what happened.
I predict this will be one of the best free agency signings EVER made by the Bucs for their defense. It’s exactly what we needed.
July 17th, 2025 at 6:29 am
We won’t know for certain until the season is underway.
I’m leaning in the direction that Hassan is going to do everything he can to produce like he did for the Eagles.
He knows he’s good for one more “payday” contract, maybe two, and his performance this year will dictate that.
The comments by Nelly and Ronde, as reported here on JBF.com suggest Hassan is certainly moving in the right direction, at least here in the off-season.
However, Joe, your point about LaVonte and Mike playing the way they did through the Lost Decade is a good one.
I’m optimistic about Hassan, but will wait to see what happens once the season gets underway.
July 17th, 2025 at 6:53 am
By the time we play Philly Reddick ought to be hitting his stride. My guess is he’ll have a little something to prove that game. Jalen Hurts is a good QB. But I’ve seen him shook up a few times, and I’ve seen him shook up by Bowles defense. That ought to be a good game to see where Reddick stands. He’s gonna want to beat those overrated Eagles into oblivion. If he can do that he should fit right in with the team.
July 17th, 2025 at 7:00 am
Motivation is a HUGE factor for anyone. But, I do not see how a player at this level can turn the motor on or off.
Joe, you used LVD as such an example during the “lost decade”. LVD did what his DNA made him do: he worked hard, LVD’s motor has no “off”. It cannot be fun to loose like they did all the time – I know as a fan, I hated the lost decade. But imagine putting in all the work and it doesn’t make a difference bc of the lack of talent around you.
But Tanner claims Reddick did just that, he turned the motor off. This season will be very interesting to see if Reddick can turn the motor back on AND step on the gas!
July 17th, 2025 at 7:26 am
Had we kept JTS he’d be making about what Reddick is making, I’m good with current situation
July 17th, 2025 at 8:02 am
Anyone who pays attention to football outside of the Bucs knows what Pink said is spot on. Jets told him they were going to work out a contract then ghosted him once the trade was done. If you don’t value yourself as a player/employee you can’t expect the employer to do so. I have zero concern with Reddick and think he is going to be a spark plug for the defense.
July 17th, 2025 at 8:04 am
Reddick can produce
JTS couldn’t
No comparison
July 17th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Reddick spent a year in football purgatory, NYC.
July 17th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Culture is truly shining thru bad ass players and not be a dick .
July 17th, 2025 at 8:52 am
Everyone wants to keep saying he was a no show at the Jets and that he had a bad year. You know how many times that’s happened to players when they went to the Jets? Most of them. They’re a terrible organization that’s known for killing careers. They suck. He will have a better season in Tampa even if he doesn’t get double digit sacks just watch.
July 17th, 2025 at 11:15 am
Did this clown ever watch a Buc game last year? If we left a roster spot open after dumping JTS it would be an improvement.
July 17th, 2025 at 11:30 am
I don’t blame Reddick for anything he did with the slimy jets they knew they should’ve had a contract worked out before they brought him on. They deserve everything they got and I trust Reddic and pull through for us a team that doesn’t treat their players like garbage.. He’s the real deal.
July 17th, 2025 at 11:36 am
For one Reddick is absolutely one hundred and ten percent an upgrade from JTS. I don’t even know why Licht kept JTS last year when he should have cut or trade him for a washer machine at the least. Second Reddick went to the Jets who are a garbage team and organization, have been for the longest time, and they know how to kill careers. He on a team who wins their division and make the playoffs, while motivated to make a big payday again. I believe he’s gonna do good at least 8 or 9 sacks minimum. Honestly I expect Yaya Diaby to lead the team with sacks this year in the double digits having a break through year. We shall see
July 17th, 2025 at 11:52 am
I do not know NFL reporters like the JJoes for the obvious reasons.
So I know nothing about Tanier or his credibility. I’d just feel the story had a little more credibility if it had come from somewhere other than Philly or New York.
Both those teams are peoed and that frequently leaks over into the media coverage as well.
IE There’s no love lost between Tanier and Reddick furthermore do not know about the relationship they had when Reddick was there.
Again how quickly we forget one of the Bucs greatest DL. Admittedly with guys like Selmon, Sapp, and Rice it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. But if you look at the career of N. Suh he was a GREAT freaking player.
By the time he finished that year with the Rams after the Dolphins and Lions, along with his rep as one of the dirtiest players ever he was viewed as a mercenary. One of Suh’s friends was Warren Buffett so yeah Suh knew a LOT about money and he maximized that knowledge on and off the field.
Bottom line is Suh came to the Bucs with more obvious talent than Reddick, no comparison there, but certainly as many questions. i have a feeling Reddick will provide a less talented but similar injection of meanness and hustle.
July 17th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
why does one quit at anything, be it pro or amateur? i read some neurology says its a combination of distraction and a loss of the flow state (which is earned by past work).
i see a hungry dog going to go out of his mind down the stretch to make up for what was lost, the real issue is going to be the following year’s contract demands
July 17th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Aqualung Says:
If a cheetah is expected to be a hippo, and a hippo is expected to be a cheetah…….what could go wrong?
^^^^^^
Did You Know?
Hippos kill more humans than Lions + Cheetahs + Elephants + Crocodiles combined. So, if you’re suggesting Reddick is a hippo and not a cheetah, I think we got the right guy.
(BTW, that post may be the most unusual post I’ve ever read on here and that’s saying a lot. Well done.)
July 17th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
If Reddick has a big year – he makes $18-20+M next year and likely gets a 2-3 year deal with solid guarantees….
If Reddick is not very good in 2025 – then he probably makes about $5-6M next year on a 1 year “last chance to prove it” deal.
A great performance this year at age 31 likely nets Hassan an additional $25+ Million in career earnings and also extends his NFL career by at least 1 or 2 years – vs not playing well and then 1 last chance in 2026 to stay in the league for a smallish amount of $…..
Thats a LOT of motivation – assuming this guy is money motivated which seems pretty obvious…..