“I’m Not Discouraged At All”
October 9th, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Haason Reddick is gearing up for hunting season.
The Bucs signed Reddick to a $14 million free-agent contract in an effort to spruce up an inconsistent pass rush. Despite Tampa Bay’s torrid start, opposing passers have yet to feel the heat, prompting Todd Bowles to blitz on 34 percent of his defensive snaps, the fourth-highest rate in the league.
Haason Reddick talks to Ira.
Reddick has been tasked with several roles through five weeks. Besides coming off the left edge, he has dropped into coverage on a regular basis. When he loops inside instead of taking an outside rush, he has been stymied time and again.
“I’m doing a bunch of different things,” Reddick told me this week. “The main thing is to try and get to a Super Bowl, so I’m just doing what’s asked of me. I’m a little low in sacks and I’m cognizant of that, but there’s a lot of football left.”
Reddick turned 31 last month and he’s looking to cash in as a free agent after the season. From 2020-23, he averaged almost 13 sacks per year, but his production the past two seasons won’t wow many suitors.
Reddick posted only one sack in 10 games with the Jets in 2024 after a contract dispute. The Bucs were hoping that was an outlier season, but Reddick has been limited to one sack and three QB hits through five weeks.
“The thing about it is not to get down,” he said. “The ball has been coming out quickly, but I have to maximize my opportunities. When I’ve been able to get there, I’ve been coming up short a little bit. Still, I’m not discouraged at all.”
Tampa Bay’s 4-1 start has eased some pressure off Reddick. He’s looking to hound an array of quarterbacks into mistakes the rest of the way, beginning with Sunday’s home matchup against the 49ers.
The Bucs have only 10 sacks as a team and opposing quarterbacks have compiled a passer rating of 105.0, the sixth-highest mark in the league. Sam Darnold had ample time to complete 28 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns in Sunday’s shootout at Seattle.
Bowles is hoping to exert more pressure without blitzing to help a young secondary that is now dealing with injuries at cornerback. If the pass rush in general — and Reddick in particular — fails to improve in the next month, Jason Licht and the Glazers will undoubtedly have some interesting conversations about the potential of adding a proven QB hunter before the trade deadline.
Reddick is well aware of his meager numbers. He’d be a lot more antsy if the Bucs didn’t share the league’s top record at this point.
“I’m very proud what this team has accomplished so far,” Reddick said. “There have been a lot of tough wins, but at the end of the day, getting the ‘W’ is all that matters. It’s been a terrific start to the season. We haven’t blown anybody out, but at the end of the day, we’ve been the better team. Our job is to fix some of the little stuff that we can improve on. We’re not where we want to be — but we’re trending in that direction.”
October 9th, 2025 at 7:36 pm
Hey defense. The offense can’t win every game. Little help?
October 9th, 2025 at 7:45 pm
Reddick is washed hot garbage and it shows. 14 million thus far pi$$ed against a wall.
October 9th, 2025 at 7:53 pm
The sacks will come…. Once Reddick has a better pass rusher on the other end lol.
October 9th, 2025 at 7:53 pm
Expect more of the same this Sunday. Going to be another shootout. 49ers gave up almost 400 yards to Stafford last week. I expect Baker to go off in this game and our WRs to put up big numbers.
October 9th, 2025 at 7:58 pm
“The thing about it is not to get down.” “I’m very proud of what this team has accomplished.” “but there’s lots of football left”. You can tell alot about a player when you get an article with quotes like this. For instance, I can tell that it takes players like this guy to help the team win a championship.
October 9th, 2025 at 7:59 pm
I was reading that a lot of teams game plan for bowles high blitz defense working to pass the ball as quickly as possible. I think that could be playing into some of the percentages as to why reddick and diaby have a high pressure rate but aren’t bringing home the bacon. but then you have these opposing QBs also having all sorts of time on certain plays.
hall is solid against the run but I think without kancey at 3-tech the o-lines are able to prioritize against the edge. hoping roberts gets reps and starts showing up big before the playoffs. more pressure from the interior will free up the edge rushers.
October 9th, 2025 at 8:11 pm
Easy there Bucsfan.
Hindsight is 20/20 but as Hassan said, there are a lot of games left. The Bucs still have cap space, that $14 million provided a veteran body on the edge that other teams need to account for.
Without the benefit of hindsight, I am not sure where else that $14 million would have been better spent. I wanted Khalil Mack but didn’t happen and Hendrickson would have cost the Bucs a valuable draft pick or 2.
October 9th, 2025 at 8:20 pm
If I remember correctly the eagles defense was a hot mess 1st 4-5 games of last season. We all saw how they ended up the year.
Reddick has the right attitude…whatever he can do to help us get to the SB….Team 1st.
Sacks seem to come in batches. Not worried yet – more concerned with the run D slipping to be honest.
Getting Dean and Morrison healthy would/will also help a lot.
October 9th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
This guy goes against the right tackle what 80% of the time
October 9th, 2025 at 8:46 pm
If Reddick and Diaby, didn’t have to run so much covering receivers, guaranteed they would have more sacks. 💯
October 9th, 2025 at 8:49 pm
I don’t remember JPP and Shaq Barrett covering many receivers during our SB run.
I feel like they were always either rushing the passer or stopping the run.
October 9th, 2025 at 8:52 pm
“ Hey defense. The offense can’t win every game. Little help?”
