Will Gholston's long and successful NFL career has not produced an abundance of flashy numbers, but there is one that jumps off the page: 169.
That's the number of regular season games that Gholston has played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the sixth most by any player in franchise history and the most ever by a Buccaneer defensive lineman. That's more than Lee Roy Selmon, more than Warren Sapp, more than Gerald McCoy, and unlike those three, he was not a first-round pick. The value that Gholston has returned from a fourth-round selection (number 126 overall in 2013) is immense.
In recent years, Gholston's offseason has followed a familiar pattern: After he completed a five-year deal in 2021, he has become a free agent and then re-signed with the Bucs on a one-year contract three straight times. This could suggest a player and a team contemplating a career that could be wrapping up, but Gholston remains motivated to play and the Buccaneers remain glad for his services.
"It's like an addiction," said Gholston. "I'm addicted to the grind. I'm addicted to the brotherhood, the atmosphere, just being able to compete at this level. It's crazy. Even in practice, the battles we have in practice, the battles we have in the games, and being able to have that opportunity to compete against another man to make you better, it's second to none."
For the record, Gholston has started 88 of those 169 games and has amassed 420 tackles, 19.5 sacks, 77 quarterback hits, 58 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 14 passes defensed and even one interception (which hilariously came last year in his 160th career game). He has been at least as effective, if not more, in the latter half of his career than in his early days. His career high of 4.5 sacks came in 2021 and he actually led the Bucs' 2020 Super Bowl team with 20 quarterback pressures.
View photos of Tampa Bay Buccaneers players practicing at 2024 Training Camp on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024 at AdventHealth Training Center.
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Indoor practice facility during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Earl Chambers, Kentucky State University Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach, during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Head Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tight End Cade Otton #88 and Outside Linebacker Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Running Back Sean Tucker #44 and Cornerback Bryce Hall #34 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tight End Cade Otton #88 and Tight End Payne Durham #87 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Flags during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Defensive Tackle Vita Vea #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Calijah Kancey #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Pass Game Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Cornerback Tavierre Thomas #37 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Safety Rashad Wisdom #38 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Inside Linebacker K.J. Britt #52 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Linebacker Vi Jones #53 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Inside Linebacker K.J. Britt #52 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Inside Linebacker Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Inside Linebacker Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Cody Cruzen, Lake Erie College Defensive Coordinator, and Earl Chambers, Kentucky State University Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach, during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Linebacker Vi Jones #53 and Pass Game Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Calijah Kancey #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Cody Cruzen, Lake Erie College Defensive Coordinator, during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Daniel Grzesiak #57 of The Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Outside Linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Calijah Kancey #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Eric Banks #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Cornerback Keenan Isaac #16 of the Tampa Bay Bucaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Defensive Tackle Vita Vea #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Defensive Lineman William Gholston #92 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Eric Banks #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Defensive Tackle Vita Vea #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Defensive Back Josh Hayes #32 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Cornerback Tyrek Funderburk #24 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tight End Payne Durham #87, Cornerback Zyon McCollum #27, and Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Defensive Lineman Calijah Kancey #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Center Graham Barton #62 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Wide Receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 and Running Back Bucky Irving #7 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Center Graham Barton #62 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 and Running Back Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Wide Receiver Raleigh Webb #17 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Cornerback Bryce Hall #34, Safety Marcus Banks #39, Wide Receiver Chris Godwin #14, and Safety Christian Izien #29 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Wide Receiver Chris Godwin #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Flag during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Safety Tykee Smith #23 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 and Cornerback Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tight End Ko Kieft #41 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tight End Devin Culp #82 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tight End Payne Durham #87 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tight End Devin Culp #82 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Running Back Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tight End David Wells #89 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Offensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Kastl of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tight End Sal Canella #49 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tight End Devin Culp #82 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Wide Receiver Raleigh Webb #17 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Inside Linebacker K.J. Britt #52 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tight End Payne Durham #87 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Flag during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Tackle Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Offensive Lineman Lorenz Metz #71 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Offensive Lineman Robert Hainsey #70 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - August 06, 2024 - Wide Receiver Tanner Knue #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2024 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
And missed one game due to injury last year, the first one he has sat out since 2017, snapping a streak of 101 straight games played. He did play a career-low 23% of the team's defensive snaps in 2023, but he was needed more in certain games, topping a 40% share several times. Gholston is playing for his fifth head coach, and each new staff seems to come to the realization that his presence on the field makes the defense better and his presence in the locker room has a powerful effect on young teammates.
"He not only does the dirty work, he's very good to come to for young players with advice," said Gholston's current head coach, Todd Bowles. "He's like a mentor to those guys. He's still tough on the field. He performs well [and] he can keep everybody grounded.
"It's hard [to do the dirty work]. You've got to have length, you've got to be big and strong up there and you get most of the double teams all the time, so you've got to do a lot of dirty work. To allow Lavonte [David] to be Lavonte, and when Shaq [Barrett] was here to be Shaq and JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul) to be JPP, somebody has to take the brunt of the work. You don't see it, but he takes a lot of the brunt and double teams and makes a lot of the pressures work by what he does."
Gholston is more than happy to do that dirty work, and he was pleased to hear Bowles' assessment of his value on Wednesday.
"I think that's a crazy compliment to be able to be known as a hard-working guy, being able to battle in the trenches for so long and play well," he said. "I can't count on my hands how many great players I've been able to play with."
Gholston is headed into his 12th NFL season, and even though he has a teammate in David who is going on 13, that's a career length that a very small percentage of NFL players hit. He credits good coaching and early career advice from other veteran defenders for his longevity, but also notes how hard he has to work to be physically capable of playing another season. He turned 33 less than a week into this year's training camp, and he's absorbed a lot of mileage down in those trenches for 11 seasons.
"It's rough," said Gholston. "Taking care of your body during the year and then the offseason? It's just a lot of body maintenance that comes from stretching, working out, doing the workouts here, doing workouts at home, yoga, Pilates, ju-jitsu. All the stuff that I do is literally just so I can keep moving. Just staying active."
It's unsaid but likely true, as it has been for David, that the Bucs' sustained success in recent seasons has added to Gholston's motivation to return year after year. He didn't get to experience the playoffs in any of his first seven seasons but has since joined the team in four straight postseasons and has enjoyed a Super Bowl championship and three division titles. The Buccaneers have high hopes for a fourth straight NFC crown this year and are confident they are true title contenders.
"I just believe the guys in the locker room, we are holding ourselves accountable as men and then holding the guy next to us accountable," said Gholston. "As long as we stay focused and driven, because we have one goal in mind, so it starts now."
