Buccaneers’ GM Has Bold Message For Doubters Going Into 2024

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made four straight playoff appearances and have won three straight NFC South division titles, but you would never know it based on how fans and media pundits assess things.

For the last month-and-a-half or so, we have heard a whole lot about the Atlanta Falcons as a result of them signing Kirk Cousins. They are the favorites to win the division, and the New Orleans Saints have also gotten some buzz after just missing the postseason in 2023.

There hasn’t been much chatter about the Buccaneers, but it seems like that’s what general manager Jason Licht actually prefers.

“I think it’s been a good recipe here,” Licht said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Especially with all of the doubters that we had thinking that when Tom (Brady) left, we were going to sink to the bottom. I think that has been part of the DNA of this football team — trying to prove everybody wrong. It’s been a great recipe here, and I hope it continues.”

Brady retired following the 2022 campaign, and most expected Tampa Bay to come crashing back down to earth in the wake of it.

However, the Bucs proceeded to go 9-8 and win the NFC South this past season thanks to some impressive quarterback play from Baker Mayfield, who revitalized his career. The Buccaneers then went on to rout the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round and played the Detroit Lions tough on the road in the Divisional Round the following week, but ultimately fell.

Tampa Bay re-signed Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans and other key free agents this offseason and seems ready to resume its place atop the division, even if no one else thinks it will.

Evidently, that doesn’t really mean much of anything to the Bucs, who were quietly one of the NFL’s most pleasant surprises last year and seem poised to fill that role again in 2024.

We’ll see if the Buccaneers can make it five straight trips to the playoffs…and four straight NFC South crowns.