Happy 17th Birthday To JoeBucsFan.com; Is The End Nearing?
August 7th, 2025
Seventeen years ago today, Joe hit the power button on this website and never turned back. More than 60,000 Bucs posts have been published, the results of obsessing 24/7 about all things Buccaneers.
It all started with a laptop and a dream.
As the Chucky era marched on, Joe became painfully bored by the stale media in the Tampa Bay area. Bucs coverage was stuck in the 1990s. Boring!!!!
But some online coverage of sports teams was fun, you know, like sports are supposed to be. So Joe hatched a plan to cover the Bucs in a way that would entertain and interest Joe, something very different.
A defunct NBA site called JoeNetsFan.com was the inspiration for the name and the spirit, but Joe wanted to bring a different angle, the whole third-person “Joe” thing.
Joe pounded away for months here writing passionately for almost nobody — and no money. Traffic grew steadily while Joe endured endless personal attacks, the result of rattling the cages of Bucs fans, the Bucs franchise, and Joe’s media brethren.
Hell, Joe had an army of “haters” before anyone used the term “haters.”
But Joe pressed on out of love for the Bucs. Joe was having fun and fans were buying into Joe’s unique brand of journalism that continues to be like no other.
The Day 1 approach here has not changed; Joe writes about Bucs-related subjects that interest Joe. That’s it. If you don’t like it, then don’t read it. Joe doesn’t tell others how to express their Bucs passion, and Joe expects the same courtesy.
Thankfully, Bucs fans kept coming in droves and money started to land in Joe’s pocket. JoeBucsFan.com traffic exploded and the site is now the only destination for legions of Bucs fans. Anyone researching website traffic will conclude quickly that JoeBucsFan.com is the dominant force in the Tampa Bay market — by a mile.
The army of beloved Ira Kaufman Podcast listeners are in a category all their own. Joe would love to buy you all a coconut donut, a beet salad or a replica of one of Ira’s stolen beach chairs.
Joe added Ira, the mighty Sage of Tampa Bay Sports, to JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters in 2016. Smart move.
Joe appreciates the thousands of devoted daily readers here, along with the many thousands of occasional readers. And Joe has a special thank you to the statistically insignificant percentage of fans and haters that ever type a comment. You all have a place in Joe’s heart.
Seventeen years. Damn. A book could be written about the bizarre Bucs interactions Joe has experienced and can’t type on these pages without breaking confidences — or ending up with a broken bone.
Joe also wants to thank and congratulate the smart local business owners who support JoeBucsFan.com year-round. Unlike Team Glazer and other local media outlets, Joe does not price gouge and views advertisers as true partners and true friends.
As always, Joe’s birthday wish is for winning football to continue in Tampa. It’s great for Joe’s mental health. A fifth consecutive NFC South title would be a great start.
So how many more years of service to Bucs nation does Joe have? That’s a question swirling in Joe’s mind after Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht talked recently about wanting to retire with Baker Mayfield.
Joe sure would love to spend Sundays tailgating and pounding beers in the stands with Bucs fans instead of working. And Joe would be happy to find a less stressful occupation. Perhaps air traffic control or intake in a hospital emergency room?
A final hearty thank you from JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters to all the Bucs fans who have allowed Joe to realize this dream — even the perennially bitter media types, avowed Joe haters and sour Bucs employees.
As a birthday treat, Joe will get back to work serving Bucs fans 24/7. It’s a privilege.
August 7th, 2025 at 6:57 am
Thanks for all of your hard work. It’s really appreciated.
August 7th, 2025 at 7:00 am
Guys keep on cranking out the great information. Congrats to your site, to Ira, Steve and Lee. Great work for supplying amazing stories for those on the outside looking in, thanks gentlemen.
August 7th, 2025 at 7:04 am
Joe, happy birthday and thank you for everything you do!
August 7th, 2025 at 7:06 am
Crazy I’ve been following Joe for 16 yrs lol
August 7th, 2025 at 7:10 am
This place doesn’t suck.
August 7th, 2025 at 7:11 am
Thanks JOE
August 7th, 2025 at 7:12 am
How did you choose #28?
Went with Warrick Dunn’s number. He returned to the Bucs in 2008 and was a model player on the field and off.–Joe
August 7th, 2025 at 7:14 am
I read Joe every morning as I sip my coffee. I only occasionally leave a comment. Always entertaining and enlightening. Joe’s offerings, not my remarks.
August 7th, 2025 at 7:18 am
Thank you Joe.
August 7th, 2025 at 7:32 am
I think you should bring back the buy Joe a beer on JBF birthdays. I can’t remember the other choices, but it made me laugh. I could always at least afford a beer.
