The Bucs opened their franchise with a Heisman winner who didn’t win a game for the franchise. Now, they turn to the G.O.A.T. in hoping he can bring Tampa Bay a second Super Bowl. Tom Brady has his work cut out for him in the NFC South.
1976: Steve Spurrier, Parnell Dickinson, Terry Hanratty
Steve Spurrier came home to Florida and played for the Bucs. He was 0-12 for Tampa Bay in its first season. Ouch. The other two quarterbacks each lost their lone start.
1977: Randy Hedberg, Gary Huff, Jeb Blount
The second season for the Bucs was not much better under John McKay. Gary Huff made six starts and Randy Hedberg (pictured) and Jeb Blount split the other eight. The Bucs were 2-12 and Huff had both victories.
1978-82: Doug Williams, Mike Boryla, Mike Rae
The Bucs reached into the college ranks and grabbed Doug Williams from Grambling State in 1978. Williams made 67 starts over five years and was 33-33-1 before heading to Washington. The Mikes were a combined 1-5 in 1978 as starters.
1983-84: Jerry Golsteyn, Jack Thompson, Steve DeBerg
Jack Thompson was 3-13 in starts over these two years. Jerry Golsteyn was winless in his three starts and Steve DeBerg was 5-8 in 1984.
1985-86: Steve DeBerg, Steve Young
Steve DeBerg continued his Bucs tenure in 1985 and ’86 and won one start. Steve Young (pictured), yes that Steve Young, was 3-16 over these two seasons.
1987: Steve DeBerg, John Reaves, Jim Zorn, Vinny Testaverde
The year 1987 saw four quarterbacks start for Tampa Bay. Jim Zorn won his lone start, John Reaves was 1-1 and DeBerg and Vinny Testaverde combined for an ugly 2-10 mark.
1988-89: Vinny Testaverde, Joe Ferguson
Former Buffalo Bill Joe Ferguson (pictured) lost his lone start in 1988 and two in 1989. Over those two seasons, Vinny Testaverde went 5-10 and 5-9, respectively.
1990-91: Vinny Testaverde, Chris Chandler, Jeff Carlson
Testaverde’s era of less than mediocrity continued over these two seasons as he went 9-16. Chris Chandler was 0-6 and Jeff Carlson went 0-1.
1992-93: Vinny Testaverde, Steve DeBerg, Craig Erickson
Vinny Testaverde finish his Tampa run by going 5-9 in 1992. That left his final mark as a Buc starter at 24-48. DeBerg was 0-3 over these two seasons. Craig Erickson saw the bulk of the duty in 1993, going 5-10.
1994-2000: Trent Dilfer, Craig Erickson, Eric Zeier, Shaun King
A quartet of quarterbacks took turns starting over these seven seasons. The big player was Trent Dilfer, who was 38-38 as a starter.
2001-03: Brad Johnson, Rob Johnson, Shaun King
2004-06: Brad Johnson, Chris Simms, Brian Griese, Bruce Gradkowski, Tim Rattay
These years were a quarterback carousel. Brian Griese, Chris Simms and Bruce Gradkowski each had double-digit starts in a season from 2004-06.
2007-08: Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, Brian Griese
Jeff Garcia, a journeyman if there was one, made 24 starts in his two seasons with Tampa Bay. He was 14-10, which puts him in lofty company with some of the people who have taken snaps for the Bucs.
2009-14: Byron Leftwich, Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson, Mike Glennon
Hard to believe but Josh Freeman made 59 starts in this window. He was 24-35 and spelled another Josh, Johnson, and Byron Leftwich.
2015-19: Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick
Jameis Winston was a No. 1 overall pick out of Florida State. He found trouble and interceptions along the way with the Bucs. The Heisman winner was 28-42 in 70 starts. His future seems elsewhere with the impending arrival of Tom Brady.
2020: Tom Brady …
The G.O.A.T. has a huge challenge on his hands, arguably the biggest of his career, and that doesn’t mean getting No. 12 from Chris Godwin. The Bucs have a career mark of 267-424-1. They are 6-9 in the postseason with one Super Bowl win. Brady won’t face his former team in 2020 unless there is a a Super Bowl matchup. No home team has played in the Super Bowl and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa is playing host to the game on Feb. 7, 2021. The Bucs would journey to Foxboro in the 2021 regular season.
