What Fires Up Ko Kieft? A Pancake Block Or A Tackle?
March 19th, 2026
Ready to return.
Overlooked last week in the wave of roster moves by the Bucs was AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht brought back a glue guy, Ko Kieft.
While Kieft is listed as a tight end, he’s not much of a receiver. Doesn’t mean he can’t catch but he will never be confused with foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski.
What Kieft brings to the table on offense is a gnarly attitude and a nose for blocking.
Kieft is also a valuable special teams guy. So earlier this week, making an in-studio appearance on the “Pat and Aaron Show” with co-hosts Pat Donovan and Aaron Jacobson heard on WDAE-AM 620/WDAE-FM 95.7, Kieft was asked what he treasures more, a nasty block that springs a runner for a big gain or rocking a return man on kickoff or punt return?
Kieft was torn.
“Oh, that’s tough,” Kieft said. He added he really joins driving a guy into the ground with a pancake block with the syrup being that the block leads to a nice gain.
But Kieft seemed to side with a big tackle on returns, and not for the obvious reason.
“Pancaking people is a great feeling,” Kieft said. “Both are pretty equal. But a hard tackle… is hard to beat.”
Kieft explained that when he blasts a return man, it causes a ripple effect. The defense comes flying on the field and is visibly hyped over the tackle, wanting to continue to dish out more punishment.
Kieft, who missed the final 14 games last year after breaking a leg, explained how football is so grueling physically. The only day a player feels good is the first day of training camp, he said, adding in the rst of the season players have almost a second job fighting through various ailments to play on Sundays.
“You are going to feel like garbage most of the year, just from practices and games,” Kieft said. “Once the games get rolling, you sort of get into a little bit of rhythm.
“But it is hard to just feel like you’re completely fine.”
Postseason shoulder surgery was a thing for Kieft after the 2023 season, even though he fought through the pain and only missed one game that season. Last year was the first time Kieft dealt with a major injury since at least high school.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:01 am
Yawn
March 19th, 2026 at 9:07 am
I’m confused about a post regarding a current player. What is this?
March 19th, 2026 at 9:22 am
The guy is a mauler and we certainly missed him in the run game. I’ve been to every open practice in training camp the last two years, Ko will catch good passes but struggles with tough catches.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:26 am
Ko Kieft = Tone Setter. Happy to have him back & healthy for 2026.
March 19th, 2026 at 9:31 am
“The only day a player feels good is the first day of training camp, he said, adding in the rst of the season players have almost a second job fighting through various ailments to play on Sundays.”
harkens back to:
“Are ya hurt, or are ya injured?”
March 19th, 2026 at 9:42 am
can he Rush the Passer too?
March 19th, 2026 at 9:46 am
licht resigned Ko and Otton…Culp and Durham are on the roster but folks want the TE from Oregon?…lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
March 19th, 2026 at 10:23 am
The secret weapon. All the difference we lost Mike but kept this guy. Yeehaw.
March 19th, 2026 at 10:38 am
Love Ko !!! Dude is the Lorenzo Neal of this team.
March 19th, 2026 at 10:47 am
Kieft the pancake block picker upper makes a run game better. Simple and true take. I look forward to a much improved run game this season or one that looks more like the 2024 season run game did
March 19th, 2026 at 11:16 am
813bucboi Says:
March 19th, 2026 at 9:46 am
licht resigned Ko and Otton…Culp and Durham are on the roster but folks want the TE from Oregon?…lol…
You must be delusional over the Buc kool-aid. Sidiq is better than all three put together! Just watch whoever gets him.
March 19th, 2026 at 11:59 am
Everybody is a gridiron hero til the season starts.