The 50 Most Notable Players In Bucs History (Nos. 21-25)
July 13th, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
No. 50 – Mark Cotney
No. 49 – Mike Washington
No. 48 – Richard “Batman” Wood
No. 47 – Aqib Talib
No. 46 – Ricky Reynolds
No. 45 – Keyshawn Johnson
No. 44 – Ricky Bell
No. 43 – Vincent Jackson
No. 42 – Mark Carrier
No. 41 – Donnie Abraham
No. 40 – Cadillac Williams
No. 39 – Joey Galloway
No. 38 – Kevin House
No. 37 – Davin Joseph
No. 36 – Shelton Quarles
No. 35 – Michael Pittman
No. 34 – Leonard Fournette
No. 33 – Donovan Smith
No. 32 – Rob Gronkowski
No. 31 – Doug Martin
No. 30 – Baker Mayfield
No. 29 – Ndamukong Suh
No. 28 – Hugh Green
No. 27 – Jason Pierre-Paul
No. 26 – Shaq Barrett
25. Donald Penn
A 7-year starter at left tackle, Penn proved to be a solid blind-side protector for Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, Brian Griese, Josh Freeman, Byron Leftwich and Mike Glennon. He never missed a game for Tampa Bay and was whistled for only 10 holding penalties as a Buccaneer. He made the 2010 Pro Bowl and caught two TD passes for Tampa Bay. He was released in 2014 after the ill-fated signing of Anthony Collins.
24. Brad Johnson
The former FSU standout ranks seventh in career passing yards, sixth in completions and eighth in TD passes as a Buccaneer while fashioning a 26-23 record as a starter. Johnson signed as a free agent in 2001 and promptly set franchise marks for passing yards and completions. He led the NFC in QB rating during the 2002 championship season, throwing 187 consecutive passes at one point without an interception. Johnson proved his toughness by throwing five TD passes during the championship run after missing the final two games of the regular season with a severely bruised lower back.
23. Gerald McCoy
A polarizing figure for Buc Nation, McCoy made three All-Pro teams and earned six Pro Bowl berths. Only Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp have more. He ranks fourth in franchise history with 54.5 sacks. McCoy overcame injuries to both biceps early in his career. His 7-year contract extension in 2014 marked the biggest deal ever awarded to a defensive tackle. In his final six years with the Bucs, McCoy never posted fewer than six sacks.
22. Ali Marpet
The Bucs traded up four spots in the 2015 draft to select him out of Division III Hobart in the second round after Marpet registered the fastest 40 time at the Combine among offensive linemen. Marpet began his pro career at right guard before being shifted to center in 2017. After the Bucs signed Ryan Jensen, they moved Marpet to left guard for his final four seasons. He missed only three games in that span before retiring in 2022 at the age of 28, coming off a Pro Bowl season with two years remaining on his contract.
21. Vita Vea
This first-round pick in the 2018 draft still anchors Tampa Bay’s defensive line and has averaged six sacks in the past four seasons. He led the team with 6.5 sacks in 2022 and Vea’s 350-pound presence in the middle quickly transformed the Bucs rush defense into a formidable unit. During the 2020 championship year, Vea suffered a fractured ankle in Week 5 that threatened to end his season. Instead, he played in both the NFC championship game at Green Bay and the Super Bowl against the Chiefs, inspiring teammates with his dedication.
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July 13th, 2025 at 5:32 pm
Awesome Sage!
LFG!!!!
July 13th, 2025 at 6:29 pm
Donnie Abraham at 41,
65 PD, 20 Ints his last three with the Bucs
He set the standard for a Buc CB in the Cover 2
I know he left the season before they won the Super Bowl
But 41 is way too high for him…….
July 13th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
Love the History… I would have a hard time picking any order…
July 13th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
I will always remember Marpet as the road grader for Super Bowl Lenny! Ole Maroet clearing the way for the Bucs to win another Super Bowl. He left while still at his prime, but he knew what he wanted to accomplish and he wanted to make sure he was healthy after football. Good on him!!
With the D line upgrades and them staying healthy this year, I can see Vea going for double digit sacks as the Bucs make it to at least the NFC Championship game!
July 13th, 2025 at 8:05 pm
Here is my list not of just players but 50 with what I like to call an “accomplishment bias” – which is just a fancy way of saying I care more about what you DID than how long you hung around the cafeteria. You want longevity? Get a job at the post office. You want to be on this list? Win important games.
