Buccaneers Gathering Momentum As Super Bowl Challengers
The longer the offseason goes, the longer the list of people who think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can win the Super Bowl grows.
Granted, we have been beating that drum for a while now, and no, we didn't have the Buccaneers as "genuine" challengers for the Super Bowl, but rather a team that had the potential to be.
With an offense that is, on paper at least, one of the best in football, plus a defense that, if the injury bug stays away, can be a solid unit, Tampa Bay is right in the thick of the conversation for top teams in the NFC.
And Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr has listed the Buccaneers as one of 12 teams he thinks can genuinely win the Super Bowl this season.
"Yes, the Buccaneers," Orr writes. "Part of the reason this team has had so much success with offensive coordinators — both Liam Coen and Dave Canales were hired for head coaching jobs after just one season on post — is because of the vision laid out by Todd Bowles. He is crystal clear as to what kind of offense best helps the type of defense he has become known for."
Seen as a favorite for the NFC South, the Buccaneers are expected to have home-field advantage in their playoff opener and make a run from there.
Of course, that is provided the injury bug stays away, which nearly derailed the season last year when Tampa Bay suffered key injuries on both sides of the ball, leading to a four-game losing streak midway through the year.
Now, with a new offensive coordinator in Josh Grizzard and weapons the envy of the league, coupled with an improved defense, there's every reason to think the Buccaneers can make some noise in 2025.
How much noise? Enough for people to think they are genuine Super Bowl contenders.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bisexual ex-NFL star Ryan Russell explains what it really means to 'go both ways'
In 2019, Ryan 'RK' Russell, an NFL veteran who played for the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, made history when he became the first NFL player to come out as bisexual in an article he wrote for ESPN. Since then, he's been a proponent of bisexual equality and is outspoken about his bisexual nature. In a world where bi erasure is a real thing, it's imperative to have people like him as a spokesperson for the community. In a recent TikTok video, Russell addressed the way people viewed bisexuality and broke down how queer culture mirrors sports.'Today, we're going to be talking about how sports culture is queer culture,' he said at the top of the video. He went on to discuss the way people talk about bisexuality, citing how he often hears the term 'goes both ways.' He said the phrase was first introduced to him in the context of sports and athletics, then compared the question to someone like LeBron James, who, 'at the height of his career, was both a devastating defender and an offensive force to be reckoned with.' He then compared that to 'playing both ends of the floor' or 'going both ways.' Later, he mentioned Travis Hunter, a rookie for the Jacksonville Jaguars who's already earned top 10 status in this year's draft. Russell highlighted Hunter's versatility in the sport, saying his value as a player was upped due to his ability to play both defense and offense. 'Unfortunately, when we talk about bisexual people, we don't see it with that same lens,' he continued. 'As if one day I could be waking up and 'playing offense,' then midplay switch to play defense and ruin my own team.' Outside of sports, he said, 'Or, I could be in a relationship with a man and decide, 'Hey, actually today, I want to be in a relationship with a woman,' which, for some people, that's not an issue.' In both sports and queer culture, he said he wanted the idea of 'going both ways' to be 'seen as a value, as added paint to the diverse canvas that is our society.' He closed the video saying, 'So the next time that you think about a bisexual person 'going both ways,' think about them as the all-star of their team.' Check out the full video below: Sports culture is queer culture. If going both ways is elite on the field, it should be celebrated off it too. Bisexuality is strength, versatility, and heart. 🏳️🌈🏈 We couldn't have said it better ourselves. This article originally appeared on Pride: Bisexual ex-NFL star Ryan Russell explains what it really means to 'go both ways'
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trey Hendrickson reporting to Cincinnati Bengals training camp
