Jason Licht: “I Am That Man” Is Misunderstood
March 3rd, 2026
Pizza parties are optional, says Bucs GM Jason Licht.
So over the past couple of the years, the Bucs have gone to great lengths to let fans know the team’s front office has a detailed “I Am That Man” philosphy to identifying future players, a mantra inspired by Lavonte David, among others.
Heck, the Bucs even produced a multi-part video feature on their draft picks last year titled, “I Am That Man.”
But as Joe often says, everything in the NFL is fluid. Last year’s focus is often next year’s nonsense.
When Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht joined the Ira Kaufman Podcast last week, he was asked if anything has changed when it comes to what the Bucs want out of players. His answer was intriguing.
JoeBucsFan.com: As far as your philosophy on evaluating players, can you share something that maybe you’ve tweaked for this year after 12 seasons? Is there something you adjusted, is it “I Am That Man” 1.2?
Jason Licht: Well, I will say that it gets a little overblown; I think there’s a misconception that we just want nice guys. When the “I Am That Man” was created, keep in mind that some of the players that we went back and thought about and studied, whatever, were also guys that weren’t so nice. I don’t think anybody says Warren Sapp was, you know, necessarily, [a nice guy]; and I’ve got a ton of respect for Warren. I think mostly what we were trying to accomplish were [picking] guys that love football and are super-passionate about it and are good teammates. And that doesn’t necessarily mean people that are going to have pizza parties, you know, for their buddies on the team. I mean, they’re all rowing the boat the same way and trying to win and knowing that winning is the most important thing — and doing their job. Those types of players can also have different personalities, and maybe [the team] can deal with some things as long as they love their teammates, love their team and love the game.
Licht and his staff may not have sought a team full of nice guys, but that’s very much what they have compared to past Bucs teams and other NFL clubs.
Do the Bucs need to get a little nastier? That’s up for debate. An angry edge rusher would be a welcome sight, though.
Special Guest Bucs GM Jason Licht! Plus Plenty Of Buzz From The Combine, And More
March 3rd, 2026 at 12:07 pm
And a big ole nasty DL next to Vea.
March 3rd, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Licht says he studied Sapp, that doesn’t mean he would have drafted him. Nobody wants a team of criminals but regardless of what Jason says we have too many Boy Scouts on this team, especially on defense. There is not a single intimidating player on defense.
March 3rd, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Vea is so intimidating he caused Jason Kelce to retire, lol. But then again, we do need someone to play some downs at his position and next to him that are going to get sacks.
March 3rd, 2026 at 12:34 pm
Did Jason draft sapp? Im confused but at any rate who exactly is mean on that defense or who isn’t a nice guy there is no misconception only a narrative shift you are trying to do Jason at any rate doesn’t matter because yup you guessed it Todd is still steering the ship with the it was everyone elses fault mirror.
March 3rd, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Like any profession, you want guys who love their job—love football!
That seems to be fading these days since the college kids were allowed to make the big bucks. Nick Sabin said he only recruited talented guys who salivated over the thought of playing for Alabama.
But when the riches began to be thrown around the desire for Alabama faded and was replaced by both parents and recruits asking one thing: “How much are you willing to pay?” And Sabin got out.
Perhaps I’m wrong. I do think these kids should be paid, but millions for an 18 year old?
When the love of the game has been replaced by the love of the dollar I think you lose something. And I do think this relatively new mindset makes Licht’s job harder when draft day rolls around.
Does the player enjoy contact and cashing checks, or only cashing checks? Does he love winning and hate losing, or is losing ok?
When I saw Egbuka laughing and yucking it up after a close game loss last year it got to me. Hated it! Maybe he was just being a nice guy and I was wrong to think he should have been angry.
Good luck, Jason. You’ll need it.
Then again, maybe the game has passed me by …
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:11 pm
There’s never been a team that played harder down the stretch than the 2025 Buccaneers. What an epic push it was.
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:17 pm
Tez Johnson not looking like a choir boy now
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:31 pm
Lol Says:
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:17 pm
Tez Johnson not looking like a choir boy now
————
HA.
Yeah, I was reading the NY Post last week, and saw his name on the front page, and I knew there was no way that was good news.
But it wasn’t criminal or anything, just real d-bag material. Then again, at his age, if I had the type of tail being thrown his way, I can’t imagine I’d act much different.
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:03 pm
I was a bit confused by him bringing up Sapp. Would he have drafted him? I don’t think he would have even been on their draft board. Back then teams didn’t do half as much work investigating the players and others teams past on Sapp. He could have fallen much further had the Bucs not taken a chance on him.
The problem is that it can be difficult to tell the difference between the character of players like Sapp and a James Pearce. Or even Baker Mayfield and Johnny Manziel who both were know to be a bit cocky and immature coming out. It’s a tough call and I agree with Jason that it should be taken into consideration. Sometimes it’s better to just pass on that player if the bad outweighs the good.
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:03 pm
Okay, then prove it by drafting some mean-ass guys that are good teammates and love the game.
Haven’t seen that with any of the last few picks. Of course, the feckless and uninspiring coaches they had may explain the malaise of 2025.
Can someone explain to me why Warren Sapp is not an assistant coach on this team?
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:04 pm
Licht did sign Suh who is not considered a “nice guy” in NFL circles. But he loves football, his teammates and his team. Suh was the one who consoled Vita Vea during the Super Bowl year when Vea went on IR. Suh was the one who worked with Vea to make sure he would be ready for the playoffs. Suh is That Man and he has a very nasty streak in him. We need more players like him on this team.
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:08 pm
You don’t have to be the meaniest guy to be dominant. Look at John lynch. Dude was a heat seeking missle looking to wreck you but was a nice guy. lol but then look at suh. He was mean and dominant just goes to show everyone is diff. Idc if your mean or not just be dam physical. That’s what this defense needs. You know like a smash mouth running game that’s what the defense needs to be. I won’t listen if you say oh well Bowles is the coach. Yea yea bs. 2020 that defense wasn’t the most physical but with the right players like suh JPP vea whitehead and even white it was physical enough to get the job done. Get the right players. We need players who will knock your socks off on defense