The 2023 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 48th in the National Football League (NFL), their tenth under the leadership of general manager Jason Licht and their second under head coach Todd Bowles.
Tampa Bay improved on their 8–9 record from the previous season, and finished with a 9–8 record to win their third consecutive NFC South division title, a franchise best streak. They also made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, matching a franchise-best streak from 1999–2002.
This was their first season since 2019 without quarterback Tom Brady, after he announced his second retirement from the NFL on February 1, 2023. On March 15, the Buccaneers signed free agent quarterback Baker Mayfield, who subsequently earned the starting job during training camp. For the first time since 2012, Tampa Bay wore their orange throwback uniforms. The Buccaneers donned their "Creamsicle" jerseys and "Bucco Bruce" helmets against Detroit in Week 6.
Tampa Bay got off to a surprising 3–1 start, and sat in first place in the NFC South during their bye in Week 5. After their bye week, however, they lost six out of their next seven games, including a four-game losing streak to quickly slip to 4–7. The Buccaneers rebounded, winning five out of their last six games and won the tie-breaker against division rival New Orleans to clinch the division.
In the playoffs, the Buccaneers hosted the defending NFC champion Philadelphia in the Wild Card Round, a rematch of the Week 3 meeting. Tampa Bay won in a blowout 32–9 victory. They would end up losing in the Divisional Round against the Detroit Lions, in a fairly close 31–23 loss.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drew an average home attendance of 63,756 in 8 home games in the 2023 NFL season, the 28th highest in the league.
Draft
+ 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 19 Calijah Kancey DT Pittsburgh 2 48 Cody Mauch OT North Dakota State From Lions via Packers 50 Traded to the Green Bay Packers 3 82 YaYa Diaby DE Louisville 4 121 Traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars 5 153 SirVocea Dennis LB Pittsburgh 171 Payne Durham TE Purdue Compensatory selection; from Rams 175 Traded to the Los Angeles Rams Compensatory selection 6 179 Traded to the Green Bay Packers From Texans 181 Josh Hayes CB Kansas State From Colts 191 Trey Palmer WR Nebraska From Packers via Rams, Texans and Eagles 196 Jose Ramirez DE Eastern Michigan 7 230 Traded to the Houston Texans From Jets 236 Traded to the Indianapolis Colts
+ 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Jeremy Banks LB Tennessee Taye Barber WR TCU Brandon Bouyer-Randle LB UConn Ronnie Brown RB Shepherd Evans Deckers LS Duke Silas Dzansi OT Virginia Tech Luke Haggard Indiana Keenan Isaac CB Alabama State Christian Izien S Rutgers Rakim Jarrett WR Maryland Nelson Mbanasor DE Texas State Kaevon Merriweather S Iowa Ryan Miller WR Furman Chris Murray C Oklahoma Raiqwon O'Neal OT UCLA Derrek Pitts CB NC State Tanner Taula TE Illinois State Sean Tucker RB Syracuse Kade Warner WR Kansas State Markees Watts OLB Charlotte Kedrick Whitehead S Delaware
Draft trades
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Buccaneers' preseason opponents and schedule was announced in the spring. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–27 0–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 2 at New York Jets W 13–6 1–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 3 Baltimore Ravens W 26–20 2–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 10 at Minnesota Vikings W 20–17 1–0 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 2 September 17 Chicago Bears W 27–17 2–0 Raymond James Stadium Recap 3 Philadelphia Eagles L 11–25 2–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 October 1 at New Orleans Saints W 26–9 3–1 Caesars Superdome Recap 5Bye 6 October 15 Detroit Lions L 6–20 3–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 7 October 22 Atlanta Falcons L 13–16 3–3 Raymond James Stadium Recap 8 at Buffalo Bills L 18–24 3–4 Highmark Stadium Recap 9 November 5 at Houston Texans L 37–39 3–5 NRG Stadium Recap 10 November 12 Tennessee Titans W 20–6 4–5 Raymond James Stadium Recap 11 November 19 at San Francisco 49ers L 14–27 4–6 Levi's Stadium Recap 12 November 26 at Indianapolis Colts L 20–27 4–7 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 13 December 3 Carolina Panthers W 21–18 5–7 Raymond James Stadium Recap 14 December 10 at Atlanta Falcons W 29–25 6–7 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 15 December 17 at Green Bay Packers W 34–20 7–7 Lambeau Field Recap 16 December 24 Jacksonville Jaguars W 30–12 8–7 Raymond James Stadium Recap 17 December 31 New Orleans Saints L 13–23 8–8 Raymond James Stadium Recap 18 January 7 at Carolina Panthers W 9–0 9–8 Bank of America Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings
Tampa Bay traveled to Minnesota in Week 1 with Baker Mayfield making his first start as quarterback. Mayfield threw for 173 yards and two touchdown passes, as the Buccaneers won on Opening Day for the third year in a row. Chase McLaughlin kicked a 57-yard go-ahead field goal with 5:10 left in regulation. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns, but lost two fumbles, and threw an interception at the goal line. With the upset victory over the Vikings, the Buccaneers started off the season 1-0.
