Jamel Dean Thinks Bucs Are Better Than Super Bowl Team
July 31st, 2025
Jamel Dean working with his position coach.
Jamel Dean said it.
And maybe he’s right.
The Buccaneers’ starting cornerback (yes, he’s the starter — until he’s not) stunned Joe this morning when he gave his take on the Bucs versus the Tampa Bay Super Bowl team of the 2020 season. Dean was a starter on that cllub, as well.
In Dean’s mind, the Bucs are better now.
“I always think back to that year and then the team we had, and I compare this team — is very similar,” Dean said. “But I think we’re much more better than that team when we won the Super Bowl. The camaraderie, how we’re all playing together. Everybody has like this grit to him. It’s like we just want to keep competing, just help each other get better.”
That might the strongest statement Joe has heard to date about the state of the Bucs’ locker room. Bucs officials, Lavonte David and others have talked about the elite locker room culture, but Dean sort of took it a step further.
Dean probably is swayed a bit because he’s in the midst of a heated competition at his position, so he’s really feeling that “grit,” as well as the support that’s coming from teammates at the same time.
July 31st, 2025 at 4:38 pm
There’s been two starting corners go down in the league already, Browns, Dolphins. Bucs didn’t spend a second round pick on Morrison to be a back up. He’s going to replace Dean at some point, maybe even starting over him. Don’t see the Bucs paying Dean next year. Would not shock me if he ends up getting traded.
July 31st, 2025 at 4:44 pm
Sounds good, but the difference between this team and that team is the latter actually won a Super Bowl. I get Deans’ sentiment, especially in regards to the corner depth. Just stay healthy Jamel, and keep crashing down on those WR screens to your side so I can cringe in excitement
July 31st, 2025 at 4:50 pm
Jamel Dean has to be a starter for the Bucs
The Bucs are not going to pay him $13 million to be a backup
He has 3 options,
1. Be a starting CB
2. Get traded
3. Get cut
If he gets Injured, it would be as a starter, not as a backup
July 31st, 2025 at 4:51 pm
2020 vs 2025
TB12 > Baker
Suh > CK
JPP > Yaya
Shaq > Reddick
CDIII > Zyon
Dean > Dean
AWJ = AWJ
Evans > Evans
Godwin > Godwin
AB > Egbuka
Gronk > Otton
4Net = Bucky
Smith Goedeke
Arians > Bowles
Where is 2025 better? Comradery?
July 31st, 2025 at 5:02 pm
You forgot the Wirfs/Heck factor Sly. These first 4 games are going to be tough without Wirfs.
July 31st, 2025 at 5:07 pm
If we had that defense the Bucs would’ve won the Stupor Bowl last year because our offense was greater than the 2020 one, and the Bakiebois would be even more unbearable now.
July 31st, 2025 at 5:22 pm
Jamel Dean has 13 million reasons to make a statement like that
Anyone with a pea size brain knows that the 2020 Bucs were legendary. We don’t even know the makeup of this team yet.
Jamel Dean may not even be a part of this team
July 31st, 2025 at 5:26 pm
I love Baker but that’s some serious homerism
Now go out and back that ish up
July 31st, 2025 at 5:29 pm
Nothing but hype. Everything is hype right now. David Walker was a HOFer before his first practice. EE9 is the next Jerry Rice. Play the games and then we’ll talk.
July 31st, 2025 at 5:46 pm
Im hoping Dean plays “much more better” than years past !
July 31st, 2025 at 5:53 pm
You can’t compare the two teams before the season starts. We’ll see at the end what happens. If this team stays healthy, blows a lot of other teams out score wise, win some night games and makes a run in the playoffs to win it all, maybe they are the better team. Until then, it’s just talk.
But….. I hope he’s right.
July 31st, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Sure. Back then they had a real, full-time head coach who actively coached the whole team, including his two full-time coordinators.
This team has a part time head coach doubling as a part time defensive coordinator, overseeing three consecutive years of defensive regression and a cowardly approach to the ends of close games.
Sure.
