The 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 34th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 12th playing their home games at Raymond James Stadium, and the first under head coach Raheem Morris. The Buccaneers looked to improve on their 9–7 record from their 2008 season and 3rd-place finish in the NFC South but failed to do so as they finished the season at 3–13, missing the playoffs for the second straight year.
The Buccaneers played seven of their home games at Raymond James Stadium. One of their home games was played at Wembley Stadium, as part of the International Series, in which they lost to the New England Patriots 35–7.
The Buccaneers unveiled a Ring of Honor to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1979 franchise. Lee Roy Selmon was the first inductee when the team wore throwback uniforms on November 8 in a game against Green Bay that they won 38–28.
Off-season
Coaching change On January 16, 2009, less than three weeks after the 2008 regular season concluded, head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen were fired. The following day, Raheem Morris, recently promoted from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator, was instead elevated to head coach, with Mark Dominik named general manager. The remainder of the coaching staff was finalized by mid-February.
Key signings
Luke McCown was re-signed to a two-year contract on February 9 worth $7.5 million. Derrick Ward Angelo Crowell Byron Leftwich (signed two-year deal worth $7.5 million) Dirk Johnson was signed as punter to replace Josh Bidwell (who was placed on IR due to a hip injury).
Acquisitions Acquired Kellen Winslow II in a trade with Cleveland for a second-round draft pick in 2009 and a fifth-round pick in 2010 on February 27.
Selected cuts/losses Jeff Garcia Micheal Spurlock Derrick Brooks Warrick Dunn Joey Galloway Ike Hilliard Cato June Phillip Buchanon Brian Griese Matt Bryant Luke McCown was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2010 undisclosed draft pick on September 5, 2009.
2009 NFL draft
+ 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Selections Draft order Player name Position Height Weight College Round Choice 1 17 Josh Freeman QB 6'6" 248 Kansas State 2 Traded to Cleveland 3 81 Roy Miller DT 6'1" 310 Texas 4 117 Kyle Moore DE 6'6" 272 USC 5 155 Xavier Fulton OT 6'4" 302 Illinois 6 Traded to Chicago 7 217 E. J. Biggers CB 6'0" 180 Western Michigan 7 Traded to Pittsburgh 7 233 Sammie Stroughter WR 5'10" 189 Oregon State Tampa Bay traded their second-round selection and 2010 fifth-round selection to Cleveland for Kellen Winslow, Jr. Baltimore traded conditional late-round selections in 2009 and 2010 to Tampa Bay for Marques Douglas. Tampa Bay traded their sixth-round selection to Chicago for Brian Griese. In a separate deal, the Bears traded their own sixth-round selection to the Buccaneers for Dan Buenning. Jacksonville traded their seventh-round selection in 2009 and two selections in 2008 to Tampa Bay for their second-round selection in 2008 (used to select Quentin Groves). Tampa Bay traded their own 2009 seventh-round selection to Pittsburgh for Sean Mahan.
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap1 at Tennessee Titans L 20–27 0–1 LP Field Recap2 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 24–23 1–1 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Recap3 Miami Dolphins L 6–10 1–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap4 Houston Texans L 20–27 1–3 Raymond James Stadium Recap
News The Buccaneers announced that they would not return to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex to hold Training Camp, where they had done so from 2002 to 2008. Training camp instead would be held at the team's regular facilities at One Buc Place. John Lynch joined Chris Myers in the preseason booth for games televised on WFLA-TV. Dan Lucas served as sideline reporter. On August 18, free safety Tanard Jackson was suspended four regular-season games for violating the NFL Substance Abuse policy. On August 19, Aqib Talib was arrested, accused of simple battery and resisting arrest. Ten days before the start of the regular season, offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski was fired. Quarterbacks coach Greg Olson was elevated into the vacancy.
Regular season
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 13 Dallas Cowboys L 21–34 0–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 2 September 20 at Buffalo Bills L 20–33 0–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 3 September 27 New York Giants L 0–24 0–3 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 October 4 at Washington Redskins L 13–16 0–4 FedExField Recap 5 October 11 at Philadelphia Eagles L 14–33 0–5 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 6 October 18 Carolina Panthers L 21–28 0–6 Raymond James Stadium Recap 7 October 25 New England Patriots L 7–35 0–7 Wembley Stadium Recap 8 Bye 9 November 8 Green Bay Packers W 38–28 1–7 Raymond James Stadium Recap 10 November 15 at Miami Dolphins L 23–25 1–8 Land Shark Stadium Recap 11 November 22 New Orleans Saints L 7–38 1–9 Raymond James Stadium Recap 12 November 29 at Atlanta Falcons L 17–20 1–10 Georgia Dome Recap 13 December 6 at Carolina Panthers L 6–16 1–11 Bank of America Stadium Recap 14 December 13 New York Jets L 3–26 1–12 Raymond James Stadium Recap 15 December 20 at Seattle Seahawks W 24–7 2–12 Qwest Field Recap 16 December 27 at New Orleans Saints W 20–17 3–12 Louisiana Superdome Recap 17 January 3 Atlanta Falcons L 10–20 3–13 Raymond James Stadium Recap
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys
The first regular season game for head coach Raheem Morris saw the Buccaneers fall to the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 34–21. Running back Cadillac Williams returned as a starter, and rushed for 97 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Byron Leftwich threw for 276 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. The Buccaneer defense, however, gave up three big plays in the loss.