This was the first time the Buccaneers played the Vikings on Opening Day since 2005, and the first time they won in Minnesota since 2012.
Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears
Tampa Bay won their home opener and improved to 2–0 with a 27–17 victory over the Bears. Baker Mayfield threw for 317 yards and one touchdown pass. Baker connected with Mike Evans for a 70-yard reception early in the second quarter, which led to the first Buccaneers touchdown. He later found Evans for a 32-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. With 2:12 left in regulation, the Bears were backed up at their own 6 yard line and trailing by 3 points. Justin Fields' pass attempt was tipped and intercepted by Shaquil Barrett who muscled his way into the endzone for a touchdown. Barrett's "pick-6" sealed the win for Tampa Bay.
Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Bay hosted Philadelphia on Monday Night Football. Jalen Hurts threw for 277 yards and D'Andre Swift rushed for 130 yards as the Eagles defeated the Buccaneers 25–11. The Buccaneers defense gave up 201 yards on the ground. Baker Mayfield threw an interception (the team's first turnover of the season), and the offense did not reach the endzone until 9:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Ronde Barber was honored at halftime after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Tampa Bay picked up their first loss of the season, falling to 2–1.
Week 4: at New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay defeated division rival New Orleans by the score of 26–9 and took over sole possession of first place in the NFC South. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw three touchdown passes and Chris Godwin had eight catches for 114 yards. Derek Carr started at quarterback for New Orleans, and Alvin Kamara returned from a three-game suspension, but the Saints offense struggled, and failed to reach the endzone. Mike Evans caught three balls for 40 yards, but left the game around halftime with a hamstring injury.
Week 6: vs. Detroit Lions
Tampa Bay wore their orange throwback ("Creamsicle") uniforms and "Bucco Bruce" helmets against Detroit. The Buccaneers were unable to get much of anything going on offense. They were held out of the endzone, and managed only two field goals. Jared Goff put up 353 yards passing, and threw two touchdown passes as the Lions won 20–6. In the first quarter, at their own 8-yard line, Baker Mayfield had Mike Evans wide open down field for what could have been a 92-yard touchdown pass. Instead, the pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Isaiah Buggs and intercepted by Charles Harris. The Lions scored a field goal off of the turnover, and would never trail the rest of the game.
Week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Tampa Bay defense forced three turnovers in the red zone. In the final two minutes, the Buccaneers drove to the Falcons 8 yard line. Chase McLaughlin kicked a 36-yard field goal to tie the score at 13–13 with 45 seconds left. However, Younghoe Koo kicked a 51-yard field goal as time expired, and Atlanta won 16–13. YouTuber MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) signed a 48-hour contract with the Buccaneers and appeared at the game.
Week 8: at Buffalo Bills
Tampa Bay traveled to Buffalo on Thursday Night Football. Trailing 24–10 in the fourth quarter, Baker Mayfield drove the Buccaneers 92 yards in 17 plays. The drive ate up over 7 minutes, but was capped off by a 24-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans with 2:51 to go. With the score 24–18, Tampa Bay forced a punt, and got the ball back with just under 30 seconds left. Mayfield's hail mary pass to the endzone fell incomplete as time expired, and the Bills held on to win.
Week 9: at Houston Texans
Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cade Otton to take a 37–33 lead with 46 seconds left in regulation. But C. J. Stroud threw the game winning touchdown pass to Tank Dell with 6 seconds left to lift the Texans over the Buccaneers. Stroud threw five touchdown passes and threw for an NFL rookie record 470 yards passing.
Week 10: vs. Tennessee Titans
Tampa Bay snapped a four-game losing streak, defeating the Titans 20–6. Baker Mayfield threw for 278 yards and two touchdown passes. The Buccaneers defense sacked Will Levis four times, had an interception, and kept Tennessee out of the endzone. Tampa Bay took a 7–3 lead in the second quarter with a screen pass to Rachaad White, who then broke free for a 43-yard touchdown. Mike Evans dropped a sure touchdown catch in third quarter, but made up for it with a 22-yard touchdown pass on the next drive. Evans caught the ball at the 5 yard line, then dragged defenders into the endzone for the score. Evans moved into a tie for 16th on the NFL's all-time list for receiving touchdowns.
Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes as the 49ers beat Tampa Bay 27–14. A fourth quarter rally attempt fell short as the Buccaneers twice were in the red zone, but could not score on either drive.
Week 12: at Indianapolis Colts
Trailing 27–20 with under two minutes to go, Baker Mayfield was sacked at the Tampa Bay 35 and fumbled. The Colts recovered, and ran out the clock to seal the victory.
Week 13: vs. Carolina Panthers
Heavy rain during the first half saw both teams struggle offensively early on. Trailing 10–7, Baker Mayfield found Mike Evans between two defenders, and Evans took off for a 75-yard touchdown pass. Evans joined Jerry Rice as the second player to have ten consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Chris Godwin then added a 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. With just over two minutes left, and trailing by 3, Carolina faced a 4th & 1 at their own 40 yard line. Bryce Young's pass was intercepted by Antoine Winfield Jr. Tampa Bay would run out the clock and secured the victory.
Week 14: at Atlanta Falcons