Jamel Dean Doubles Down On Super Bowl Talk
August 26th, 2025
Jamel Dean (left) with rookie cornerback Jacob Parrish.
So Bucs Super Bowl cornerback Jamel Dean said a few weeks ago that the 2025 team feels like it’s better than the 2020 Super Bowl club.
“I always think back to that year and then the team we had, and I compare this team — is very similar,” Dean said. “But I think we’re much more better than that team when we won the Super Bowl. The camaraderie, how we’re all playing together. Everybody has like this grit to him. It’s like we just want to keep competing, just help each other get better.”
Today, Joe finally got a private moment with Dean to see if he wanted to expand on his take or withdraw it.
“Really, I’m referring to the positivity with younger guys making a big step up,” Dean said. “You know, performance on the field and the energy of the whole team — you have to be out there on the field in practice to see it. It’s not just on defense, it’s on both sides of the ball. I’m referring to our offensive scheme and the personnel we have. We’ve got a lot of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball right now, a lot. I just feel like the offense as a whole this year really has it.”
Joe asked fellow Super Bowl defensive back Antoine Winfield, Jr. if he agrees with Dean.
Winfield smiled but wouldn’t offer Dean’s take a full endorsement.
“I’ll just say I feel like we got something really good going, but it’s about showing it on game day,” Winfield said. “I know what [Dean’s] saying, though. Game day. It’s about game day.”
Joe sure hopes Dean’s evaluation prowess is better than his interception skills. That would make every Bucs fan happy.
August 26th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
I am sure it will be better if Winfield can stay on the field. His injury left a big fat hole.
August 26th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
We have a solid team. If we can avoid any more injuries and improve defensively then we have a good chance of making the playoffs. First week first though.
August 26th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Dean is delusional. I’m hoping this team is a playoff team. I really don’t see how it’s much better than last years team.
August 26th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Doesn’t mean anything
August 26th, 2025 at 3:05 pm
DEAN…Time to Put Up or Shut Up!! LFG!
August 26th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Scrouge Chill!! Redick replacing JTS is much better than last year’s team. Offense will be unstoppable. Grizz and Bake will take of that!!! And Our secondary is Healthy, Go Bucs!!!
August 26th, 2025 at 3:16 pm
There’s something missing from that 2020 team but it’s hard to pinpoint. Though I am pretty sure it’s on the offensive side.
August 26th, 2025 at 3:18 pm
We can only hope Dean didn’t pull a muscle while talking to you Joe…..because the Notre Dame guy who was supposed to replace him is already hurt (another weakstick?) …..give me a break.
August 26th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Enough talk every year is this or that and crunch time they blow it. Show me
August 26th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
That a lot of talkin’ there, from a guy who ‘single-handedly’ allowed that ENTIRE TD-drive to happen, during our second preseason game versus the Steelers. I mean, HE was their best player on the field that night. His comments are just laughable to begin with.
August 26th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
He may be right, but chances are that if we get to the SB, he’ll be watching it from the hot tub.
August 26th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
@The scourge, I’d say adding Egbuka and even little Tez might very well make a big difference. I’m hoping the defense gets a lot better. Getting rid of Whitehead and Britt is addition by subtraction. Parrish looks very promising. Winfield is healthy…for now. We have better depth all around…and maybe…just maybe…a rededicated Hassan Redderick.
In fact our biggest threat might come from the slimy saints. They just named Spencer Rattler as their starter. How can they possibly lose?
August 26th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
Bucs are one of the few teams that can win it all. Health will be the deciding factors among the top NFL teams. Bucs should get a huge boost when Wirfs is back in a few weeks, Godwin is back in about a month and McMillen is back in about two months.
August 26th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
Talk is cheap
August 26th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Bowles said they were fixing the defense. Looks the same so far
August 26th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
Injuries, are an excuse
The scheme for pass coverage is just bad, really bad, until the scheme is changed the defense will be bad. The only way the bad pass defense gets better is if the Bucs all of a sudden have an elite pass rush, which we all know is not reality
August 26th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
“Injuries, are an excuse“
Smash your hand with a hammer then go try to fry an egg or use the bathroom, no excuses.
August 26th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
Everyone is high on Egbuka, and he is good. But, there was a lot of WR talent in this draft; I think that the Bucs could have found a better fit at WR later. I think of Chris Godwin’s travails, and I have to have real concerns about the NFL durability of his clone.
The current champions, the Eagles, grabbed Jihaad Campbell, the sole ILB diamond in the desert of ILB talent. The diamond the Bucs spurned and passed over as they picked Egbuka amid fears that Campbell would miss a big chunk of the season over a minor shoulder scope.
From the Philly Voice:
Round 1: LB Jihaad Campbell
During the spring, Vic Fangio stated that we likely wouldn’t see Campbell practicing until August, but when we showed up on Day 1 of training camp in July, Campbell was out there almost as a full participant. His blend of size and athleticism was immediately apparent.
Throughout the summer, Campbell was fun to watch, as he gets to where he’s going in a flash. But also, as the summer progressed, he made more and more plays as his read and react skills improved along with his comfort in Fangio’s scheme. There were notable improvements against the run, in coverage, and his timing on blitzes. Campbell is highly likely to start Week 1. The feeling here is that he’ll be a good player from the jump, even if far from a finished product. The sky’s the limit.