That’s not something you ever expected to hear in Buc universe, at least in the before times…
October 9th, 2025 at 8:54 pm
It was cool that the offense picked up and helped the team the last two 2nd halves of the last 2 games.
The defense has carried the team for 75% of the season so far. Keeping it close so Baker and the offense could make a game winning drive in the end. With all the injuries on defense now the offense will probably have to keep us competitive this week.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:19 pm
Maybe Reddick is the dude who needs to sound off and expose the Fraud and his “defense” that doesn’t work. Someone needs to tell it like it is. Forget January football, how about stopping an opening drive? How about choking out a team at the end of a game without needing a fluke play? How about not giving out yards like free fudge samples at the end of games?
How about having pass rushers rush the fargin passer?
Good night nurse.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:22 pm
Hassan Reddick … ‘“I’m doing a bunch of different things. The main thing is to try and get to a Super Bowl, so I’m just doing what’s asked of me.’
I’m impressed with the positive way that Reddick’s viewing these first 5 games. Hope that YaYa and the others are able to maintain a positive outlook also.
Also interesting what Reddick said about ‘The ball has been coming out quickly’. Opposing teams have been running the ball on average on 42% of their plays. Vast majority of their pass plays have been short passes.
Game 1: Penix was 0-of-5 deep
Game 2: Stroud was 1-of-4 deep
Game 3: Taylor was 1-of-3 deep
Game 4: Hurts was 2-of-5 deep
Game 5: Darnold was 4-of-4 deep
So overall, opposing QBs were 8-of-21 deep (38.1%), and only hit on 4-of-17 deep (23.5%) in our first 4 games when we had a healthy Secondary. Opposing QBs have completed 68.1% of their total passes in these 5 games (109-of-160), but if you just look at the short passes (101-of-139) they’re completing 72.7% of those. And they’re throwing short on 87% of their passing attempts.
Like Hassan said … ‘The ball has been coming out quickly’. Best way to get to the QB in those instances IMO is right up the middle. Yet our interior DLine has only got 3.5 sacks to date. Bowles is trying to help that by blitzing our ILBs & Secondary (ILBs have 38% of the blitzes & our Secondary has another 31% of the blitzes). Not sure though if the blitzing is being all that effective (ILB & Secondary together have 4.5 sacks & have blitzed 75 times to date). Can’t help but wonder how many passes were completed in the area they vacated while they were busy blitzing.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:28 pm
This forever Buc fan thinking defense is hanging in there with multiple injuries.
Trusting Bucs D.E’s dropping back on occasion. Working so far. Fingers crossed.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:16 pm
👎👎👎
October 9th, 2025 at 11:24 pm
Lets hope they trade for an edge rusher seems like there might be some that can be taken.
October 9th, 2025 at 11:42 pm
It is energizing to see Bowles lead his defense to be the League punching bag – especially with the game on the line. It takes a fluke.
October 9th, 2025 at 11:52 pm
Reddick quit on his last employer, the NY Jets. What made anyone think he wouldn’t do it again? This guy is going to continue to be a dud. Not surprised. It is hard to know he is even on the field he is such a non entity.
October 9th, 2025 at 11:53 pm
Vomitous defense and special bus.
October 10th, 2025 at 4:05 am
A lot of anger from people for a team 4-1😳😳😳😳😳
Fair weather fans need to become a Jaguars fan…..🤣😂🤣😂
October 10th, 2025 at 4:23 am
Good interview, Ira.
Reddick has a good attitude and said it, “We’re not where we want to be — but we’re trending in that direction.” The situation at the Jets wasn’t good at all when he was there. Can’t blame him for that. His heart’s in the right place. Go Bucs!
October 10th, 2025 at 5:15 am
Next choice for bucs.
Pay for a new DE or give our QB an extension now and save some moolah.
Just how many idiots of you think the Lighthouse is that stupid. .
I used to actually spend time in a Lighthouse and give tours.
As an 8th generation Florida Cracker on an island that has two of them.
October 10th, 2025 at 6:13 am
Is it really a blitz if you are doing it every third down?
Just sayin…
Go Bucs!
October 10th, 2025 at 6:16 am
Eric, don’t remember JPP, and Shaq in coverage that much? Reason is Arians wouldn’t allow it. Our defense hasn’t been as good since Arians left. This is Todd Bowles.
October 10th, 2025 at 6:43 am
Arians also had a five years younger LVD that shutout a five years younger Travis Kelcie in the SB. A five years younger VV lining up next to Suh. Two healthy, big pressman CB’s and a legit shutdown CB Davis. Voss Dennis, please. We have very marginal talent in the middle of the field and that’s where we’re getting beat.
October 10th, 2025 at 8:12 am
in seattle they rushed four the whole game until it was almost over, good game plan but need more pressure
October 10th, 2025 at 10:10 am
How does Bowles scheme dropping edge rushers into coverage compare to the league?
We should just put DB’s on the field instead of DE’s (sarcasm).
This is getting old……
October 10th, 2025 at 10:55 am
I think Reddick will be fine. They almost had Darnold and he has one of the quickest releases in the game now. Mac Jones get ready that oblique is goo going to be felt on Sunday.
October 10th, 2025 at 11:00 am
Exactly if Bowkes had Reddick rushing 100% of the time that wouldbe one thing but he drops back consistently because he’s so mobile. Is Talon is rushing the pastor so it’s warm Bowles that it is on Reddick