The 50 Most Notable Players In Bucs History (Nos. 1-5)
August 22nd, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
We’re down to the Final Five.
In celebration of the 50th season of Buccaneer football, I’ve been counting down the 50 most notable players in franchise history. As expected, the Final Five is dominated by defense.
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
Six-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy checked in at No. 23.
No. 25 – Donald Penn
No. 24 – Brad Johnson
No. 23 – Gerald McCoy
No. 22 – Ali Marpet
No. 21 – Vita Vea
No. 20 – Tony Mayberry
No. 19 – Antoine Winfield Jr.
No. 18 – Warrick Dunn
No. 17 – Chris Godwin
No. 16 – James Wilder
No. 15 – Jimmie Giles
No. 14 – Hardy Nickerson
No. 13 – Mike Alstott
No. 12 – Paul Gruber
No. 11 – Doug Williams
No. 10 – Simeon Rice
No. 9 – Tristan Wirfs
No. 8 – Tom Brady
No. 7 – John Lynch
No. 6 – Lavonte David
No. 5 – Mike Evans
The only offensive player in the Top 7 is the first player Jason Licht drafted since becoming GM in 2014. Evans, who turns 31 later this month, is the franchise career leader in catches, receiving yards and TD receptions. He has earned six Pro Bowl berths, two All-Pro honors and ranks No. 9 all-time in league annals with 105 TD catches.
“I think Mike loves contested catches more than open catches because it sets a tone and sends a message — no matter if you’re on my hip, I’m gonna catch this anyway and there’s nothing you can do about it,” says Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett.
Evans can set an NFL record with his 12th consecutive 1,000-yard season, solidifying a powerful Hall of Fame resume.
4. Rondé Barber
It was a close call between Barber and Warren Sapp for this spot. Widely considered the best slot corner in league history, Barber tops the Bucs in career interceptions, games played,.most starts and defensive touchdowns. He played his entire 16-year career with Tampa Bay and is the only player in NFL annals with at least 45 picks and 25 sacks.
His 92-yard interception return for a late score at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium vaulted the 2002 Bucs into the Super Bowl and is considered the most impactful play in franchise history.
At one point, Barber played in 215 consecutive games, shrugging off an array of significant injuries along the way. “Rondé’s consecutive start streak will never be broken by another defensive back,” vows Mike Tomlin. “It’s like Cal Ripken.” Barber was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023 and is a frequent visitor to One Buc Place, developing a close relationship with Todd Bowles, Licht and the Glazers.
3. Warren Sapp
Once Sapp arrived as a first-round pick in the 1995 draft, the Bucs no longer looked upon themselves as annual losers. He brought swagger from the University of Miami and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1999. He ranks second to Lee Roy Selmon in career sacks as a Buccaneer and was a rare two-time All-Decade player.
Sapp earned four consecutive All-Pro berths at defensive tackle for a dominant Buc defense. In his first road playoff game, Sapp dropped Brett Favre three times as the 1997 Bucs fell 21-7 at Lambeau Field.
“The combination of Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks was the closest duo I’ve seen to Joe Greene and Jack Ham,” Bill Belichick told me. “But Sapp played closer to the ball and if you didn’t take care of him, none of the rest mattered.”
Sapp entered the Canton shrine in 2013, his first year of eligibility.
2. Derrick Brooks
Second to Barber in games and starts as a Buccaneer, Brooks never missed a game during his 14-year career, all with Tampa Bay. He is the club’s all-time leader in career tackles by a wide margin over Lavonte David and Brooks scored seven defensive TDs, including the clinching pick against league MVP Rich Gannon in Tampa Bay’s first Super Bowl victory.
“Sideline to sideline was what I was in awe with him about,” says Ray Lewis. “Some of Derrick’s interceptions were on the opposite side of the hash — places you’re not supposed to come from if you’re a weak-side ‘backer.”
The league’s Defensive Player of the Year during the 2002 championship season, Brooks was a six-time All-Pro and an all-Decade choice in the 2000s. He made 11 Pro Bowls and led the Bucs in tackles every year from 1998-2004. Still very active in the Tampa Bay community, Brooks won Hall of Fame honors in 2014, his first year of eligibility.
