| 1987 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Hugh Culverhouse |
| Head coach | Ray Perkins |
| Home field | Tampa Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 4–11 |
| Division place | 4th NFC Central |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | None |
| Team MVP | QB Steve DeBerg |
The 1987 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League, the 12th playing their home games at Tampa Stadium, and the first under head coach Ray Perkins. It was a year of great change for the Buccaneers. Perkins had only needed three seasons (1979–1981) to build the New York Giants into a playoff team, and it was hoped that he would be able to repeat the feat with the Buccaneers. They improved over their 2–14 record from 1986 and finished 4–11.
The Buccaneers possessed the first overall pick in the NFL draft, and used it to select University of Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde. The Buccaneers appeared changed and won four games early in the season, but they notably lost large leads in later games and fell from playoff contention after midseason. The season was marked by a 1987 players' strike in which one week's games were canceled and regular play was interrupted for a month, while NFL owners fielded teams of replacement players.