August 7th, 2025 at 7:32 am
“As a birthday treat, Joe will get back to work”. Attitude like that great things
happen. Ain’t nothing worthwhile easy. Much respect and many more birthdays!
August 7th, 2025 at 7:42 am
Happy Birthday 🍻🍺🍻🍺🍻
August 7th, 2025 at 7:46 am
This is perhaps the strangest team site in history yet I’m here most nights and mornings and listening to Ira.
Always wondered a few things.
Never understand why articles here publish before they’re edited. I’ve realized that over the years. Seems foolish. Sometimes you get rambling 3rd grade Joe and sometimes it’s college Joe.
Also don’t get why Joe hates media so much just for having their own style or opinion. Umm, isn’t that how this works? The people decide. His podcast rants are weak.
Why this site hasn’t been copied or duplicated elsewhere really speaks to how special it is. I’m guessing you guys have probably earned a couple of million dollars over these 17 years, which isn’t a ton of money but more than enough to have other people and businesses do the same thing.
Good luck forging ahead and thanks for being with us. You guys really helped me get through some tough stretches in life.
August 7th, 2025 at 7:46 am
Good Job Sailor. I have enjoyed for the last 4 years….Congratulations on uour good work.
August 7th, 2025 at 7:48 am
A unique brand of journalism indeed, bravo Joe. Writing with humor & humility, you call it as you see it. Thanks for doing it your way!
August 7th, 2025 at 7:49 am
I am grateful for the work Joe does.
August 7th, 2025 at 7:55 am
Happy 17th birthday and many more! Thank you!
August 7th, 2025 at 7:59 am
Here’s to 17 more! At least! Love this site and have always admired the entrepreneurial spirit behind it
August 7th, 2025 at 8:02 am
I still want a t-shirt with the Joe Bucs Fan logo!!! Thanks for all you do Joe!!
August 7th, 2025 at 8:03 am
Thank you for the website. I live in Wisconsin and this is the way I stay on top of what’s going on with the Bucs. My hope for you is that as you contemplate joining the fans in the stands, you have a great exit strategy. Better than JoeBicksFan. One that involves someone giving you a pile of cash to buy the site and continue on in a similar fashion.
August 7th, 2025 at 8:04 am
Dude(s), you guys are such an integral part of my retired life. I check the site multiple times each day. As a lifelong (50 years, baby) and diehard Bucs fan, there’s no other site I need to visit to get the latest team news. Always fresh. Always current. Keep it up guys! Thank you!
August 7th, 2025 at 8:05 am
I am curious who designed the logo? It is was under rated. Does Joe retiring mean that it will be sold to a bigger media outlet?
August 7th, 2025 at 8:08 am
Thank you Joe(s). The open thread during a loss is must read.
August 7th, 2025 at 8:09 am
Joe , I stumbled upon your site prob 10 years ago . I live in ohio now but from the tampa bay area . You put new content several times a day on this here site and I come back several times a day to read all things bucs ! Thank you for your devoted buccaneers service as it helps me everyday get my fill . GO JOES & GO BUCS !
August 7th, 2025 at 8:11 am
Happy Anniversary Joe
August 7th, 2025 at 8:17 am
Thanks to all the Joes! I’d love to have a JBF shirt!
August 7th, 2025 at 8:17 am
Same as Scubog… Read the morning cup of Joe with a cup of joe. Usually read any new articles later in the afternoon as well. I comment randomly based on the topic and what interests me.
Fully agree with the always entertaining and enlightening part!
Can’t remember when I started reading here, but it’s been a few years. Bucs fan since I started watching football, probably late 80s as a high schooler. I’ve never rooted for another NFL team, being a seventh generation Tampa Bay resident. I’ve never rooted for a pro team from any other city for that matter. Definitely appreciate you guys and after being a long suffering fan through the Lost Decade and beyond, I really like this current team… roster, coaching and management… and, of course, your writing/casting staff. Go Bucs, go Joes!!
August 7th, 2025 at 8:25 am
Congrats Joe. I’ve been here since the tail end of your first season covering the Bucs. I was in my early 30s. Now I’m in my early 50s. Thanks for creating such a wonderful blog and a great community. I can’t believe Ira has been here for 9 years. I remember when you brought him on like it was yesterday.
As for you walking away, I think it’s smart you have never authored your articles as anything else but “Joe”. The site could potentially go on forever with new authors who care about the team and creating Bucs content.
Maybe one day you can tell us the story on what *really* happened with The Coney Island Thrasher, LOL!
