The Bucs are entering their 50th season since first donning the Bucco Bruce helmet and creamsicle uniforms in 1976. So it’s only fitting that Pewter Report unveils its Top 50 All-Time Bucs list.
The Buccaneers asked yours truly, Scott Reynolds, to provide my Top 50 list to the team for their media poll and I’ve decided to release my rankings to you over the next two weeks in the form of 10 articles – each with five Bucs greats. My list contains 25 Super Bowl champions – either from the 2002 or 2020 teams – as well as nine members of the 2025 team.
Top 50 All-Time Bucs: 46-50
Top 50 All-Time Bucs: 41-45
So let’s continue with the next five players who make up the Top 50 All-Time Bucs and we’ll finish with the top 5 at the end of this series.
Top 50 All-Time Bucs: 36-40
No. 36 – WR Vincent Jackson
The Big-Play Receiver Who Brought Class and Clutch to Tampa Bay
Vincent Jackson was a big free agent signing in Tampa Bay in 2012. After seven productive seasons in San Diego, the 6-foot-5 wide receiver signed with the Buccaneers to aid the development of young quarterback Josh Freeman and quickly became a cornerstone of the offense. Known for his size, athleticism, and professionalism, Jackson provided the Bucs with a reliable deep threat and veteran leadership during a time of transition.
In his first year in Tampa Bay, Jackson posted a career-high 1,384 receiving yards on 72 catches along with eight touchdowns. He led the NFL with an impressive 19.2 yards per catch, showcasing his ability to stretch defenses and make contested catches downfield. He followed up with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2013 and 2014, finishing his Buccaneer career with three consecutive years as the team’s leading receiver.
Bucs WR Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Over five seasons with the Bucs (2012–2016), Jackson totaled 268 receptions for 4,326 yards and 20 touchdowns in 63 games. His chemistry with quarterbacks like Freeman, Mike Glennon, Josh McCown and Jameis Winston helped stabilize a young offense, while his mentorship of Mike Evans early in his career left a lasting impact beyond the box score.
Jackson’s value extended off the field as well. A three-time team captain, he was known for his character, community service, and leadership. He was named the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee multiple times for his philanthropic efforts, particularly supporting military families at nearby MacDill Air Force base.
Injuries shortened his later seasons, but Jackson’s legacy in Tampa Bay is secure. He ranks among the top receivers in team history and is remembered not just for highlight-reel catches, but for the dignity and discipline with which he played. Jackson was more than a star receiver. He was the embodiment of what a Buccaneer should be. Unfortunately, he passed away too soon at the age of 38.
No. 37 – QB Doug Williams
The Bucs’ Trailblazing Field General
Doug Williams made history the moment he stepped onto the field in Tampa Bay. Drafted 17th overall in the 1978 NFL Draft out of Grambling State, Williams became the first black quarterback taken in the first round – and the team’s first true franchise QB. From 1978 to 1982, he brought legitimacy, leadership, and a winning edge to a team that had been the league’s laughingstock just two years earlier.
Williams started 67 games over five seasons in Tampa Bay, leading the team to three playoff appearances, including its first-ever postseason berth in 1979 as the team reached the NFC Championship Game. That year, Williams passed for 2,448 yards and 18 touchdowns, helping Tampa Bay post a 10-6 record – shocking the football world in the process.
Former Bucs QB Doug Williams – Photo by: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Known for his cannon arm and toughness in the pocket, Williams threw for 12,648 yards and 73 touchdowns during his Tampa Bay tenure. He also added 845 rushing yards and seven rushing scores, showcasing his dual-threat capability in an era when few quarterbacks were asked to do both. While his 47 interceptions and 52.4% completion rate reflected the rawness of the Tampa Bay offense, his leadership and resolve were never in doubt.
Williams’ departure after the 1982 season due to a contract dispute was a turning point for the franchise. The Bucs spiraled into a lengthy period of irrelevance following his exit to the USFL. Yet his legacy in Tampa Bay remains profound. He was a pioneer on and off the field, changing perceptions of what a quarterback could be.
Though he would go on to earn Super Bowl MVP honors with the Washington Redskins in 1987, Williams’ time in Tampa laid the groundwork for his legendary career – and gave the Bucs franchise its first taste of winning football.
