The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will celebrate their 50th Anniversary in 2025 with a trip down memory lane. Over the years since the team's inception in 1976, many players have generated impactful plays that are enshrined in the franchise's lore. This upcoming season, the Bucs will recognize the Top 50 Players in team history. Fans will have a chance to join the process, by selecting their favorite stars at various position groups. Voting will run through May 30. The final results will be announced during Training Camp and contestants have 151 eligible players to choose from for their All-Star compilation. The players that are eligible have met one of the following criteria:
- Started at least 50 games for the Bucs
- Top 5 in a major team statistical category
- Voted to a Pro Bowl or First or Second-Team All Pro
- Part of an iconic moment in Bucs history
Throughout the voting window, we are taking a look at each position group of eligible players, continuing with linebacker. The Bucs have 20 linebackers who are eligible for the Top 50 ranking and fans can vote for three out of the following list. Fans who vote will be entered into a sweepstakes to win some amazing prizes. To vote, click this link. The grand prize winner will receive a $1500 gift card to the team store. 10 runner-ups will score a $100 gift card to the team store.
Of the group of linebackers is Lavonte David, who became the lone player in 2024 with 100-plus tackles, 5.0-plus sacks and three-or-more forced fumbles. Over the past 10 seasons, only four players have recorded these numbers in a single season: David (2024), Antoine Winfield Jr. (2023), Shaquille Leonard (2018) and Thomas Davis (2015). Since 1991, David is just the eighth player to record 40-plus sacks and 30-plus takeaways, including playoffs, joining Karlos Dansby, Ray Lewis, London Fletcher, Julius Peppers, Junior Seau, Jason Taylor and Brian Urlacher. Five of the other seven players in this group are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Derrick Brooks is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Bucs' Ring of Honor. Brooks earned several accolades during his playing years, being selected as an All-Pro by the Associated Press nine times and totaling franchise best 11 Pro Bowl berths. In 2002, he was named AP Defensive Player of the Year. His seven touchdowns rank second in team history, behind only Rondé Barber. Brooks is the only non-defensive back to crack the Top 5 in the club's career interception list.
Shelton Quarles' 148 career games played and 113 career starts as a Buccaneer rank seventh and 11th, respectively, in team history. He also ranks fourth in team annals with 985 career tackles, including a career-high and team-best 196 tackles in 2005, the third-highest total in a single season in team history. Quarles played all three linebacker positions during his career and is the first and one of only three players in team history to record a touchdown and a safety (also Rondé Barber and Lavonte David) during their career. Richard "Batman" Wood played linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1976 through 1984, racking up 855 career tackles, third-most in franchise history.
Here is the full list of eligible linebackers:
- Kwon Alexander
- Scot Brantley
- Derrick Brooks
- Lavonte David
- Jeff Davis
- Mason Foster
- Hugh Green
- Cecil Johnson
- Dave Lewis
- Eugene Marve
- Winston Moss
- Kevin Murphy
- Hardy Nickerson
- Shelton Quarles
- Barrett Ruud
- Dewey Selmon
- Broderick Thomas
- Chris Washington
- Devin White
- Richard Wood