August 7th, 2025 at 8:30 am
What is the current asking price to sell JBF ?
August 7th, 2025 at 8:36 am
Happy B Day to Joe Bucs. I have been a Bucs fan since 1976. I have read all without a doubt. I picked up on your column after returning to Fla bout 10 years ago. Without a doubt your column is the best now and has even been . I truly enjoy your column and now listen to your podcast. I truly enjoy Ira”s columns and listening to him on your podcast. Keep up the great work
August 7th, 2025 at 8:45 am
Congratulations Joe Bucs Fan.
Can’t say have been reading since you started but started following in your early years. Visit the site everyday multiple times. Have become my only source for Bucs info because its the best. Your articles during the off season are greatly appreciated.
Rarely read the sea of experts who reply.
Keep up the good work.
Statistically Insignificant Reader
August 7th, 2025 at 8:55 am
Thanks for all you do Joe. How you keep up the pace and volume of updates is absolutely remarkable.
August 7th, 2025 at 8:55 am
CONGRATS JOE!!!
August 7th, 2025 at 8:56 am
HBD
August 7th, 2025 at 8:57 am
Happy birthday from Scotland. Only Bucs website i ever read. Topical, factual and never boring. Don’t always agree but that’s past of being a fan.
Every blessing and good wishes for the next 17 years
August 7th, 2025 at 9:01 am
You guys are such a blessing. I look forward to the Sage’s wisdom every week. Love the podcasts, the work. Can bring Rock Riley’s podcast back on too? Love you guys! Thanks for all you do!
August 7th, 2025 at 9:06 am
Don’t you leave Joe! Best dang coverage on the planet. Salute.
August 7th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Thank you Joes and Happy Birthday. Ive been an avid follower since day one (or close to it). I read my JoeBucFan articles every morning with coffee. My favorite thing about this awesome website is how you get us thru “list season” with so much quality articles about our beloved Bucs. Thank you!!!
August 7th, 2025 at 9:21 am
congrats joe…….keep going……never stop……rock till death
August 7th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Congratulations, and thank you! You have built something special, and I hope that you have a lot more years left! I read somewhere that you were a History major, and I wonder if that influenced in some way the way that you approach your journalism. GO BUCS!
August 7th, 2025 at 9:35 am
This bud’s for you, Joe.
August 7th, 2025 at 9:36 am
Been my source of truth for all things Buccaneers for 16 years… damn we’re getting old. Thanks for keeping us close to the team we love!
August 7th, 2025 at 9:36 am
Thanks “Joe” Happy Birthday!
August 7th, 2025 at 9:47 am
Keep working Joes…..I am 62 and I need you guys around for a another decade minimum! You will be bored in retirement. Grab a coconut donut and get to work!
This site and the Ira Kaufman podcast keep me going every day. Please keep up the good work and congratulations on your anniversary! Go Bucs!
August 7th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Happy B-Day Joes!!!!!!
August 7th, 2025 at 9:56 am
I don’t always agree with your takes sometimes but nonetheless I always tune in to your website. Congrats on 17 years of publishing!
August 7th, 2025 at 9:57 am
I don’t always agree with your takes sometimes but nonetheless I always tune in to your website. Congrats on 17 years of publishing.
August 7th, 2025 at 10:01 am
First thing I read in the morning or at night. Happy Bday Joe.
August 7th, 2025 at 10:14 am
Joe, Happy B-da and Congratulation on being best Bucs news site. With that said, anyway can you make JoeBucsFan mobile friendly? Seventeen years ago, most of us used our computers to get the news. Now MOST people use their mobile devices.
August 7th, 2025 at 10:16 am
Congrats. I enjoy and appreciate the effort you bring to these pages.
August 7th, 2025 at 10:19 am
My Momma say’s “Happy 17th Birthday, Joes! ”
JBF is a teenie bopper and just getting started. We’ll be here to support you when you’re old and gray. Many thanks. 🙂
August 7th, 2025 at 10:20 am
Happy Birthday Joe, hope you have many more. Thank you for the tireless work giving BucNation the latest & greatest in inside BUCCANEERS knowledge. You are the only site for me personally and I hope you keep it going for a long time. Again Thank you & GOOOO BUCS!!!!
August 7th, 2025 at 10:27 am
Never leave us! I’m in CA. Been a Bucs fan since 1976. I’ve typed many times before your site I had a weekly paper arrive. It would be a preview of the game. It arrived Monday after the game. I literally start my day everyday on this site.
Congrats and thank you!
August 7th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Happy birthday!!! Thanks for all the coverage over the years!
August 7th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Congrats, Joe!
