My Sitdown With Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht
June 6th, 2026
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The Sage of Tampa Bay sports, Ira Kaufman, started his sports media career in September of 1976, later hopping on the Buccaneers beat in 1985. He joined JoeBucsFan.com in 2016. This week, Sage had a sitdown with the Buccaneers GM Jason Licht at One Buc Palace. Noteworthy nuggets are below.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Bucs GM Jason Licht is confident about a franchise that slipped from 10-7 to 8-9 last season. I had an opportunity to ask him about the state of the organization in a 1-on-1 interview at team headquarters.
Q: Is this still an ascending franchise?
Licht: Yes. We have a lot of good young players from the last four drafts that we’re very excited about. We didn’t win enough games last year for various reasons. We’ll never hide behind injuries, but that was a factor. Here in Tampa, Lavonte David never got enough credit. There are a lot of players that have been here in the past that didn’t get their due for what they were. It is what it is, I’m not complaining about it. If we have a chance to win more games, there will be more players that people realize how good they are.
Q: How are you feeling about the wide receiver room?
Licht: Really good. There’s a lot of energy there — and a lot of talent. We have a lot of different skill sets among the group, starting with Chris Godwin. I think Emeka Egbuka is going to have a year like he showed in the first half of last season.
Q: Why did Egbuka’s play fall off after the bye week?
Licht: First of all, rookies coming from championship-type programs that play deep into their season, then barely have enough time to train and come right into the fray here and that has something to do with it. Then people started paying more attention to Emeka and we had the injuries to Chris and Mike (Evans), where we were forced to play Emeka in multiple spots. As smart as he is, and he’s incredibly smart, to ask a rookie to move around like that, play the X, play the Z, it took a toll on him.
Q: What are your early impressions of new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson?
A: I love the versatility he brings. I love his knowledge of the run game and the screen game. He’s got a great way of communicating. I’m really, really excited about the additions on our offensive staff.
Q: Do you feel the offensive line, when healthy, is the strength of the team?
Licht: We had only one player up front who didn’t miss a snap last year, Graham Barton. Those injuries have an effect on the entire offense. When your quarterback doesn’t feel as comfortable, just by nature, and you have guys playing different positions, you can’t get into a flow. It has an avalanche effect on the entire team. You can’t move the ball as well, so your defense is out on the field longer.
Q: Any regrets about not having better backups on the line?
Licht: Yes, of course. I always put that on myself. It’s easier said than done, though. You can’t have 10 potential Pro Bowl players on your offensive line.
Q: How much did you miss Cody Mauch’s physicality?
Licht: Of course we missed him. That’s one of my favorite things about him — playing through the whistle and setting the tone up front.
Q: The Bucs are 47-51 at home and 46-52 on the road since you came aboard in 2014. Where’s the homefield advantage?
Licht: It’s always on our mind. You would like to establish a homefield advantage with our fans and the conditions here. It is important to feel like you have an edge playing at home.
Q: Any quarrels about the schedule?
Licht: I like the way it was set up. I don’t have any complaints about it.
Q: Any thoughts about moving Jacob Parrish from the slot to outside corner?
Licht: Todd has talked to me a lot about that. We’ll see how things shake out in camp, but that’s in play. It’s a great problem to have. We’re very happy with his rookie season.
Q: Didn’t Parrish always seem to be around the football?
Licht: He’s a gnat.
Q: Have you detected an uptick in enthusiasm and passion among the players?
Licht: There’s been more energy than I can remember since 2020, with JPP. A’Shawn Robinson has brought a ton and Nacho has been lights out. Al-Quadin Muhammad and Alex Anzalone have also brought a lot of energy here.
Q: Todd Bowles says tackling has been subpar for years. Why is it going to be better this fall?
Licht: That’s just a certain mindset that’s developing with this team. I’m very encouraged about our physicality and being held more accountable.
Q: What have you seen from Benjamin Morrison, who played only 10 games as a rookie cornerback?
Licht: He’s confident, he’s athletic, he can tackle and he’s got really good ball skills. He’s got the tools to be a very good player.
Q: Did Baker Mayfield try to do too much during the 2-7 tailspin?