July 31st, 2025 at 6:53 pm
Yeah, no! 2020 was better on paper, but I think that if this team can get its act together on defense, including better defensive coaching, this team can go deep in the playoffs.
July 31st, 2025 at 7:14 pm
Very concerned about the rookie OC. Feels like a 9 win team max. Especially with Wirfs missing at least the first 4 games and Godwin done for the season. If you think Godwin plays this year, you are sorely mistaken. Sadly, he may never play again. Licht absolutely blew it by signing Godwin. Huge mistake.
July 31st, 2025 at 8:13 pm
These comments are wild. “How dare Dean think this team is really good?” I for one hope he’s right! The 2020 Bucs were good not great. They were 7-5 and turned into the 2021 Bucs a few games early and went on a tear to win the Super Bowl. The 2021 team was better, they just didn’t get the job done. Anyways yall need to try being less miserable and hope Dean is right!
July 31st, 2025 at 8:17 pm
Alright Jeff I’ll take that bet! GODWIN, definitely plays this year
July 31st, 2025 at 9:10 pm
We have better secondary depth, but overall that last SB team was STACKED on both sides
Its not even close really….training camp hype is all this is
July 31st, 2025 at 9:11 pm
“We’re much more better”. Well, you heard it here folks!! I’m sold!
July 31st, 2025 at 9:59 pm
Once again it is that time of the year where we try to con everyone the Bugs are the best team. When they beat 4 teams in a row with a winning record, then I might believe. We play in a bad division and can barely get to the playoffs. Beat some good teams consistently or stop this crazy hype!
July 31st, 2025 at 10:02 pm
Nobody knows anything about this team. The roster isn’t even in place besides they haven’t played one game this season.
July 31st, 2025 at 10:37 pm
Not even close, and that team underperformed terribly that year. They were better in year two, even with a simpleton at OC and hot head/blow hard at Head Coach.
August 1st, 2025 at 12:29 am
sly pirate nailed it
August 1st, 2025 at 12:57 am
Arians >>>>> Bolwes
August 1st, 2025 at 1:10 am
How about we stop talking superbowl and beat the Falcons in week 1. Sheesh!
August 1st, 2025 at 1:48 am
your right DBS….. Nobody knows anything about this team, we should all just shut up and watch……..? Gtfoh
August 1st, 2025 at 7:19 am
Dean is fighting for the Congeniality Award because he knows he’d better do something other than limp off the field.
August 1st, 2025 at 7:41 am
The defense was on another level. There are some leftovers there that will certainly help this defense get better this year, but as of now that d is miles ahead.
Also on offense I think we can be close but we had Brady. That dude had 40 tds and 12 picks and only 4 fumbles that year. I was watching a program with Belichick the other day and he was talking about Toms best ability and it was situational awareness and not putting the team in a bad spot. Not just the offense but the team by not taking a chance here and there or not taking a negative play. On the flip side he knew when to take chances.
If Baker learns that, watch out. I say all of that as a baker fan
August 1st, 2025 at 8:10 am
SlyPirate Says:
2020 vs 2025
TB12 > Baker
Suh > CK
JPP > Yaya
Shaq > Reddick
CDIII > Zyon
Dean > Dean
AWJ = AWJ
Evans > Evans
Godwin > Godwin
AB > Egbuka
Gronk > Otton
4Net = Bucky
Smith Goedeke
Arians > Bowles
Where is 2025 better? Comradery?
Comparing players to players, 2020 Bucs were better, but a case can be made that as a whole unit the 2025 Bucs may be better. For example, the current Bucs Offensive line is better, both at pass protection and run blocking than the 2020 unit. The wide receiver and DB group are deeper and can should be good down to the fourth man. I would also say the Bucs have a better RB group, both a runners and pass catchers than in 2020.
August 1st, 2025 at 9:47 am
Ouch Sly Pirate. I was thinking some of those guys. But you went very strong in your take. Good for you.
Alabama. I would disagree with you. While the current Bucs offensive line is better at run blocking — they are no where as close to the 3 years of elite pass blocking that we were getting from that 2020 group.