The 2008 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL), the 11th playing their home games at Raymond James Stadium, and the seventh and final under head coach Jon Gruden. Though the team finished with a winning record (9–7), they failed to defend their 2007 NFC South championship and did not qualify for the playoffs after finishing the year on a four-game losing streak. Just weeks after the conclusion of the regular season, head coach Jon Gruden was fired, a move that came as a surprise both to sports writers and Gruden himself. General manager Bruce Allen was also fired. It would also be Gruden's last time coaching until 10 years later, when he returned to coach the Oakland Raiders in 2018, whom he previously coached from 1998 to 2001.
This marked the 24th consecutive year in which the Super Bowl did not include the team in whose region or stadium the game was being played in, the last team being the 49ers in 1984. Ironically, the Super Bowl would next be played in the Tampa Bay region in the 2020 NFL season, a game won by the Buccaneers.
Offseason
Headlines On January 23, 2008, the Buccaneers re-signed head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen through the 2011 season. Tampa Bay was rumored to lead a list of four teams possibly playing an NFL International Series game in London. They were ultimately not chosen. Tampa Bay was one of the teams rumored to be involved with a trade for Brett Favre after he was reinstated to the league from retirement. He ultimately signed with the Jets.
Signings The Tampa Bay Buccaneers resigned free agents Michael Bennett (cut November 12), Kevin Carter, Antoine Cash, Sammy Davis, Jerramy Stevens. On June 11, the team settled with estranged quarterback Jake Plummer for $3.5 million.
Free agent acquisitions include former team player Warrick Dunn (Falcons) and Brian Griese (Bears).
Selected losses
Brian Kelly John Wade Matt Lehr Anthony Becht Mark Jones Kalvin Pearson Michael Pittman Greg Spires Bruce Gradkowski Ryan Nece Chris Simms Luke Petitgout Anthony Davis
Summary Tampa Bay's offseason gained attention when they expressed interest in free agent quarterback Brett Favre. After Favre signed with the Jets, tension was reported between head coach Jon Gruden and incumbent quarterback Jeff Garcia. Garcia was recovering from a preseason injury, but was still named the starter. After dropping the season opener, Garcia was benched in favor of Brian Griese.
Griese helped the team to victories in the next three games. With Garcia back as the starter for week 6, the Buccaneers went 6–1 over the next 7 games. At the end of November, Tampa Bay found themselves in first place in the NFC South. They tied a franchise best start of 9–3, were undefeated at home (6–0), and controlled their own destiny for a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The month of December, however, saw the Buccaneers season collapse. A humiliating loss on Monday Night Football against Carolina took away their hopes of a division title. Meanwhile, longtime defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin announced he was leaving to join his son Lane at Tennessee. The defense began to struggle mightily, especially against the run. An overtime loss at Atlanta, followed by two home losses, dropped the Bucs to 9–7, and out of the playoffs. Less than three weeks later, head coach Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen were fired.
Staff
Roster Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2008 final roster Quarterbacks Jeff Garcia Brian Griese Josh Johnson Luke McCown
Running backs B. J. Askew FB Jameel Cook FB Warrick Dunn Clifton Smith Cadillac Williams
Wide receivers Antonio Bryant Brian Clark Michael Clayton Joey Galloway Ike Hilliard Dexter Jackson
Tight ends John Gilmore Alex Smith Jerramy Stevens Offensive linemen Jeff Faine C Davin Joseph G James Lee T Sean Mahan C/G Donald Penn T Arron Sears G Jeremy Trueblood T Jeremy Zuttah G
Defensive linemen Gaines Adams DE Kevin Carter DE Patrick Chukwurah DE Jovan Haye DT Chris Hovan DT Greg Peterson DE Ryan Sims DT Stylez G. White DE Jimmy Wilkerson DE/DT Linebackers Quincy Black OLB Derrick Brooks OLB Adam Hayward MLB Cato June OLB Matt McCoy OLB Barrett Ruud MLB Rod Wilson OLB
Defensive backs Will Allen FS Ronde Barber CB Phillip Buchanon CB Tanard Jackson FS Elbert Mack CB Donte Nicholson SS Sabby Piscitelli SS Aqib Talib CB
Special teams Josh Bidwell P Matt Bryant K Andrew Economos LS Reserve lists Torrie Cox CB (IR) Earnest Graham RB (IR) Cortez Hankton WR (IR) Geno Hayes LB (IR) Jermaine Phillips S (IR) Byron Storer FB (IR) Maurice Stovall WR (IR)
Practice squad Kyle Arrington CB Omar Cuff RB Greg Fassitt CB
Matt Lentz G Dre Moore DT Jason Pociask TE Micheal Spurlock WR Julius Wilson T
Rookies in italics 53 active, 7 inactive, 9 practice squad
2008 NFL draft + 2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Selections Draft order Player name Position Height Weight College Round Choice 1 20 Aqib Talib CB 6'1" 206 Kansas 2 58 Dexter Jackson WR 5'9" 182 Appalachian State 3 83 Jeremy Zuttah G 6'4" 295 Rutgers 4 115 Dre Moore DT 6'4" 305 Maryland 5 160 Josh Johnson QB 6'2" 201 San Diego 6 175 Geno Hayes LB 6'1" 226 Florida State 7 238 Cory Boyd RB 6'1" 218 South Carolina
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Miami Dolphins W 17–6 1–0 Dolphin Stadium Recap 2 August 17 New England Patriots W 27–10 2–0 Raymond James Stadium Recap 3 Jacksonville Jaguars L 17–23 2–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 at Houston Texans W 16–6 3–1 Reliant Stadium Recap
NOTE: Due to NBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics, two of the Buccaneers' pre-season games were telecast on WTVT as WFLA broadcast the Olympics.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held Training Camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex from July 26 through August 14. They played four preseason games, and finished with a record of 3–1.
