The 2026 season is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 51st in the National Football League (NFL), their 13th under the leadership of general manager Jason Licht, their 29th playing their home games at Raymond James Stadium and their fifth under head coach Todd Bowles. The Buccaneers will seek to improve upon their 8–9 record from the previous season, return to the playoffs after a one-year absence, and reclaim the NFC South title. This season will begin with the team's fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons.
The Buccaneers had their first 0–4 start since 2013.
During the offseason, wide receiver Mike Evans left the team after twelve seasons and signed with the San Francisco 49ers. In addition, linebacker Lavonte David retired after 14 seasons. On September 8, quarterback Baker Mayfield, entering his fourth season with the club, signed a three-year contract extension.
On June 23, 2026, Tony Castricone was hired as the new radio voice of the Buccaneers after the retirement of Gene Deckerhoff.
Offseason Draft
+ 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 15 Rueben Bain Jr. OLB Miami (FL) 2 46 Josiah Trotter LB Missouri 3 77 Traded to the Green Bay Packers 84 Ted Hurst WR Georgia State From Packers 4 116 Keionte Scott CB Miami (FL) 5 155 DeMonte Capehart DT Clemson 160 Billy Schrauth G Notre Dame From Packers 6 185 Bauer Sharp TE LSU From Raiders 195 Traded to the Las Vegas Raiders 7 229 Traded to the Las Vegas Raiders
Draft trades
+ 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Wesley Brown LS Fresno State Ja'Qurious Conley S Charlotte Jalon Daniels QB Kansas Kenny Fletcher Jr. TE Rutgers Caden Fordham LB NC State Ayden Garnes CB Arizona Josiah Green DL Duke Aidan Laros P Kentucky Henry Lutovsky G Nebraska Deshawn McKinght DL Arizona Jack Pyburn OLB LSU Eric Rivers WR Georgia Tech Paul Rubelt OT UCF Noah Short WR Army Javin Wright LB Nebraska Kadarius Calloway RB New Mexico State Yasir Holmes LB Tarleton State Dean Patterson WR Georgia Tech
Staff
Current roster
Preseason depth chart
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New York Jets W 24–16 1–0 MetLife Stadium Recap 2 Kansas City Chiefs W 16–15 2–0 Raymond James Stadium Recap 3 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 0–19 2–1 EverBank Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Time () Opponent Result Record Venue Network Recap 1 September 13 1:00p.m. at Cincinnati Bengals L 27–33 0–1 Paycor Stadium Fox Recap 2 September 20 1:00p.m. Cleveland Browns L 19–23 0–2 Raymond James Stadium CBS Recap 3 September 27 4:05p.m. Minnesota Vikings L 16–23 0–3 Raymond James Stadium Fox Recap 4 October 4 1:00p.m. Green Bay Packers L 14–17 0–4 Raymond James Stadium Fox Recap 5 8:15p.m. at Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium Prime Video 6 October 18 1:00p.m. Pittsburgh Steelers Raymond James Stadium CBS 7 October 25 1:00p.m. at Carolina Panthers Bank of America Stadium Fox 8 November 1 1:00p.m. Atlanta Falcons Raymond James Stadium Fox 9 November 8 8:20p.m. at Chicago Bears Soldier Field NBC 10 Bye 11 November 22 1:00p.m. at Detroit Lions Ford Field CBS 12 8:15p.m. Carolina Panthers Raymond James Stadium ESPN 13 December 6 1:00p.m. Los Angeles Chargers Raymond James Stadium CBS 14 December 13 1:00p.m. at Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium Fox 15 December 20 1:00p.m. New Orleans Saints Raymond James Stadium Fox 16 December 26/27 at Atlanta Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium 17 January 3 Los Angeles Rams Raymond James Stadium 18 January 9/10 at New Orleans Saints Caesars Superdome Notes Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Networks and times from Weeks 6–17 and dates from Weeks 12–17 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling. The date, time and network for games in Weeks 16 and 17 will be finalized by no later than two weeks prior to each game. The date, time and network for Week 18 will be finalized at the end of Week 17.
Game summaries Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati defense forced four turnovers, including a fumble scooped up and returned for a touchdown, and defeated Tampa Bay 33–27. Quarterback Baker Mayfield had three fumbles lost, including one on a scramble in which he lost the ball at the 4 yard line, and it was recovered by the Bengals in the end zone for a touchback. Josiah Trotter's 38-yard interception return in the third quarter brought Tampa Bay back to within 7 points. Mayfield scored on a 9-yard rush with 3:19 left in regulation, narrowing the deficit to 33–27. However, the Buccaneers were unable to get the ball back, and Cincinnati ran out the clock to secure the victory. It was Tampa Bay's first loss in Week 1 since 2020, snapping a five-year win streak.
Week 2: vs. Cleveland Browns
Tampa Bay blew a 10-point lead and lost to Cleveland 23–19. Deshaun Watson connected with Blake Whiteheart for a go-ahead 17-yard touchdown pass with 3:51 to go. The Buccaneers then started driving down the field, but lightning in the area at the two-minute warning halted the game. After a delay of approximately two hours and 12 minutes, the Buccaneers resumed with the ball at the Cleveland 28 yard line. With 22 seconds on the clock, on fourth and 11 at the 20 yard line, Baker Mayfield's pass to Emeka Egbuka was incomplete in the endzone, and the Browns held on to win.
It was Tampa Bay's sixth loss in the last seven games, and first 0–2 start since 2014. This was also the Buccaneers' first home loss against Cleveland since 1989.
Week 3: vs. Minnesota Vikings
In a defensive battle, Minnesota beat Tampa Bay 23–16. Minnesota scored an 86-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter, and led 17–10 at halftime. An 85-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to Chris Godwin was called back for a penalty in the third quarter, and most drives for both teams came up empty. The two teams combined for 17 punts. Trailing 20–16 with 1:54 to go, Baker Mayfield's desperation pass on 4th & 13 was intercepted. Mayfield suffered a dislocated thumb on the play, and left the game.
With the loss, the Buccaneers dropped to 0–3 for the first time since 2014.
Week 4: vs. Green Bay Packers
Rookie Jalon Daniels started at quarterback for the injured Baker Mayfield. Daniels threw a touchdown pass in his debut, but also threw two interceptions. Trailing 17–14 in the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers defense twice forced Green Bay turnovers, but neither time could the offense capitalize.
With the loss, the Buccaneers fell to 0–4, their first such start since 2013.
Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys
Standings Division
Conference
References
External links