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo threw for a career-best 353 yards. Three long touchdown passes (66, 80, 44 yards respectively) put the game out of reach. Early in the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay closed the deficit to 20–14, but Romo's 80-yard catch & run to Patrick Crayton put the Cowboys ahead for good.
On specials teams, kicker Mike Nugent had one field goal attempt blocked, and shanked another.
Week 2: at Buffalo Bills
The Buccaneers made their first regular season trip in franchise history to Ralph Wilson Stadium to meet the Bills. The Buccaneers had played only one time at Buffalo, a preseason game in 1977. Byron Leftwich threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns, but the Bills held Tampa Bay to only 57 yards rushing, and the Buccaneers had 13 penalties for 112 yard in the loss.
Leading 20–7 with less than a minute remaining in the first half, Buffalo looked to score once more. However, Fred Jackson fumbled at the Tampa Bay 16, and Sabby Piscitelli recovered. Piscitelli ran 72 yards to the Buffalo 8, and after a touchdown on the next play, Tampa Bay trimmed the deficit to 20–14.
Late in the fourth quarter, Leftwich led the Buccaneers on 14-play scoring drive, twice converting on 4th down. The touchdown could have brought the Buccaneers within 8 points, but a failed two-point conversion ultimately foiled the comeback. Tampa Bay dropped to 0–2, and lost their sixth consecutive game, dating back to 2008.
Week 3: vs. New York Giants
Still looking for their first win of the season, the Buccaneers went home for a Week 3 duel with the New York Giants. Tampa Bay would trail early in the first quarter with Giants running back Brandon Jacobs getting a 6-yard touchdown run. The Buccaneers'deficit would climb in the second quarter with quarterback Eli Manning's 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Smith.
New York continued its dominance in the third quarter with kicker Lawrence Tynes nailing a 26-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Giants would close out the game with Manning's 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Sinorice Moss.
With the loss, the Buccaneers fell to 0–3.
Week 4: at Washington Redskins
Following their shutout home loss to the Giants, the Buccaneers flew to FedExField for a Week 4 duel with the Washington Redskins. Due to Byron Leftwich's poor performance during the first three weeks of the season, quarterback Josh Johnson would get his first career start.
Tampa Bay would come out firing in the first quarter with Johnson's 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Antonio Bryant, followed by kicker Mike Nugent's 37-yard field goal in the second quarter. However, the Redskins came back with a vengeance in the third quarter. Kicker Shaun Suisham would get a 42-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Jason Campbell's 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chris Cooley (with a blocked PAT) and a 59-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Santana Moss. The Bucs tried to rally in the fourth quarter as Nugent nailed a 22-yard field goal, but Washington's defense would prevent any further progress.
With the loss, the Buccaneers fell to 0–4.
Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles
Hoping for their first win of the season, the Buccaneers flew to Lincoln Financial Field for a Week 5 duel with the Philadelphia Eagles. Tampa Bay would immediately trail in the first quarter as Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb hooked up with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin on a 51-yard touchdown pass. Philadelphia would increase their lead in the second quarter with McNabb completing a 20-yard touchdown pass to fullback Leonard Weaver. The Buccaneers would get on the board with quarterback Josh Johnson's 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kellen Winslow, but the Eagles would close out the first half with McNabb finding Maclin again on a 40-yard touchdown 40-yard touchdown pass.
In the third quarter, Philadelphia would increase their lead with running back Brian Westbrook getting a 7-yard touchdown run. The Eagles would then start off the fourth quarter with kicker David Akers nailing a 44-yard field goal. Tampa Bay tried to rally as Johnson connected with Winslow again on a 9-yard touchdown pass, but Philadelphia closed out the game with defensive end Darren Howard tackling running back Cadillac Williams in his endzone for a safety.
With the loss, the Buccaneers fell to 0–5.
Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers
Still trying to acquire their first win of the season, the Buccaneers went home for a Week 6 NFC South duel with the Carolina Panthers. Tampa Bay sailed off to a good start in the first quarter with a 20-yard touchdown run from running back Cadillac Williams. However, the Panthers would tie the game in the second quarter with running back DeAngelo Williams getting a 20-yard touchdown run.
During the second quarter, punt returner Clifton Smith left the game due to a concussion caused by Panthers cornerback Dante Wesley ramming into Smith. Wesley was flagged for unnecessary roughness and was ejected.
Carolina would take the lead in the third quarter with quarterback Jake Delhomme completing a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeff King and running back Jonathan Stewart getting a 26-yard touchdown, yet the Buccaneers immediately got themselves back into the game as rookie wide receiver Sammie Stroughter returned the kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay tied the game with safety Tanard Jackson's 26-yard interception return for a touchdown. However, the Panthers delivered the final blow with Williams' 1-yard touchdown run.
With the loss, the Buccaneers fell to 0–6 for the 1st time since 1985.
Week 7: vs. New England Patriots
Still on the hunt for their first win of the season, the Buccaneers flew to Wembley Stadium for Week 7's NFL International game with the New England Patriots. For this game, Tampa Bay was listed as the home team.