Click Here

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 1974, Hugh Culverhouse, a successful Florida tax lawyer and broker, was awarded the NFL's 27th franchise. (Kickoff was scheduled for 1976.) Soon after, Culverhouse hired John McKay to be the first coach of the team that would be known as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McKay had achieved great success as a coach at the University of Southern California, winning four national championships in 16 years—and he would continue to be successful, though it would take time.

The Buccaneers did not get off to a very good start in the NFL. After losing a league-record 26 consecutive games, the Bucs finally won their first game on December 11, 1977. Two years later, they stunned the football world by reaching the 1979 NFC championship game . . . in their fourth season! After defeating Philadelphia, 24-17, early in the playoffs, the Bucs lost the NFC Championship to the Los Angeles Rams in a hard-fought, 9-0 game.

One of the hallmarks of Tampa Bay's early success was an excellent defense led by Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, the Bucs' first draft choice and the Number 1 pick in the 1976 draft. In his nine-year career, Selmon was named to the Pro Bowl six times and was selected as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1979.

In 1981, Tampa Bay finished 9-7 and won the NFC Central division for the second time. As had been the case in 1979, the Bucs needed a dramatic, final-week win to clinch the division. Since qualifying for the playoffs for the third time in four years in the strike-shortened 1982 season, the Bucs have run dry.

After nine years as coach, McKay retired following the 1984 season. In the years since McKay's departure, Leeman Bennett, Ray Perkins, Richard Williamson and Sam Wyche all have served as the Tampa Bay head coach. Their cumulative record in the first nine post-McKay years was 37-106-0, a .259 winning percentage. With head coach Tony Dungy at the helm and young stars leading the way, the Buccaneers hope for a bright future.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Facts

• · Franchise Granted April 24, 1974
• · First Season 1976
• · Stadium Houlihan's Stadium (74,321)
• · Owner/President Malcom Glazer
• · Executive Vice President Bryan Glazer
• · Executive Vice President Joel Glazer
• · General Manager Rich McKay
• · NFC Central Division Championships 1979, 1981, 1999
• · Retired Uniform Numbers #63 Lee Roy Selmon

• · First Draft Choice Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Oklahoma, 1976.
• · First Regular-Season Game A 20-0 loss to the Houston Oilers, 9/12/76.
• · First Winning Season 1979 (10-6).
• · First Playoff Appearance A 24-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, 12/29/79.
• · First All-League Selection DE Lee Roy Selmon, 1979.
• · First to Rush 100 Yards in a Game
  Jimmy DuBose, 109 yards vs. the New York Giants, 10/15/78.
• · First 1,000-Yard Rusher Ricky Bell, 1,263 yards (1979).
• · First to Pass 400 Yards in a Game
  Doug Williams, 486 yards vs. the Minnesota Vikings, 11/16/80.
• · Most Yards Rushing, Career James Wilder, 5,957 yards (1981-89).
• · Most Yards Passing, Career Vinny Testaverde, 14,820 yards (1987-92).
• · Most Receptions, Career James Wilder, 430 receptions (1981-89).
• · All-Time Leading Scorer Donald Igwebuike, 416 points (1985-89).
• · It's A Fact The Bucs 26-game losing streak (1976-77) ended with a then-record-tying performance, when the defense came up with three interceptions for touchdowns in a 33-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
• NFL

<%rankingblog:1%>
© Headland LLC
155 Guadalupe Dr.
Sonoma CA 95476

copyright 2000-2005