During the month of July, and into the early stages of training camp, the Buccaneers were one of the teams in the running to sign Brett Favre (who ended his 6-month-long retirement). Favre ultimately signed with the Jets. Meanwhile, starting quarterback Jeff Garcia suffered a calf injury during the first week of camp. Quarterback duties were shared among five players for the preseason, with Garcia named the starter for the regular season. On the final day of cuts, Tampa Bay finally waived quarterback Chris Simms, who had played sparsely since injuring his spleen in week 3 of 2006.
Preseason week 1: at Miami Dolphins Stadium: Dolphin Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida Television (WFLA): Chris Myers, Charles Davis & Dave Reynolds (sideline reporter) Summary: Tampa Bay opened their preseason with a 17–6 win against in-state rivals, the Miami Dolphins. Michael Bennett rushed for 74 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback duties were shared amongst four players (McCown, Simms, Griese, and Johnson). No injuries were reported, and the team committed zero penalties.
Preseason week 2: New England Patriots Stadium: Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Florida Television (NFL Network): Fran Charles, Sterling Sharpe and Marshall Faulk Summary: Tampa Bay hosted New England in their preseason home opener. A dominating 27–10 performance saw Tampa Bay improve to 2–0 in the preseason. The Buccaneers rushed for 170 yards, led by Michael Bennett, for the second week in a row, with 57. The Buccaneer defense forced 3 turnovers, held the Patriots to only 56 yards rushing, and Sabby Piscitelli recovered and returned a Patriot fumble for a touchdown.
Preseason week 3: Jacksonville Jaguars Stadium: Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Florida Television (WTVT): Chris Myers, Charles Davis & Dave Reynolds (sideline reporter) Summary: Tampa Bay fell to their in-state rival Jacksonville 23–17 in their final home game of the preseason. Quarterback Jeff Garcia returned to the starting lineup, and played for a considerable portion of the first half. Three turnovers and a missed field goal, however, put the Buccaneers behind at halftime 10–7. Late in the game, Antoine Cash drove head-first into the side of Marcus Hamilton, injuring both. Cash suffered a neck injury and was removed on a stretcher. In the final minute, Luke McCown drove the Buccaneers to the Jacksonville 9-yard line, hoping for a game-winning touchdown. The ball was turned over on downs, and ended with Jacksonville the victor.
Preseason week 4: at Houston Texans Stadium: Reliant Stadium – Houston, Texas Television (WFLA): Chris Myers, Charles Davis & Dave Reynolds (sideline reporter) Summary: Tampa Bay wrapped up the preseason with a win against the Houston Texans by a score of 16–6. Josh Johnson and Chris Simms shared quarterback duties and Kenneth Darby led the team in rushing (55 yards). The highlight of scoring was rookie Dexter Jackson's 83-yard punt return touchdown. The Buccaneer defense sacked Houston once, and had one interception. Kicker Matt Bryant finished up a shaky preseason kicking 3-out-of-5 field goals.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 7 at New Orleans Saints L 20–24 0–1 Louisiana Superdome Recap 2 September 14 Atlanta Falcons W 24–9 1–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 3 September 21 at Chicago Bears W 27–24 2–1 Soldier Field Recap 4 September 28 Green Bay Packers W 30–21 3–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 5 October 5 at Denver Broncos L 13–16 3–2 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 6 October 12 Carolina Panthers W 27–3 4–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 7 October 19 Seattle Seahawks W 20–10 5–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 8 October 26 at Dallas Cowboys L 9–13 5–3 Texas Stadium Recap 9 November 2 at Kansas City Chiefs W 30–27 6–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 10Bye 11 November 16 Minnesota Vikings W 19–13 7–3 Raymond James Stadium Recap 12 November 23 at Detroit Lions W 38–20 8–3 Ford Field Recap 13 November 30 New Orleans Saints W 23–20 9–3 Raymond James Stadium Recap 14 at Carolina Panthers L 23–38 9–4 Bank of America Stadium Recap 15 December 14 at Atlanta Falcons L 10–13 9–5 Georgia Dome Recap 16 December 21 San Diego Chargers L 24–41 9–6 Raymond James Stadium Recap 17 December 28 Oakland Raiders L 24–31 9–7 Raymond James Stadium Recap In week 16, Tampa Bay vs. San Diego was originally scheduled for 8:15 pm, part of NBC's SNF. However, under the "flex-scheduling" policy, it was moved to 1 p.m.
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: at New Orleans Saints
The Buccaneers began their 2008 campaign on the road against their NFC South foe, the New Orleans Saints. In the first quarter, Tampa Bay trailed as Saints QB Drew Brees completed a 39-yard TD pass to WR David Patten. The Bucs would respond with CB Phillip Buchanon returning an interception 26 yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter, Tampa Bay took the lead with kicker Matt Bryant getting a 37-yard field goal. In the third quarter, New Orleans would reply with kicker Martín Gramática getting a 34-yard field goal, yet the Buccaneers replied with Bryant nailing a 33-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Saints got their lead back with Brees completing an 84-yard TD pass to WR Devery Henderson. In the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay would go ahead again as QB Jeff Garcia completing a 2-yard TD pass to WR Ike Hilliard. However, New Orleans regained the lead after Brees completing a 42-yard TD pass to RB Reggie Bush.
Inside the final minute, Garcia drove the Buccaneers to the Saints 24-yard line. Facing 4th down & 6, Garcia threw an interception, and the Saints clinched the victory. With the loss, the Buccaneers began their season at 0–1 and lost on opening day for the third straight year.