July 13th, 2025 at 8:06 pm
Derrick Brooks (LB)
Warren Sapp (DT)
Lee Roy Selmon (DE)
Ronde Barber (CB)
Mike Evans (WR)
Tom Brady (QB)
John Lynch (S)
Simeon Rice (DE)
Lavonte David (LB)
Mike Alstott (FB)
Tristan Wirfs (OT)
Paul Gruber (OT)
Jimmie Giles
Chris Godwin (WR)
Gerald McCoy (DT)
Hardy Nickerson (LB)
James Wilder Sr. (RB)
Antoine Winfield Jr. (S)
Tony Dungy (Coach)
Brad Johnson (QB)
Keyshawn Johnson (WR)
Booger McFarland (DT)
Warrick Dunn (RB)
Vita Vea (DT)
Shaquil Barrett (OLB)
Jon Gruden (Coach)
Ali Marpet (OL)
Doug Williams (QB)
Tony Mayberry (C)
Ryan Jensen (C)
Jason Pierre-Paul (OLB)
Donald Penn (OT)
Vinny Testaverde (QB)
Brian Kelly (CB)
Bruce Arians (Coach)
Donnie Abraham (CB)
Richard Wood (LB)
David Logan (DT)
Davin Joseph (OG)
Hugh Green (LB)
Dexter Jackson (S)
Ricky Bell (RB)
Trent Dilfer (QB)
Ndamukong Suh (DT)
Rob Gronkowski (TE)
Chidi Ahanotu (DE)
Mark Cotney (S)
Doug Martin (RB)
Devin White (LB)
John McKay (Coach)
July 13th, 2025 at 10:33 pm
I might quibble with a few spots here or there, but my only big disagreement is having Doug Martin ranked higher than someone like Donnie Abraham. Or even Vincent Jackson. Like he had 2 seasons with some wild numbers but that’s really it. And I was always a big fan of his.
July 13th, 2025 at 10:42 pm
I agree Doug Martin’s placement on this list is strange. I didn’t even expect him to be in the top 50 at all, certainly not better than somewhere in the 40’s if he’s on the list.
July 13th, 2025 at 10:50 pm
The only name on this list so far that is radicicolous is Baker Mayfield. He’s had one good season, and one middling season. If he has another good year this year, then sure, with the Bucs QB history, having 2 good seasons is good enough to be on the top 50 – but 30th based on one good season, where he then chokes in the 4th quarter of a playoff game for the 2nd year in a row? That’s truly absurd.
July 13th, 2025 at 11:29 pm
ira is prolly sitting there in his living room with 50 sheets of paper with names written on them in a black sharpie, neatly sprawled across the floor…
and he has to keep jumping up to juggle and reposition them day and night…until he gets it right…
what a gig to figure out the order…it’s crazy…
meanwhile, cozmo his loving companion, sits there tirelessly starring at him, dreaming of biscuits & coconut donut scraps
July 14th, 2025 at 12:00 am
@Rod – mayfield is 1 of only 3 QBs who have actually won a playoff game for the Bucs in the past 25 years. The others are both on this list too (of course they both won SBs…)
July 14th, 2025 at 1:38 am
We really screwed up with Penn. He was one of the best LTs ever and we got Collins? 10 holding penalties in 7 years is an amazing feat. He was also the first guy into the scuffles if you hit one of our guys in a dirty way. He ws Jensen before Jensen! Good call Ira!
Many forget how good Brad Johnson was. He could be abit streaky but when he was on….Holy Cow! Accurate! Love his Hoops trick shot vids too. LOL
Loving it Ira! Thank you sir!
Go Bucs!
July 14th, 2025 at 1:59 am
Quibbling about quibbling. Haha.
The list is a great way to honor great players. Stop trying to second guess Safe. Make your own list and publish it.
Kyle Trask #1!
Todd Bowels #2!!!
July 14th, 2025 at 7:12 am
JPP > Shaq Barrett any day of the week. Shaq had his breakout season with JPP, without JPP and he was serviceable. JPP was more consistent and he was versatile even with his missing digits. It didn’t matter who was lined up opposite JPP. He just wrecked havoc until his injury/age. JPP was dominant at USF, NY, and with the Bucs.
July 14th, 2025 at 7:15 am
I like Gerald McCoy, he genuinely appears to be a good dude, and I like how bullish he still is for the Bucs, but even as bad as the teams were during this guy’s prime, I just don’t have any great memories of Gerald. I mean there isn’t a game where he simply stood out for me. it just seems like he managed production when at least mattered. I feel like a couple of pinnacle games from him, especially when the defense got some help for him, would have helped this fanbase to embrace and/or feel sorry that he was such a wasted talent while he was here.
You guys would have to remind me of those games, if they existed.
July 14th, 2025 at 7:41 am
Glad to see Marpet right there. Good guy too. Am happy he decided to retire and take care of himself. He looks much healthier and happier now.
July 14th, 2025 at 11:08 am
mccoy at 23 at vea at 21. Great !
With Vea, I can see how good he is. With Mccoy, I had to be told how good he is.
Great list!
July 14th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
I didn’t pay much attention to McCoy after the Bucs drafted him. I can vouch for him being a heck of a football player when he was at OU. And it sounds like he still thinks an awful lot of the Bucs.