1. Lee Roy Selmon
The first draft pick in franchise history ranks No. 1 on this list. Selmon, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 56, was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for a 1979 defense that powered the Bucs to the playoffs in only their fourth season as an NFL franchise. He ranks first in career sacks (78.5) for the Bucs, despite playing right end in a 3-man front and attracting special attention on every snap.
“Lee Roy was never single-blocked … never,” says Hall of Fame executive Ron Wolf, who was Tampa Bay’s VP of football operations when the Bucs chose Selmon with the first overall pick in the 1976 draft. “He was as rare a football player as there has ever been in this league.”
A beloved member of the Tampa Bay community, Selmon was one of seven defensive ends selected to the NFL’s Top 100 all-time team. In 1995, he became the first Buc player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Once you get around a player of the caliber of Lee Roy Selmon,” Wolf says, “you can appreciate what greatness really is.”
Joe will be creating a page this weekend to enshrine Ira’s top-50 list with summaries for every player. Thank you for reading.
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:25 am
Great list Ira..you got it right.
Lee Roy is no doubt #1.
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:30 am
Finally James Wilder getting the recognition and ranking he deserves!
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:30 am
THIS, is how you finish a top-50!
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:38 am
Ira, you bloody nailed the top five. Perfect!
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:45 am
I’m genuinely surprised Jameis Winston didn’t make this list at any spot. This is a “most notable” list and I feel that you can’t tell the story of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without mentioning Jameis. I’m not even a fan of his and I’m glad he wasn’t extended here. He was a bust, but he was notable.
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:45 am
called it. anybody remember Dave Pear? what a flash in the pan thought we had a two-headed monster with LRS for a few breaths there. odd how washington-wood-cotney and suh-paul-shaq, etc, wound up bunched. poor devin white. watched bucs-rams MNF revenge game from 2000 and bucs-niners playoffs 2022. anybody remember shawn king and warrick dunn’s desperate lateral play to survive Kurt Warner and company? JJ and McCardell had joined Keyshawn to give us dynamic and tall wideouts, but King was getting much much better at this point. saved our bacon really in those days, we couldn’t find a reliable game manager for the life of us. dungy loved that guy. good times.
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:45 am
I can’t really find the words this morning to express when it comes to our Heroes. So I’ll pick a few words for the team I’ve loved from go and the men who brought Greatness and Real Hope to my dreams of Lombardi’s and Glorious League Wide Respect.
I simply want to say, Thank You. Thank you All that you gave for the game and for me. You were worth Every Single Penny payed you and my Respect and Admiration is Yours until the end of time… You Guys Truly Are Heroes to the Faithful and the Generations to come. “Go Bucs Forever”
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:46 am
by the way keyshawn dropped a bunch of passes in those two game lmao
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:46 am
Barry Switzer said that Lee Roy Selmon was the best damn football player he has ever seen. Barry has seen a lot of great players and Lee Roy ranks far and away above all others. I don’t think anyone could be argue with this top 5
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:48 am
If only Lee Roy were with us today to celebrate with Ira. We miss you, Lee Roy. Not only the football player but the human.
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:50 am
scott brantley was pretty notable
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:50 am
Well done, Ira…Well done
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:52 am
DRome yeah that’s tough but it would open such a big can of worms… you’d end up with spurrier and dilfer and testaverde on that list
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:54 am
Becker
Yes to all of those.
The MNF Rams game was the greatest game I ever attended. Hungover for 2 days, and hoarse for 4 days after….
Dave Pear one fist salute!
August 22nd, 2025 at 9:54 am
but you forgot donald igwebuike ira 🙂
August 22nd, 2025 at 10:02 am
I hear you, but I don’t think those other QBs still have franchise records tied to their name. He’s still the team’s all time leader in passing yards, most rushing yards by a QB, completions, attempts, touchdowns, and (of course) interceptions. He threw for over 5100 yards and at one time set the franchise record for TDs in a season.
Yeah, I know I must sound like Oneilbuc hacked my laptop. I’m not a Jameis Winston fan at all, but my goodness he had a heck of a notable career here.
August 22nd, 2025 at 10:07 am
Evans just turned 32
August 22nd, 2025 at 10:19 am
Funny that Mayfield is 7th on the list in just 2 seasons!
Barring injury, Mayfield will hold that record in two more seasons… passing yards as well.
