Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tickets

It took the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a while to start winning-almost two full seasons, as a matter of fact.

Once they got started, though, they were on the fast track.

The Buccaneers joined the NFL as an expansion entry (with Seattle) for the 1976 season. They lost all 14 games in that inaugural season. View all Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tickets in our inventory. They lost 12 the following season until they returned three interceptions for touchdowns and beat the New Orleans Saints. The Buccaneers won the following week, too.

Ownership hired Southern California coach John McKay to put together a team from scratch. McKay was an ideal choice for two reasons-he had a sharp football mind and he had a biting sense of humor, which was in evidence frequently as the Buccaneers stumbled through those first two seasons.

By their fourth season, the Buccaneers were in the NFC championship game. A 9-0 loss to the Los Angeles Rams kept them from going to the Super Bowl.
McKay built the franchise with defense and that's been a hallmark of the Buccaneers. The lack of offense has also been a problem. Tampa Bay has always been able to prevent points but the Buccaneers have often had problems scoring.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a run of success in the 1990s with Tony Dungy as head coach. Dungy, a former defensive coordinator, put together exceptionally tough defenses but he and his staff could never match that success on offense and Tampa Bay struggled in the postseason.

Ownership took a big risk and fired Dungy after the 2001 season. A deal to sign Bill Parcells fell though and the Buccaneers wound up sending cash and a bundle of draft picks to Oakland to acquire Jon Gruden. The investment paid off in January of 2003 when the Buccaneers won their first Super Bowl title.

The Buccaneers failed to follow up on that Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tickets success, though, falling to 7-9 amid some controversy. Gruden chose to de-activate Keyshawn Johnson, essentially firing the disruptive receiver before the season ended.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS FACTS AND INFORMATION

1974 -Tampa Bay was awarded the NFL's 27th franchise in April with the provision that Tampa Stadium be expanded to 72,000 seats.
1975 - University of Southern California coach John McKay signed a five-year contract to coach the Buccaneers.
1976 - The Buccaneers lost their first game, 20-0 at Houston on September 12, starting a 0-14 season. Get some Information on how to purchase Buccaneers Tickets.
1977 - Three interception returns for touchdowns helped the Buccaneers get their first victory, 33-14 at New Orleans on December 11. It ended a 26-game losing streak.
1979 - Ricky Bell became the franchise's first 1,000-yard rusher.
1980 - McKay signed a five-year extension with a provision that he would become team president after its expiration.
1995 - Defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, the Buccaneers' first draft choice in 1976, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
1996 - Former Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Tony Dungy was hired as head coach on January 22, replacing Sam Wyche.
1998 - The great Buccaneers Schedule opened Raymond James Stadium with a 27-15 win over Chicago on September 20.
2002 - Jon Gruden became the seventh head coach in franchise history after his rights were secured from Oakland.
2003 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Oakland 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII on January 26.