The 2025 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 50th in the National Football League (NFL), their 12th under the leadership of general manager Jason Licht, their 28th playing their home games at Raymond James Stadium and their fourth under head coach Todd Bowles. They entered the season as four-time defending NFC South champions. This was the Buccaneers' fourth straight season with a new offensive coordinator, as their previous one, Liam Coen, was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars to be their head coach. While the Buccaneers raced out to a promising 6–2 start which was their best start since 2021, a number of key injuries, defensive breakdowns, ineffective coaching, and a decline in quarterback Baker Mayfield's performance caused the Buccaneers to lose seven out of their next eight games after their bye week and dropping their record to 7–9. This late-season collapse caused the Buccaneers to fail to improve or match their 10–7 record from 2024 after a Week 16 loss to the Carolina Panthers and they suffered their first losing season since 2022 after a loss to the Miami Dolphins the following week. Despite defeating the Panthers in Week 18 to finish the regular season at 8–9, the Buccaneers were eliminated from playoff contention the following day when the Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Atlanta's win forced a three-way tie that gave Carolina the division based on head-to-head advantage.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nfl-playoff-picture-tampa-bay-140000963.html It also was the third time in franchise history they missed the playoffs after losing in the wild card round at home in the NFL playoffs the previous season (2006 and 2008).
The Buccaneers wore their orange "Creamsicle" throwback uniforms and "Bucco Bruce" helmets in prime time against Atlanta in Week 15. The Falcons also wore their throwback uniforms as the away team. To celebrate the franchise's 50th season, Tampa Bay debuted a second throwback uniform in Week 3 against the Jets. This white-on-white combination replicates their 1976 regular season uniforms, consisting of white trousers and white jerseys with orange numerals outlined in red. Tampa Bay wore them again at Seattle in Week 5. The Seahawks, also celebrating their 50th season, wore their throwbacks for the game, and the Buccaneers followed suit as the road team. The ′76 uniforms were widely praised, and the Bucs won two out of the three games in which they were used.
The season began with the team's first 3–0 start since 2005 and first 5–1 start since 2021. Tampa Bay became the first team in NFL history to win their first four games with game-winning scores in the final minute, and the first team with four wins by 3 or fewer points in their first five games. Injuries took a toll on the team, as Mike Evans (hamstring and broken clavicle) missed nine games, and snapped his streak of 11 consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards. Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and Baker Mayfield all piled up injuries, through Mayfield managed to start all 17 games. Mayfield's injuries were later disclosed to be more extensive, and included a sprained MCL, a sprained PCL, biceps contusion, a left shoulder injury, a knee injury, and an illness. At the conclusion of the regular season, head coach Todd Bowles was considered by some experts to be on the "hot seat", however, he was ultimately retained. Several assistant coaches were fired including first year Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, Thomas McGaughey, Thad Lewis, Kevin Ross and Charlie Strong. In addition, 87-year old Tom Moore, whose coaching career in college and NFL totaled 65 years (including 47 seasons in the NFL; the last seven with the Bucs) announced his retirement.
This would also be the final season for longtime wide receiver Mike Evans, as he was subsequently released in free agency and signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drew an average home attendance of 67,202, the 20th-highest of all NFL teams.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2025/attendance.htm
Draft
+ 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 19 Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State 2 53 Benjamin Morrison CB Notre Dame 3 84 Jacob Parrish CB Kansas State 4 121 David Walker OLB Central Arkansas 5 157 Elijah Roberts DE SMU 6 196 Traded to the Detroit Lions 7 235 Tez Johnson WR Oregon
Draft trades
+ 2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref.Connor BazelakQBBowling GreenJohn BullockLBNebraskaBen ChukwumaOTGeorgia StateRyan CoeKCaliforniaGarrett GreeneWRWest VirginiaNash HutmacherDTNebraskaAnthony LandphereTEMemphisJake MajorsCTexasRoman ParodieCBOhioWarren Peeples Jr.OLBSoutheastern LouisianaJ. J. RobertsSMarshallShilo SandersSColoradoBen ScottGNebraskaDesmond WatsonDTFloridaJosh WilliamsRBLSUNick JacksonLBIowaDvon J-ThomasDLPenn State
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Buccaneers' preseason opponents and schedule were announced in May, in conjunction with the release of the regular season schedule.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Tennessee Titans W 29–7 1–0 Raymond James Stadium Recap 2 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 17–14 2–0 Acrisure Stadium Recap 3 Buffalo Bills L 19–23 2–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 7 at Atlanta Falcons W 23–20 1–0 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 2 at Houston Texans W 20–19 2–0 NRG Stadium Recap 3 September 21 New York Jets W 29–27 3–0 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 September 28 Philadelphia Eagles L 25–31 3–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 5 October 5 at Seattle Seahawks W 38–35 4–1 Lumen Field Recap 6 October 12 San Francisco 49ers W 30–19 5–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 7 at Detroit Lions L 9–24 5–2 Ford Field Recap 8 October 26 at New Orleans Saints W 23–3 6–2 Caesars Superdome Recap 9 Bye 10 November 9 New England Patriots L 23–28 6–3 Raymond James Stadium Recap 11 November 16 at Buffalo Bills L 32–44 6–4 Highmark Stadium Recap 12 November 23 at Los Angeles Rams L 7–34 6–5 SoFi Stadium Recap 13 November 30 Arizona Cardinals W 20–17 7–5 Raymond James Stadium Recap 14 December 7 New Orleans Saints L 20–24 7–6 Raymond James Stadium Recap 15 Atlanta Falcons L 28–29 7–7 Raymond James Stadium Recap 16 December 21 at Carolina Panthers L 20–23 7–8 Bank of America Stadium Recap 17 December 28 at Miami Dolphins L 17–20 7–9 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 18 Carolina Panthers W 16–14 8–9 Raymond James Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay opened their 50th season at division rival Atlanta. Rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka caught two touchdown passes in his NFL debut, including the go-ahead score with 59 seconds left in regulation. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 167 yards and three touchdowns, as the Buccaneers snapped a two-game losing streak against the Falcons. It was Tampa Bay's franchise record-extending fifth consecutive win on opening day.