The Cincinnati Bengals finally came to terms with top draft pick Shemar Stewart on a deal to end the rookie edge rusher's holdout. Four days later, the franchise is one step closer to welcoming the top sack artist in the NFL back to the fold. Trey Hendrickson is ending his holdout and will report to Bengals training camp, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. This comes a week after the Bengals' veterans reported to training camp on July 22. Hendrickson is entering the final year of his contract and had not reported to training camp as he was seeking out a new deal. One week ago, Hendrickson had called the Bengals' latest offer "atrociously low" and did not seem any closer to ending his holdout. Hendrickson is set to make $16 million in 2025 in the final year of an extension he signed two years ago. Since signing that extension, he has led the NFL in sacks with 35, including a league-high 17.5 in 2024. He finished runner-up to Patrick Surtain II for the Defensive Player of the Year award. The most productive player on the Bengals' defense in recent years is entering his age-31 season after making the Pro Bowl each of the last four seasons. "Trey Hendrickson is a fine player and a good guy," Bengals owner Mike Brown said on July 21. "We want him here. Dealing with him is sometimes not so easy. That's all right. He's got the right to argue his case, we'll try to make sense of it from our perspective ... as far as I'm concerned, the sooner the better." Brown reiterated that the team is not interested in trading Hendrickson away. "We are working on getting it done," Brown said. "We've been through a few — and he pushes hard, he gets emotional. We never have an easy time of it. And if there's one thing that is consistent, it always gets done. I think this one will too.' Many other edge rushers — including some in his own division — have signed extensions this offseason, including Myles Garrett (Cleveland) and T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh). Those two deals reset the market for edge rushers and at an average annual value (AAV) of $40 million and $41 million, respectively, per OverTheCap. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bengals' Trey Hendrickson ending holdout | Reports
USA Today
11 minutes ago
- USA Today
Contract secured, Courtland Sutton wants to help Broncos return to glory
Courtland Sutton spoke to media members on Tuesday after agreeing to a four-year contract extension with the Denver Broncos on Monday. First things, first, Sutton had a lengthy thank you list that included Jesus Christ, agent Jacob Presser, manager Daniel Gresham, Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner (and the entire ownership group), general manager George Paton, VP of football administration Rich Hurtado and head coach Sean Payton. "I'm just grateful," Sutton said. "I have a heart of gratitude for this opportunity, and I'm just grateful." Following Tuesday's practice, Payton said Sutton is "everything you want in a pro." "[H]e epitomizes what we're looking for," Payton said. "Then you match that with his play, and I mean just each box you're checking, leadership, work ethic. I'm excited for him and for the club." Sutton, 29, joined the Broncos in 2018, and he endured six losing seasons to begin his career. Last year, in Payton's second season, Denver had a breakthrough and returned to the playoffs for the first time since they won the Super Bowl following the 2015 season. Sutton now wants to help the franchise return to the NFL's mountaintop. 'It is legacy, being able to be here, signing the contract," Sutton said. "The biggest thing for me was being able to be here and bring back the years that Broncos fans have known. The organization has such a long historic tradition of being successful. You all know that I've been here through the thick and the thin. There's a lot of promise on the other side of the horizon here. To be able to be here and have more years of being able to chase greatness with this great team that we have, and with this great organization, that was one thing I was looking forward to. "We have the best fans in football. It's not a cliché thing to say. It's one thing that I believe wholeheartedly. I've played in almost every NFL stadium, and there's nothing like Empower Field [at Mile High] and being able to play in front of Broncos Country. I'm just grateful to be able to be here and continue my legacy here.' Sutton's 5,340 receiving yards rank 11th in franchise history, and he only needs 22 yards this fall to pass Emmanuel Sanders and crack the top 10. He's also just two touchdowns away from passing Eric Decker (33) on the team's all-time receiving TDs list. And although he's entering his eighth year in the NFL, Sutton believes he can still improve. "There's always growth that's able to be done," Sutton said. "I tell the young guys all the time, I'm always trying to find different ways to master and become better at my craft on and off the field. I'm a thief when it comes to finding different ways to be better, whether it's a recovery thing, whether it's watching film, whether it's a pre-practice thing, whether it's a post-practice thing. I'm always trying to find something to be better at whatever it is I can be better at. Complacency scares me, so to find different ways to step forward and continue to better myself, I'm trying to do that.' Now signed through the 2029 season, Sutton has five more years to continue improving in Denver. Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