On a side note, Campbell was not particularly impressive when he lined up as an edge rusher. Once he has a foundation as a very good off-ball linebacker in Fangio’s scheme, the Eagles could look to coach up his pass rush repertoire, but that’s probably on the back burner for now.
Go David! Go Dennis! Go Bucs! (Fingers crossed!)
August 26th, 2025 at 3:49 pm
Even AWJ knows Dean is full of it…and he also knows Dean doesn’t get it done on the field on game day.
August 26th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
When completely healthy, does this roster have any holes? The answer to that question won’t win you a championship. It is all about depth. The quality of our second and third string players will determine our destiny.
August 26th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
TX needed a good chuckle today.
August 26th, 2025 at 4:01 pm
@Melvin
Dean was supposed to have deep help from Tykee – the deep pass is on Smith.
@smarter than Joe
Which “scheme” are you talking about? Man? Cover 2? Cover 3? What do you think we should be doing differently scheme-wise?
August 26th, 2025 at 4:05 pm
This team is not going to the super bowl that defense is the same as last year #!!
August 26th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
That was that team. Learn to be the best version of this years’ team first. Get some stops, flip the script and give us a 4-5 game win streak into the bye. Stop looking at that team, be this team.
August 26th, 2025 at 4:16 pm
My prediction is stuck…9-8 or 8-9. It will be fun to watch. It will be fun to comment during the games. I can’t wait for the season to start….BBQ, Football, and Adult Beverages. Hard to beat…BIG GRIN! Can’t wait for all the JBF commenters. It makes the games fun. TX to all.
August 26th, 2025 at 4:20 pm
Please tell me that Dean did not make the team. He is God awful.
August 26th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
JAMEL DEAN, YET ANOTHER ONE OF “BOWLES’ GUYS.”
The guy is terrible and should even been a starter on this team.
August 26th, 2025 at 4:44 pm
Uhhhh, listen, I love these guys. It’s a team that COULD make the Superbowl if all works right. Injuries have to be favorable. And already it’s been a uphill climb. Now personally I like early season injuries. If a team can hold up and the injured return 4 games in it’s like they are rejuvenated.. So the injuries are not a death knell currently, depending how the first 4 games go. 8t sure won’t be 4 wins.
This tea is missing 2 major pieces from the Brady year…Suh and JPP. Yeah Brady of course. And to be honest, I don’t think his play was STELLAR…but his presence was. S9 I think Baker has the “it” factor of he stays healthy and can be SMART with the turnovers. But the D Edge is unproven, D Backers….Lavonte is getting there in age and SirVoceyea(sp?) hasn’t gone the distance health wise or proven himself talentwise for a season.
Grizzard….I don’t care what he does he is more talented than Leftwich calling plays, but that Offense was Arian’s regardless who he said ran it. Can Grizz/Mayfield coalesce to match up to the Arians/Brady combo?
I agree this team COULD make it. And I appreciate Deans cheerleading, it’s better than his zone play, but it’s a little iffy if this team is a lock to win more than the conference…and even that is going to rely on health and a bit of luck.
August 26th, 2025 at 4:50 pm
@Fred McNeil, I see the Panthers as a bigger threat than the Saints. Atlanta has upgraded. Egbuka aside, the offense just looks the same on paper and Wirfs is out. Will Grizzard be serviceable as a replacement? We’re just guessing at this point. I agree depth on defense is better than at the end of last year but even that depth is being tested with injuries. Banking on Reddick and Diaby makes me nervous too. If management really saw the Super Bowl window as “open” it would have been nice to see someone other than Braswell backing them. I hope I’m wrong but I just don’t see Super Bowl personnel on this team.
August 26th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Dean needs to STFU and cover someone. Oh I forgot – in this defense you cover an area, not a player. He still needs to STFU.
August 26th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
Well Dean has a superbowl ring , and he has had a front row seat (6 yr starter) as to see this team grow from a losing mentality to a perennial contender since he was drafted in 2019.
Big Jamel Dean fan here no surprise !!
I would take his word at face value
Go Bucs
August 26th, 2025 at 6:18 pm
I’m sure Dean would be happy to shut up – blame the people sticking microphones in his face asking the questions
August 26th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
Btw all you Dean haters listen here
Look up Bucs W L record when Dean is in or out of the lineup
Numbers don’t lie
Winning is the only metric that matters
August 26th, 2025 at 6:41 pm
Well, every team that has won the SB has stayed healthy. Guess my question about Parrish has been answered. He’ll be a Buc. Hope the injuries back off this year.
August 26th, 2025 at 6:45 pm
When it comes right down to it, a lizard is a dumb creature.
August 26th, 2025 at 7:08 pm
Burnt toast has no room to talk at all. Let your play do the talking
August 26th, 2025 at 8:05 pm
The Atlanta fans think they are going to the Super Bowl; the Tampa fans think they will finish behind the Saints. What a world.
August 28th, 2025 at 12:58 am
That’s not just about filling gaps—it’s about injecting fresh energy and hunger into the roster.