NFL Team History: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, originally owned by Ted McCloskey, was added to the National Football League in 1976. McCloskey was an owner of a construction company; however, tax attorney Hugh Culverhouse acquired the franchise following monetary difficulties surrounding McCloskey.

The Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks began competing in the NFL in 1976 as expansion franchises. At the outset, the Buccaneers were placed in the AFC West Division.

After guiding the University of Southern California for 16 years, John McKay was hired as the Buccaneers first head coach.

The Tampa-based franchise began with a 20-0 loss to the Houston Oilers, setting the stage for 25 additional consecutive losses, which overlapped into the 1977 NFL season.

Following their introductory season, the Buccaneers were relocated to the NFC Central Division.

The Buccaneers finally won that elusive first franchise game against the New Orleans Saints in their thirteenth game of the 1977 season. The 33-14 victory on the Saints home field broke an agonizing 26-game losing streak.

The Buccaneers marginally improved to 5-11 in 1978.

In 1979, they were victorious in the first five games on their regular season schedule, and would end the regular season with a 10-6 record. Finally, the Buccaneers owned a winning record and clinched their first playoff berth. Moreover, they were the NFC Central Division champions.

In the franchise's first playoff match-up, the Buccaneers staggered the Philadelphia Eagles with a 24-17 victory. With a steam full of momentum, the Buccaneers hosted the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game. However, the Rams would send the Bucs back to Florida after a 9-0 shutout.

The Buccaneers returned to the playoffs in 1981 after defeating the Detroit Lions in a game that determined the NFC Central Division title. Unfortunately, the jubilation was short-lived as the Buccaneers were stomped by the Dallas Cowboys 38-0 in the divisional match-up. Despite the strike-shortened season in 1982, the Buccaneers clinched their third playoff berth in four years with a 5-4 record. However, just as they did the prior season, the Dallas Cowboys ended the Buccaneers Super Bowl dreams with a 30-17 victory.

From 1983 to 1996, the Buccaneers would not appear in a single post-season.

The Buccaneers selected running back Bo Jackson out of Auburn as their first draft pick in the 1986 NFL draft. Conversely, Jackson opted to play Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals. Jackson never played football for the Buccaneers, but he would eventually suit up for the Los Angeles Raiders. Jackson became one of the most frequently marketed athletes of the late 1980's and early 1990's.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Hugh Culverhouse Sr. passed away due to complications from lung cancer in 1994. Following his tragic passing, his son Hugh Culverhouse Jr. persuaded the trustees of his father's estate to sell the organization to outside investors. New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner as well as Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos placed bids for the franchise; however, Malcolm Glazer ultimately acquired the Buccaneers franchise. In fact, Glazer may have saved professional football in the Tampa community as Peter Angelos admitted his intentions to move the franchise to Baltimore, Maryland.

Glazer hired Tony Dungy to become the head coach of the Buccaneers prior to the 1996 season. Dungy had recently served as the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.

In 1997, the Buccaneers gave their fans what they had been lacking over the past decade and a half as they secured a spot in the post-season. They made the long trip to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin to face the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers following their Wild Card victory over the Detroit Lions. However, the Buccaneers were upended by the Packers by a score of 21-7.

The Buccaneers new home field, Raymond James Stadium, debuted in 1998

In 1999, the Buccaneers posted an 11-5 regular season record, clinching their third NFC Central Division title. They would rely on a second-half rally to squeeze past the Washington Redskins 14-13.

Next on the Buccaneers agenda was the potent offense of the St. Louis Rams. Despite the typically high-scoring game that the Rams were accustomed too, the game featured a grueling defensive showdown. Typically, that type of game would have favored the Buccaneers, but it was the Rams that would celebrate an 11-6 victory denying the Bucs their first trip to the Super Bowl.

After being eliminated from the playoffs in 2000 and 2001 by the Philadelphia Eagles, Tony Dungy was fired from the head coach position. The Buccaneers replaced Dungy with Jon Gruden. Gruden had previously led the Oakland Raiders to the AFC West division title.

The NFL issued a complete realignment in 2002 as the Buccaneers were separated from the former NFC Central rivals, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. They were assigned to the NFC South Division along with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints.

Led by Jon Gruden, the Buccaneers rolled through the season and posted a 12-4 record, adequate enough to clinch the first NFC South Division crown.

On their way to their first Super Bowl appearance, the Buccaneers eliminated the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, two of the NFL's most storied franchises.

In Super Bowl XXXVII, the Buccaneers ironically faced Gruden's former club, the Oakland Raiders. Decades frustration were momentarily set aside as the city of Tampa finally celebrated a Super Bowl triumph following their 48-21 defeat over the Raiders.

The Buccaneers suffered through what some considered a Super Bowl hangover as they followed up their Super Bowl season with a disappointing 7-9 record.

A year later, they regressed even more as they posted a 5-11 regular season record.

In 2005, the Buccaneers returned to the NFC South Division throne as they posted an 11-5 record. Unfortunately, they were sent home following a 17-10 loss to the Washington Redskins 17-10 in the Wild Card match-up.

In 2006, the Buccaneers posted an abysmal 4-12 record.