Licht: The way he’s wired, he’ll always try to put everything on him. Given the things he was battling through, it was a tough second half of the year.
Q: Will you to try to contain his scrambling instincts to minimize the hits Mayfield endures?
Licht: That’s a tough one. There’s been a lot of “No, no no … way to go” when Baker takes off. He’s a playmaker. That’s the way he’s built. Yes, it’s a delicate balance.
June 6th, 2026 at 6:45 am
Great interview Ira. thank you.
June 6th, 2026 at 6:45 am
Definite media training. I wish Ira would have talked to him about Mayfield’s contract. We really, really, really need to get that done! 4-5 years is fine. He’s not that old yet for a QB.
June 6th, 2026 at 6:53 am
There’s only so much Jason can/will say–
“We had 3 defensive starters last year who aren’t even good enough to be in the NFL anymore”–He’s not saying THAT.
“The O.C. got figured out by opposing defenses and he couldn’t compensate”–he’s not saying THAT
“We signed some GOOD free agents with the money we’d have paid Mike–He’s not saying THAT
June 6th, 2026 at 7:21 am
Good post Beeeej
Our special teams coach was trash – he’s not saying that.
We had loafers on defense – he’s not saying that.
This team better not quit on Bowles again (looking at you defense). I very much like the additions to the D this off season.
June 6th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Good attempt at an interview. Good questions. Most anyone who has been a fan since the Licht regime has been here could give similar non-answers as Licht usually does. I would opine that Licht is a horrible interview. He says words, that’s all. You gave it a good try, Ira.
June 6th, 2026 at 7:32 am
This is hilarious…
“We’ll never hide behind injuries, but that was a factor.”
LOL!
We will never blame injuries for our failures… BUT – it was the injuries.
Gotcha Jason. Wink-wink.
June 6th, 2026 at 7:56 am
Our home record proves practicing in extreme heat DOES NOT give you an advantage. If anything it’s a disadvantage. Bowles is to stupid, and stubburn to use the Glazer shed as a tool to keep his troops fresh. I couldn’t help but notice on the local sports highlights of the Jags OTAs, they were held INDOORS! Smart man that Coen, he knows how to protect his players, and protect them from the debilitating Florida heat. Evans is crowing about how nice it is to practice in cool weather. I bet he’d look at the Glazer shed when it was 110 out and think, why are we out here? Our two hottest games in September last season we split. Some advantage.
June 6th, 2026 at 8:22 am
Licht isn’t going to say much. A few leading questions, but that’s typical of the Joe’s.
My nuggets: The mention of AQM’s leadership energy. The mention of the other new offensive coaches. The answer of energy to answer the tackling problem.
AQM: If this guy is remotely close to his sack performance last year, he will be a great add. My question is, why did Dan Campbell let him leave? AQM and Bain should be the #1 OLB’s on passing downs.
Offensive coaches: I like the other coaches too: QB Coach Chandler Whitmer, T.J. Yates – Pass Game Coordinator, and Ken Zampese – Senior Offensive Assistant/Pass Game Specialist. These guys are huge improvements over last year’s coaches.
Tackling: Energy – really??? The answer should be drills to increase gang tackling and everyone running to the ball carrier. The answer should be learning what the good tackling team do and incorporate that into the Bucs practices. Joe needs to ask Bowles this very important question.
June 6th, 2026 at 8:41 am
This is the NFL, if you can’t or won’t tackle or don’t know how to tackle by now then get the hell outta here, you don’t need to “practice it” and beat up on your own teammates. SMDH. Practice is honing your craft, putting yourself in position, the finer things before you start blasting your opponent in the live game.
June 6th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Wish it could have been recorded for the podcast, Ira, but we’ll take it any way we can get it. Thanks.
June 6th, 2026 at 9:05 am
Would have liked to hear you ask…
Why do you always go into hiding during the annual swoon and at the end of last season? Shouldn’t a leader of a franchise set an example for accountability?
June 6th, 2026 at 9:07 am
4 years, 48
June 6th, 2026 at 9:07 am
Hilarious – Baghdad Bob : “we are defeating and repelling the infidel Americans as they attack the capital of Iraq.” – same from Jason