August 22nd, 2025 at 10:39 am
Anyone see the Giants game last night?
Vintage Winston. Comes in for injured Dart. One play TD. Then proceeds to throw ugly Int with no WR even close.
Winston is notable for being the QB that can keep BOTH teams in the game at the same time
August 22nd, 2025 at 10:41 am
Anyone reading this should look up LeRoy Selmon. Learn about where he came from. Where he came from. How he grew up. I was lucky enough to have followed the Selmons and as a kid growing up a few towns away knew of their family. Farmers. Salt of the earth. Luckily our school was a class bigger than his so I never got to play against him. He averaged 16 yards a carry his senior year. Switzer saying he was the best “football player” he’s ever seen is because it didn’t do him justice singling out a position. Bucs first win in history (slimy Saints) he had 12 tackles. 1 fumble recovery. And 3! sacks!! Our Joe is just swooning over the thought of him. I am that man is all well and good. But LeRoy Selmon was that man.
August 22nd, 2025 at 10:46 am
Perfectly done, Ira. Leroy number one most definitely. Brooks right where he should be. Mike top five notable. Loving it all.
August 22nd, 2025 at 11:09 am
wonder where booger would fall. uh oh now i’ve done it.
August 22nd, 2025 at 11:10 am
kenton right on. just watched his nfl films. awesome stuff. great guy.
August 22nd, 2025 at 11:13 am
DRome yes i know he’s on the elite 5,000 yard list but he stands out like a sore thumb because… drumroll please… 30 INTs led the NFL
August 22nd, 2025 at 11:14 am
My only surviving jersey from olden days in Automatica jersey. Notable guy for sure.
August 22nd, 2025 at 11:22 am
When did you write this? Evans turned 32 last week,.
August 22nd, 2025 at 11:46 am
Where’s JTS?
August 22nd, 2025 at 11:49 am
Love the top 5, they all can be number#1’s on someone else’s list. Well done.
August 22nd, 2025 at 11:50 am
After my above post, I started to think how about the list of Tampa’s biggest flops. What a list that would be. How many draft picks for Jack Thompson?
August 22nd, 2025 at 11:56 am
M1K3 will be #1 after all is said and done boomer
August 22nd, 2025 at 12:05 pm
You dont get an expressway named after you if you arent truly great.
August 22nd, 2025 at 12:06 pm
I didn’t watch the Selmon days, so I’m a bit uninformed, but I struggle with him being #1. Amazing player and icon as 1st overall draft pick,but where’s the Super Bowl? I think it should have been Derrick and Mike will further his ascension.
August 22nd, 2025 at 12:10 pm
scott brantley was pretty notable
Yeah Notable when he knocked Lion Qb Eric Hipple’s teeth out and they stopped the game for 15 minutes to find them.
Other than that he’s no top 50. Maybe a top 10 former Gators that became Bucs.
August 22nd, 2025 at 12:34 pm
Could 3 more 1000 yard years and a second SB propel big Mike to number 1,,, or is LRS just a a league of his own and everyone else forever is fighting for #2
August 22nd, 2025 at 1:05 pm
I remember those (Paper Bags) years
Fans use to wear paper bags to cover their face at the Bucs games. Leroy Selmon anchor a dominating defense. Then Joe Gibbs talked John McKay into drafting Doug Williams. We went from a winless laughing stock to Division Champs, and playing in the NFC Conference finals, iness than three years. Leroy Selmon indeed is the greatest Buc of all time.
August 22nd, 2025 at 1:11 pm
Players that make you proud to be a Bucs fan.
August 22nd, 2025 at 1:24 pm
OR Buc
Uninformed.. correct.
August 22nd, 2025 at 1:33 pm
I enjoyed watching them all being a Bucs fan and attending over 250 home games has been one of the great joys of my life! Go Bucs Go Tampa
August 22nd, 2025 at 2:10 pm
Good stuff. Sapp, Mr. Derrick Brooks, and Ronde/Lynch playing at all three levels of the defense at the same time was borderline cheating.
Also, barring major injury troubles, I feel confident in ME13 settling in at #4 all time on TDs by the time he hangs it up, hopefully a lifetime Buc.
