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BY IRA KAUFMAN

Ed Glazer chose the right guy.

When the co-chairman of the Buccaneers decided to commission a documentary to celebrate the franchise’s 50 years in the NFL, he turned to Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Trent Cooper to oversee the assignment.

Glazer had worked with Cooper on a previous project and he knew Cooper, who grew up in Lakeland, was a long-time Buc fan.

Cooper’s passion and insight shows through every frame of a 10-part series that will drop on Amazon Dec. 11.

I’ve seen quite a bit of the footage in advance and every Buc fan from Brooksville to Bartow will be thrilled and entertained by Cooper’s handiwork. Judging by the excerpts, the Bucs gave Cooper an unlimited budget to get this thing done right.

Every era of Buccaneers football is explored.

He and his crew spared no expense while conducting more than 100 interviews. They’re all here — from original GM Ron Wolf to current GM Jason Licht. The parade of coaches on display is extraordinary as the Glazers explain why they hired Jon Gruden and fired Raheem Morris.

There’s a salute to Hall of Famers Lee Roy Selmon, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Rondé Barber. Mike Alstott’s crunching runs will give Buc supporters chills while the sight of Greg Schiano and Bruce Allen discussing their Buc tenures might induce nausea.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the documentary is the extensive interviews with the Glazer family. Even Kevin Glazer, rarely seen on camera, gets to speak his piece. Ed Glazer, who has kept a low public profile since the franchise was sold to Malcolm Glazer in 1995, proves to be an eloquent speaker.

You may not think this project has broad appeal — but you’d be wrong. Even a farmer in Iowa or a nurse in Tucson can appreciate a good story told well.

And boy, does this franchise have stories.

Who can forget the 0-26 start, the maddening contract dispute that hastened the departure of Doug Williams or the Bo Jackson fiasco? From Vinny Testaverde’s color blindness to Ray Perkins’ grueling practices, it’s all here.

The hiring and firing of Tony Dungy and Gruden are chronicled, along with the arrival of Sapp and Brooks and the merciful end of a 14-year playoff drought that tested the patience of every Tampa Bay supporter.

The empty seats and the national ridicule that marked the lean years don’t escape Cooper’s gaze, but the moments of glory are documented in joyous detail.

You’ll hear from Gruden, Simeon Rice and Rod Marinelli on the leadup to Tampa Bay’s initial Super Bowl run. Tom Brady, Bruce Arians, Mike Evans, Ali Marpet and Ndamukong Suh are among the vibrant story tellers for the historic 2020 season.

One segment particularly heartwarming is a tribute to Jill Hobbs, an original employee from the 1976 expansion team.

Jill worked diligently behind the scenes as an executive assistant for many years and was later the main contact between the team and Buc alumni. She passed away in 2021, just days before the Bucs beat the Packers at Lambeau Field in the NFC championship game.

This series is Cooper’s valentine to Buc fans, a 10-part keeper for Amazon subscribers and a reminder that this franchise has enjoyed a 50-year hold on this community.

Remember that phrase, “It’s a Bucs Life?” Cooper and his crew explores all aspects, from baby steps to middle age, in vivid detail.

Buc fans are less than a week away from soaking it all in. Let the binge watching begin.

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