No. 38 – S Cedric Brown
Tampa Bay’s First Ballhawking Safety
Cedric Brown was a cornerstone of Tampa Bay defense during the franchise’s formative years, anchoring the secondary with toughness, intelligence, and longevity. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Raiders in 1976, Brown found his home with the expansion Bucs later that year and became a mainstay in Tampa Bay’s defensive backfield for nearly a decade.
Playing safety for the Bucs from 1976-84, Brown appeared in 121 games and started 95, becoming one of the longest-tenured players in the early history of the team. He recorded 29 career interceptions, which still ranks among the most in franchise history – tied for third all-time as of 2025. Brown also contributed five fumble recoveries and scored one defensive touchdown.
Former Bucs FS Cedric Brown – Photo courtesy of the Buccaneers
Brown’s breakout season came in 1981, when he notched a career-high 9 interceptions, helping lead the team to an NFC Central division title and a playoff berth. That season highlighted his exceptional ball skills and field awareness, cementing his reputation as a ball-hawking free safety. His ability to read quarterbacks and patrol the deep field made him a crucial part of a defense that often exceeded expectations in the early ’80s.
Known for his leadership and steady presence, Brown helped guide the Bucs through some of their earliest competitive seasons, including two playoff appearances in 1979 and 1981. He was part of a gritty, overachieving defense that carried the team when the offense was lagging.
Though never a household name in the NFL, Cedric Brown was a foundational figure for Tampa Bay’s defense and remains one of the most productive safeties in team history. His contributions set the tone for generations of defensive backs to follow in the Bucco Bruce orange and white.
No. 39 – K Ryan Succop
Succop’s Steady Foot Fueled Bucs’ Championship Run
Ryan Succop, known for his calm demeanor and clutch kicking, played a pivotal role in stabilizing the Bucs’ kicker position, which had been far from reliable for many years. After joining the team in 2020, Succop immediately made his mark, transforming one of the NFL’s most inconsistent kicking units into a position of strength – just in time for a Super Bowl run.
In his debut season with Tampa Bay, Succop posted a career-best year, converting 28-of-31 field goal attempts (90.3%) and 52-of-57 extra points. His consistency helped anchor the team’s scoring efforts, particularly in close games. Succop’s reliability carried over into the postseason, where he went a perfect 9-for-9 on field goals and 12-for-13 on extra points, playing a key role in the Buccaneers’ journey to a dominant Super Bowl LV victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Former Bucs K Ryan Succop – Photo by: USA Today
Succop set a franchise record with 136 points scored that season, beating Martin Gramatica’s previous record of 126. Succop remained a steady presence over the next two years, connecting on 25-of-30 field goals in 2021 and on 31-of-38 in 2022. During his three-year stint in Tampa, he made 84-of-99 field goals (84.8%) and 132-of-143 extra points.
Nicknamed “Mr. Irrelevant” after being the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, Succop proved to be anything but. While his time in Tampa Bay ended after the 2022 season, his legacy includes helping guide the team to its second Super Bowl title and providing veteran leadership and poise during one of the most successful stretches in franchise history.
No. 40 – WR Joey Galloway
The Bucs’ Speedster Who Lit Up The NFC South
Joey Galloway brought veteran savvy and blazing speed to Tampa Bay, becoming one of the franchise’s most productive wide receivers during his tenure from 2004-08. After arriving in a trade with Dallas, Galloway overcame early injuries to become the Bucs’ go-to deep threat in the mid-2000s. His time in Tampa Bay marked the most consistent stretch of his NFL career.
From 2005-07, Galloway delivered three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons in Jon Gruden’s offense, making him the first and only wide receiver in team history to accomplish that feat at the time. In 2005, he posted a career-best 83 receptions for 1,287 yards and 10 touchdowns, helping lead a young Tampa Bay team to the playoffs. That season, he averaged 15.5 yards per catch and remained a constant downfield threat.
Bucs WR Joey Galloway – Photo by: USA Today
He followed up with 1,057 yards in 2006 and 1,014 yards in 2007, continuing to produce well into his mid-30s. Overall, Galloway totaled 248 receptions for 3,912 yards and 28 touchdowns during his five seasons in Tampa. His 15.8 yards-per-catch average with the Bucs underscores his role as a vertical weapon who could stretch defenses and flip field position in an instant.
Despite playing in largely conservative offenses, he consistently found ways to break big plays. Galloway’s impact went beyond the stat sheet. His speed forced defenses to respect the deep ball, creating space for the Bucs’ ground game and receivers underneath. Even into his 30s, he remained one of the fastest players on the field, earning respect from teammates and defenders alike.