And thanks for all the hard work
But I was wondering, it’s been always 2 Joes?
Go Bucs!
August 7th, 2025 at 10:31 am
Long time reader first time commenter. As someone who joined the Bucs fandom two years too late to witness the Brady Super Bowl, I’ve spent more time than I care to admit hastily refreshing JBF or listening the Uncle Ira on my commute and I’ve loved every second of it. Thanks for everything, and keep up the good work Joe(s)!
August 7th, 2025 at 10:34 am
Thanks Joes!!!
August 7th, 2025 at 10:36 am
you were right joe.
as a hater of most all things 2015 or so about the bucs, i blamed you as being suckered into the conspiracy that destroyed a decade of florida sports, not just my buccaneers.
how the hell was i supposed to know they would turn it around and add tom brad and win a super bowl.
what a miss on my part.
im glad you forgave me.
August 7th, 2025 at 10:39 am
Congratulations You guys! My first choice to check out what happening with the Bucs. I doubt I missed a day. I know I started visiting the first year but I’m not too sure how many months it had been up. I was at a Bucs game and heard someone talking about the new Joe Bucs fan site. Didn’t even have a smart phone I had to wait until I got home to check it out.
August 7th, 2025 at 10:48 am
Been on the site since probably the beginning certainly since Raheem and Josh Freeman. Thanks for all the content! Don’t stop! I’d buy a Joe Bucs Fan shirt as well.
As I’ve mentioned before, be cool if we could see how many comments we’ve made. Not 60,000 but it’s been a bunch!
August 7th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Carry on my Brother …. Hell yes to the Sage ! My Buc obsession runs strictly through Joe and friends!!!
August 7th, 2025 at 10:55 am
Nice job Joe, very few people get to make a living at what they love.
August 7th, 2025 at 10:58 am
Happy Birthday Joes!!! I very been reading daily for 13 years. Everyday part of my life.
August 7th, 2025 at 11:01 am
Congratulations! Sixteen years is a very long run!
August 7th, 2025 at 11:01 am
Happy Birthday, your website is much appreciated!
August 7th, 2025 at 11:02 am
I check in at least a half a dozen times a day. This is absolutely the best and most prolific source of Buccaneer material available anywhere. I learn something new everyday. That would be great except that I’m old and forget what I learned. I haven’t lived in Tampa since 199something, so I greatly appreciate what you guys do. It’s all Fleagles/Giants/Jets crap up here.
If you love what you do, keep doing it til you die. You do a great service.
Thank you
August 7th, 2025 at 11:05 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOES
August 7th, 2025 at 11:06 am
I don’t actually remember when I found this site. The Raheem Regime was in charge. Long time ago. There have been a few other sites that came and went. This one was always the best.
August 7th, 2025 at 11:18 am
I think you were a year into it when found you. I’m here every single day !
Thank you!
August 7th, 2025 at 11:18 am
KUDOS and Congrats on 17 years of success!
I stumbled across this site around preseason of the 2009 season….
The Bucs had just nixed Chucky and were going with a young nobody at HC…
They drafted a young nobody to be the starting qb and frustration was high…
Anyway, I’ve been checking in mid-morning and late afternoon every day since…
I plan on continuing to do so until you quit or my heart does…
So to many, many more years, CHEERS!
August 7th, 2025 at 11:33 am
The Gruden fans use to come here to vent their frustrations
I think the Gruden lovers made this site
Even when Rah won 10 games, and the final game was stolen
They were still hating on Rah
A totally different site now
August 7th, 2025 at 11:34 am
Hell yes Joe! HBD!!!!! I’ve been with you all 17 and appreciate you and you are the #1 spot for Bucs news… and it ain’t close. HBD!!!
August 7th, 2025 at 11:35 am
@lakeland…. RAh was in waaaay over his head and it showed. Im glad he’s w the Falcons!!!!1
August 7th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Thanks Joe!
August 7th, 2025 at 12:06 pm
NO! I am putting my foot down. Joe’s…you WILL NOT RETIRE!! because as Zack Mayo once said in “An Officer and a Gentlemen” “I got no where else to go!!!”
August 7th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Now that I no longer live in Tampa, I don’t know what I’d do without this site, which I visit several times a day. Keep it up, and thank you all.
August 7th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
Just make sure you’ve got a little Joe waiting in the wings to take over. It would be a shame to see what you’ve accomplished go by the wayside with some other guy coming in and trying to capture your market with lesser quality reporting.