Tampa Bay clung to a 17–13 lead in the fourth quarter. Michael Penix Jr. drove the Falcons 91 yards in 18 plays, consuming almost nine minutes. On a 4th-and-goal at the 4-yard line, Penix scrambled up the middle, and Calijah Kancey grabbed him by the ankles. But Penix was able to break the plane by mere inches for the touchdown before his knee hit the ground. Atlanta went ahead 20–17 with 2:17 left. Mayfield swiftly drove the Buccaneers down to the field and re-took the lead 23–20. After he connected to Egbuka for a 25-yard touchdown catch, however, Chase McLaughlin's extra point attempt hit the left upright, and fell no good. Trailing by only 3 in the final minute, Penix drove the Falcons to the Tampa Bay 26-yard line. Younghoe Koo lined up for a field goal attempt with 6 seconds remaining to potentially tie the game and force overtime. Koo's kick sailed wide right and Tampa Bay held on for the victory.
The Buccaneers were the only team in the NFC South to win on opening week, giving them sole possession of first place in their division. It was later confirmed that Egbuka was only the second player since the merger to score a game-winning touchdown in the final minute of regulation or overtime in his first NFL game.
Week 2: at Houston Texans
Tampa Bay faced the Texans on Monday Night Football. Rachaad White's 2-yard touchdown run with 6 seconds left gave the Buccaneers a 20–19 victory. Tampa Bay started 2–0 for a franchise-record fifth straight season, won in Week 2 for the ninth consecutive season, and recorded their first-ever win in Houston, dating back to the days of the Houston Oilers. The Buccaneers snapped a six-game losing streak in regular season primetime games. It was their first Monday night victory since the 2023 Wild Card round, and their first road victory on Monday night since 2020.
Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes in the first half, building a 14–10 halftime lead. The game turned into a defensive battle, however, as their next seven possessions came up empty. A string of miscues in the second half kept Houston in the game. Chase McLaughlin missed a field goal (hit the upright), Mayfield suffered a fumble (recovered by the Bucs), Riley Dixon had a punt blocked, and the special teams gave a up a big punt return by Jaylin Noel. With 2:10 left in regulation, Nick Chubb scored a 25-yard touchdown run, and Houston took a 19–14 lead.
With all three timeouts plus the two-minute warning, Baker Mayfield drove the Buccaneers down the field for the winning score. With 1:24 to go, facing 4th-and-10 at their own 32-yard line, Mayfield avoided a sack, escaped the pocket, and scrambled 15 yards for a first down. Bucky Irving, who led the team in rushing yards, then caught a short pass and avoided multiple tackles for a 22-yard gain. After quick completions to Irving, Mike Evans, and Cade Otton, Tampa Bay was looking at a 2nd-and-goal at the 2-yard line with 9 seconds on the clock. White's 2-yard run up the middle was the game-winner.
Tampa Bay became the first team to win back-to-back road games with go-ahead touchdowns in the final minute since the 1999 Miami Dolphins. Additionally, Mayfield became the first quarterback since Brett Favre in 1999 to lead game-winning touchdown drives in the final 2:30 of back-to-back games. The Buccaneers joined the 1979 Browns and 1988 49ers as the only teams in NFL history to win the first two games of the season on the road by 3 or fewer points.
Week 3: vs. New York Jets
Tampa Bay faced the Jets in their home opener. As part of their 50th season celebration, the Buccaneers wore their special 1976 throwback uniforms. After jumping out to a 23–6 lead, the Buccaneers needed a last-second score to pull off the victory. Chase McLaughlin kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Buccaneers over the Jets by the score of 29–27. Tampa Bay improved to 3–0 for the first time since 2005.
With Luke Goedeke, Tristan Wirfs, and others out, the offensive line saw several shifts and substitutions. The O-line struggled early on. In the first quarter alone, Tampa Bay was flagged for five Holding calls. Eventually the offense settled, and the score was tied 3–3 to start the second quarter.
Baker Mayfield threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans, and Tampa Bay took the lead 10–6 early in the second quarter. With 29 second left in the half, the Jets were at their own 45-yard line, looking to move into field goal range. Tyrod Taylor was under pressure from Jacob Parrish, and his pass attempt to Garrett Wilson was intercepted by Jamel Dean. Tightroping down the sideline, Dean ran it back 55 yards for a touchdown, and the Buccaneers led 20–6 at halftime.