August 22nd, 2025 at 2:32 pm
Loved the list. Ira makes this site special. Thanks
August 22nd, 2025 at 2:34 pm
My admittedly biased Top 5 list looks like:
1. Sapp
2. Brooks
3. Selmon
4. Barber
5. Evans
August 22nd, 2025 at 2:39 pm
I might quibble with the placement of a few of the old timers, but that is a heck of a list. There be only one, and that one is 63.
August 22nd, 2025 at 2:41 pm
I would like to mention that, in my opinion, Brooks and Barber were both better at their jobs than Sapp was at his, Ronde especially so. However, linemen are almost always more consequential than non-linemen.
August 22nd, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Sapp was the mouthpiece and he backed it up!
August 22nd, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Good job Ira. Glad to see Lee Roy Selmon getting the respect he deserves.
August 22nd, 2025 at 5:16 pm
Scot Brantley was way more than the guy who turned out Eric Hipples lights. Scot was known for his ferocious hits and tough play , but Scot was also adept at reading the QB and making a pick and then running with it. I will never forget watching Brantley in his first preseason game against the Oilers and Earl Campbell. Early in the game Campbell came clear on the end of the line and looked like he was going to break free , but Scot was having none of that. Brantley met Campbell at the line of scrimmage and it was like the immovable object hitting the unstoppable force as Brantley stopped Campbell for no gain one on one.
Take a look at Scot Brantley highlight on YouTube and you will see.Scot was also a great dude to hang out with and drink some cold ones as I did many times. Brantley belongs on the list.
August 22nd, 2025 at 5:29 pm
1.brooks
2.barber
3.evans -for now
4.sapp
5.selmon
6.lynch
7.alstot
8.godwin
9.brady
10.is where my list because debatable
August 22nd, 2025 at 5:54 pm
THANK YOU. There um, other outlets who let their personal friendships determine top-4 slots, & weirdly pick Ronde over Lee Roy.
August 22nd, 2025 at 6:11 pm
Here was one I did less than a year ago — before Ira’s list which is better than mine.
My list had an accomplishment bias (at least IMO) and included coaches:
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 (TE)
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)
August 22nd, 2025 at 7:28 pm
Love the list! Pay homage to the Great Leroy Selmon! He was before my time, but in NFL league circles he a legend.
August 22nd, 2025 at 8:14 pm
Strong list, Ira. Well done.
August 22nd, 2025 at 10:40 pm
Alstott and Giles over Washington and keyshawn
August 23rd, 2025 at 3:10 am
If we’re doing notable disappointing qbs as someone suggested I would put Testaverde over Jameis. Vinny defined an era. Bucs got rid of Steve Young for him and he had as much physical talent as anyone. Threw a beautiful ball, big, could run. Colorblind! Very likeable, like Jameis, too.
August 23rd, 2025 at 7:21 am
Nailed the final five Ira! As I was sure you would.
I have been around from the beginning and have seen every one of these dudes play. Some I would have excluded on principle but Ira knows how to do it fairly and This list is pretty danged close in my book.
They don’t call you the Sage for nothing!
Go Ira!
Go Bucs!
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:13 am
The beauty of lists is they spark debate.
There is no debating who #1 is, Ira nails it of course. Lee Roy Selmon. Learn to spell his whole name correctly, and understand he’s one of the NFL’s greatest players of all time despite only playing nine seasons. Jim Brown only played nine also.
Lee Roy would beat triple teams. Just amazing.
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:23 am
Ira, I was ready to riot if Lee Roy Selmon wasn’t #1 on that list. RIP and how! He wasn’t just a great and brilliant football player, he was also one h3lluva person off the field. I oughta know cos I had the honor of meeting him in street clothes. I saw all those legendary 1979 games at Tampa Stadium. Talk about walking down memory lane reading your list?! I only question a couple of them, Aqib Talib being one. I could not stand him! Otherwise, just what we fans come to expect out of you. Buc thumbs up!
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:49 am
Love it. Well done Ira!
August 23rd, 2025 at 12:42 pm
@Jeffrey baker Right onto the bench where he always was.
August 23rd, 2025 at 12:44 pm
@Jack Berton mercer…….No way in hell man Sapp was the heart of that defense and made everyone around him better.
August 23rd, 2025 at 4:11 pm
Good list overall, but Gramatica should have been somewhere in this top 50 list. He kept us in a lot of games during that era and brought excitement to the position!