August 7th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
Thanks Joe as a Bucs fan since the beginning 1976 you guys have been the best read espec for those of us working and just trying to keep up with quick and easy Bucs news and info of any interesting Bucs podcast to put a eye on.. Its easy to find any breaking news on the Bucs here…Keep up the good work
August 7th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Joe,
I enjoy your postings every day. It’s fun, well presented and, most of all, accurate. On FB, there’s one group (you may know which one I am talking about) that gets attention by posting inaccurate and/or data that is old and almost never accurate. You are the first site I go to each day to find out what’s going on with our Bucs. Thank you for providing this with clear insight and a bit of humor.
August 7th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
THANK YOU JOE.
August 7th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
A very enjoyable and informative site. I hope you have 17 more years in you.
August 7th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Thanks Joe! and Congrats! Started reading this here website when you 2 would be on with “The Big Dog”. I have no idea when that was but I miss him and glad I found joebucsfan.com!
August 7th, 2025 at 2:08 pm
Happy Birthday Joe, and thank you so much!
Wish I could remember when I first joined you. I know it was a looong time ago.
I’ve sure enjoyed the ride.
I just hope I’m around , when you do decide to retire the typewriter!
It’s been an honor!
August 7th, 2025 at 2:11 pm
Happy Birthday Joes!
“Retirement” ain’t what its cracked up to be….
And if you LOVE what you do for a living – then you never have to ‘work’ a day in your life….
Don’t forget that!
Hope you guys (or your qualified successors) are still pumping out quality Bucs content 17 years from now….
August 7th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Happy Birthday, Joe(s). Thank you for working so hard. You are appreciated.
And go Bucs!
August 7th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
Happy Birthday Joe!!!
This site is my go too for all things Buccaneers. Love the Ira Kauffman podcast and the hard work Steve and Lee do. You’re going to miss it if you retire.
Also please bring back the annual fan meet up before a road game. New Orleans is always great.
August 7th, 2025 at 4:16 pm
You guys are awesome. Thanks for the content. Congrats on your 17th.
August 7th, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Happy Birthday, Joebucsfan.com, from a Left coast Bucs and Joes fan! Coincidentally, I had to move to the west coast from Tampa at the same time you started this website. Hope to be getting daily nuggets of Bucs knowledge from you guys daily for many years to come!
August 7th, 2025 at 4:38 pm
WE LOVE YOU JOES AND IRA AND SEAN Y’ALL ARE THE BEST PLEASE DON’T EVER QUIT! LET’S BAKE!
August 7th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
Say it ain’t so, Joe. I can’t imagine a world where I can’t read your witty musings every day. I will say, though, as a Tampa Bay-based journalist who is a site leader at a national website, I hear you about thinking that being an air-traffic controller might be easier. I have literally made that comparison many times myself.
Please don’t hang it up anytime soon!
August 7th, 2025 at 5:06 pm
Happy Birthday Joes! We are blessed with the best fan site on the planet. Thank you!
August 7th, 2025 at 5:57 pm
Happy Birthday Joes! This is a great site, and I love the heart and hard work you put into it. Keep it up.
August 7th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Well chit Joe, I would consider moving back to FL to keep JBF alive if it came to it… But I’d rather just read it everyday like I do now! Keep it up!!!!
August 7th, 2025 at 6:24 pm
Oh and happy Bday too! I’ve been around this here parts of the interwebs since the Raheem the Dream days…
August 7th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
Thank you from one Buc fan to another. Well said and all true, happy 17th!!!
August 7th, 2025 at 7:37 pm
Joe had an army of “haters” before anyone used the term “haters.”
.
.
Some of them are still here. LOL
Happy Birthday!! 🎉
August 7th, 2025 at 10:11 pm
Everyone:
Thank you all for the kind words.
Joe is very sincere with the following: Without readers like you, every one of you, this site simply would not exist. Joe has never lost sight of that and is eternally grateful.
Thank you all!
August 8th, 2025 at 5:24 am
Thinking about bringing back JoeRaysFan?
August 8th, 2025 at 6:32 am
Can’t believe it’s been that long. I found Joe around 2010, and have been an hooked ever since. Ira was one of the very few Tampa beat writers that I enjoyed reading, and when he came aboard I was excited. What a great signing. Maybe Joe should be in the Ring of Honor next to Jason Licht. Coming here is now part of my everyday routine. I eat breakfast and drink coffee with you every morning. Thank you for all of the insight, funny takes, interesting interviews, and even the Morning Cup of Joe. All great stuff. Looking forward to many more years with the Joe’s…or maybe Joe Jrs when you’re ready to retire.
August 8th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Happy Birthday to Steve and Lee!
Reading between the lines, maybe another Lost Decade would inspire you guys into retirement…
Raising a glass, keep up the great work