Licht: Buccaneers Closer to 6-2 than 2-7
GM Jason Licht believes Buccaneers' 2026 season will mirror their strong 6-2 start, not their late-season collapse.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a tale of two seasons in 2025. The first eight games were, mostly, great, The last nine games were, mostly, terrible. Tampa Bay was one of the best teams in football through eight games, starting out 6-2.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield was playing like an MVP candidate, throwing for 13 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions. With a manageable second half second that featured six of nine games against teams with losing records, the Bucs were, at minimum, expected to win their fifth straight NFC South championships. Then, everything imploded.
A combination of bad luck (injuries) and bad execution (losing a two-touchdown fourth quarter lead to the Atlanta Falcons at home on Thursday Night Football) led to Tampa losing seven of its last nine games. They would end up finishing 8-9 and conceding the NFC South to the Carolina Panthers on the last day of the regular season. The 2026 Buccaneers will look different.
Mike Evans (free agency) and Lavonte David (retirement) played a combined 26 seasons with the Bucs, and now will be moving on. There are also players coming into Tampa Bay, such as RB Kenneth Gainwell, LB Alex Anzalone and DL A’Shawn Robinson. Although the faces are different, Bucs general manager Jason Licht told Buccaneers.