Jack Pyburn’s Status With Bucs Up In The Air After Court Ruling
August 20th, 2026
Bucs OLB Jack Pyburn.
The state of college sports on the administrative end of things is a complete and total cluster@#$%. And it may hurt the Bucs.
Joe cannot begin to get into how college sports is so effed up away from the field in recent years. And it only grows worse; it seems as players, through their attorneys, can force new regulations on a whim.
Take Bucs outside linebacker Jack Pyburn. The undrafted free agent got a couple of sacks against the Jets, and suddenly, he seems to be on the radar of Bucs fans.
That may all go up in smoke as early as next week.
Pyburn, who played three years at Florida and last season at LSU, was among 16 players who sued the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility. Long story short, these 16 players were not grandfathered in under the new NCAA rule that athletes have five years after they turn 19 to play five years in their respective sport and that’s it.
Pyburn and the other 15 players were granted a restraining order yesterday, allowing the players to return to a college campus to play a fifth year of college football, per Pete Nakos of On3.com.
Three of the 16 players are currently in NFL camps, including Pyburn. Per Nakos, Pyburn has a week to make a decision. Per Ryan Downton, one of the two lawyers representing the group, the three players in NFL camps have expressed an interest in being released.
And Joe couldn’t blame Pyburn. He’s not making much as an undrafted free agent. He could go back to LSU or any SEC or even a B1G team and very likely make significantly more than he’s getting with the Bucs — provided he would make the 53-man roster.
And if Pyburn balls out in his fifth year in college, he could get drafted and make even more money.
Joe reached out to a Bucs spokesman last night and the Bucs do not have an official reaction to this ruling at this time.
Pyburn had a pair of sacks against the Jets last week in New Jersey. He spoke with the local pen and mic club earlier this week and it seems he still feels he has unfinished business, if not regrets about his play in college.
As in, it seems he believes he left plays on the field.
“I’ve always been a good football player and had a good college career, but didn’t perform how I wanted to perform, and part of that is a mental side of the game that I didn’t fully tap into – in a confidence aspect,” Pyburn said. “And when I sat on my couch on the day of [the] draft and I didn’t get drafted, I had to look myself in the mirror and decide, ‘Who do I want to be?’
“You know, do I want to say, ‘Why me? Why me?’ or do I want to say, ‘Why not me?’ In that moment, I chose ‘Why not me?’ And I have worked harder than I have ever worked in my life, and I’m going to continue to work even harder.”
There is absolutely no guarantee Pyburn makes the Bucs. Pyburn could probably pick any school to go to — so long as the check clears.
So if Pyburn bets on himself, he could make a ton of money.
It would be sort of a shame to see a guy who KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles admitted is forcing the coaching staff to take notice, just out of the blue, take off.
But that’s the nonsense that is college football currently. If only the egghead university presidents would allow the players to form a union, this kind of ca-ca would come to a screeching halt.
August 20th, 2026 at 4:47 am
so i’m guessing he will see how he himself plays in this upcoming chiefs game, and go from there…
if he has a crappy game he might be best to go back for a 5th year…at least in his mind…but if lights it up, and he tears mahomeboy a new azz – he might wanna stick around…because he probably makes the team…
i saw his presser…and liked it…the kid is focused af
August 20th, 2026 at 5:00 am
No doubt the NCAA is a cluster, but some of these latest court rulings (Sorsby, etc.) aren’t doing them any favors either.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:04 am
increase your pay by 10x for one year.
Seems like a no brainer. Bucs retain his rights,is what I have read. Not sure that is true.
He is making $100k+. I assume that cash gets cleared off the books.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:49 am
What a mess.
August 20th, 2026 at 5:59 am
Absolute sh!tshow and completely a$$ backwards is the football system currently
Way to go everyone involved
August 20th, 2026 at 6:05 am
There is no way he is going to make the 53-man roster with the Bucs. At best, he’ll end up a practice squad player making next to nothing compared to the millions he’ll get with a good college program.
It’s a no-brainer for me. He should definitely take advantage of the 5th year and cash in while he absolutely can. If he balls out, he’ll climb up the draft board in next year’s draft.
August 20th, 2026 at 6:10 am
From what I understand he will remain Bucs property after his year back playing college football.
If that is the case he will of course make more money with NIL , get more development playing time.
I watched his interview on the Bucs YouTube and it was a very impressive interview. I don’t have a problem getting him back next year.
August 20th, 2026 at 6:21 am
Can Bucs keep him and send Dennis back to college? Asking for a friend.
August 20th, 2026 at 6:24 am
Greed is truly driv8ng the bus from top to bottom. Just start a minor league already, license school names and logo, lease campus facilities, and end the ruse that these are “student” athletes. Put money into education (RAs, TAs, adjunct professors, research, academic scholarships,etc) and drive down the cost of getting a degree so we can be competitive globally, not just football. It is ridiculous to think how an NFL QB can demand $50 million for a 4 month season while the teacher who spends more time/week with your child than you do is lucky to pull $50,000. And we yell “pay the man” when a 350 lb man child pouts on the sideline because he doesn’t want to honor his $18 million contract. Gross
August 20th, 2026 at 6:26 am
He needs to do the right thing……play another year of college ball to secure his financial future and then return to pro ball afterward.
August 20th, 2026 at 6:31 am
Pyburn should go back to college. I doubt he would make the Bucs, even with two sacks against the Jets 3rd teamers.
August 20th, 2026 at 6:33 am
The Bucs gave Pyburn a signing bonus and a ‘small’ guaranteed amount on the contract he signed as a UDFA….
Not sure if that locks him into Tampa Bay in the future or not in this situation.
Seems like he would have to be cut if he leaves – in which case any other team could ‘claim’ him off waivers under ‘normal’ circumstances…. but if he’s going back to school – would another team even do that? Probably not…
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Would Pyburn be allowed to re-enter the draft after another year of school – or would the Bucs own his rights – and he comes back to the Bucs next offseason?