How Tez Johnson Came To The Bucs
October 14th, 2025
Tez Johnson hauls the ball in by his fingertips on his 45-yard touchdown catch Sunday.
Tez Johnson finally planted his flag on the turf of The Licht House on Sunday. And to hear Bucs coach Todd Bowles explain how the seventh-round pick came on the Bucs’ radar is pretty cool.
Johnson had a key 45-yard touchdown catch from Baker Mayfield Sunday against San Francisco. It came two plays after Mayfield scrambled for his thrilling first down on third-and-14.
Johnson coming to the Bucs’ attention is also a great example of the cohesion between the scouting department and the coaching staff.
It seems Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was enamored with Johnson. But he wasn’t sure if Todd Bowles would be.
“Jason came down and asked me to watch this kid and told me to take a peek at him,” Bowles explained yesterday. “I know he really liked him, and when we like somebody, we go down and ask [each] other to take a look.
“I took a look at this guy, and he was not just a small guy. He was a true receiver – he could run routes, he can catch the ball, he could return punts, he competed in the blocking game.
“I said, ‘He might not be bad.’ Then [Johnson] was hanging around [in the draft] at a time where we could grab him, and we grabbed him.”
Joe still likes how Johnson reacted when Licht called him to tell him the Bucs drafted him.
“What took you so long, bro?” Johnson asked.
“Well, we didn’t have a pick in the sixth [round],” Licht replied.
Joe thinks it is cool that Licht asked Bowles to check out not just Johnson, but a receiver. You would think a defensive guy like Bowles would have an idea if a prospect has some talent or not.
That’s what you call strong collaboration on player development.
An NFL general manager once told Joe at the combine that the worst thing that can happen for a team is if the coach and the general manager don’t get along and they work separately. That’s sure to blow up an organization, Joe was told.
It sure doesn’t sound like that’s anywhere close to happening in Tampa.
TEZ JOHNSON TD! WHAT A CATCH AND WHAT A FLIP
SFvsTB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/UtKZZW6YXw
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025
October 14th, 2025 at 7:10 am
Great catch Tez. But can the flipper act, that’s for Dolphins.
October 14th, 2025 at 7:12 am
I absolutely love Tez. I’m elated he was able to snag that spectacular TD catch.
I love his talent and I love his personality. Also big kudo’s to Kam as well. Those guys stepped up big time. Having said that Sterling Shepard is our most unheralded MVP this year. All he’s done is make big catch after big catch in every game with our star receivers out. Mad respect for Shep.
October 14th, 2025 at 7:30 am
Sure do love me some Tez. Garrett Greene is ready to be activated to the regular roster also and will turn heads with his play.
October 14th, 2025 at 7:34 am
BucU^. So true on Shep. He is also very respected in the locker room. I hope he gets SB ring before he hangs it up with the Bucs
October 14th, 2025 at 7:37 am
Joe, why only a B+ on the flip? It seemed like an A to me. lol
October 14th, 2025 at 7:41 am
He did nail that landing so A+ grade here.
October 14th, 2025 at 8:02 am
And the lands wrong. Or one more receiver short. Save. That act. For the Super Bowl.
October 14th, 2025 at 8:20 am
Hi Tez you’ve scored a couple of times now. Now it’s time to do what Emmitt Smith used to do. Act like you’ve been there. Score and hand the ball to the official and jog to the sidelines. No more flips until you catch a ball winning the Super Bowl.
Don’t take any more chances on injuring yourself. Look at what has happened to the rest of the team and realize they NEED YOU.
October 14th, 2025 at 8:27 am
Bake looks right, Otten covered. Bake looks left, Tuck open in the flat. Bake sees Tez breaking off his route deep and steps into a beautifully preserved pocket aided by deception (think back to Bake looking off). Bake hurls it to Tez who make an A+ catch securing the touchdown. Tez gets a 10 on the flip. A lot of football remains, but you have to love how everyone has been stepping up when it’s their turn. Tipping my hat to Bowles & Licht for working as one.
October 14th, 2025 at 8:30 am
My only concern with the flip was “please God, don’t get hurt. They are already down to the last three WRs.”
October 14th, 2025 at 9:18 am
I agree with a statement bowles made yesterday when asked about playing with 6th and 7th WRs…
i think we have 3 #1 WRs and 4 #2 WRs lol…
6-1!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 14th, 2025 at 9:29 am
Tez is fast, no doubt about it. Go look at that TD catch again. He blew by those 49er DBs. Then Bake launched it cos he knew speedy Tez would catch it. You go guys! Tez did that flip with no problems. What’s his record regarding gymnastics? I love the way Bowles and Licht work together. No wonder the Bucs are a solid TEAM. Okay, @813: Go Bucs, 6-1 (on my birthday)!!
October 14th, 2025 at 9:59 am
orl
HAPPY BDAY CHAMP!!!!!
6-1!!!!
GO BUCS!!!
October 14th, 2025 at 10:05 am
Next year the league will change the rules that eliminate fingertips as part of having control and backflips will be considered taunting. L O L !
October 14th, 2025 at 10:16 am
The interview with TJ where he thought the MVP chant was for him and Shep had to tell him it was for Baker is pure gold. The lad does have a sense of humor, and he made a critical play at a critical time in spectacular fashion. Kudos.
October 14th, 2025 at 10:21 am
We have so many playmakers.
Love Tez, he could take over games in college and I think he could end up doing that in the NFL too at some point
October 14th, 2025 at 10:48 am
tex is special, a circus freak acrobat he can turn in the air and has an amazingly high leap for a small guy, he plays bigger than he is, would be cool to see him line up opposite of mike evans monday night
October 14th, 2025 at 11:04 am
After watching that straight leg flip in preseason, I was concerned about him landing wrong and I see some people here saying the same thing… Now I am all on board. Absolutely not. If he scores flip, TEZ, flip. Gets everybody going, crowd loves it.
October 14th, 2025 at 11:27 am
Great story! Love Tez!
orlbucfan – Happy Birthday 🎉🎂
October 14th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
Bowles covered a lot of great receivers in his illustrious career as a DB. I don’t think we can pigeon hole Bowles as just a defensive coach anymore, that is too myopic. Bowles is a well rounded head coach who knows both sides of the ball. You don’t play and coach as long as he has and not know offense and defense. Yes he is a defensive minded coach but he has the wherewithal to find good offensive minded coaches and players.
October 14th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Who called him Darden 2.0 a few weeks ago?? LOL – it’s ok we all make mistakes! Looks like he he’s learned the playbook better now…
October 14th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
I think we may have something special in this kid!
October 14th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
Tez Johnson’s 45-yard TD involved a top speed of 20.5 mph.