2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season

2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
OwnerThe Glazer family
General managerJason Licht
Head coachTodd Bowles
Home fieldRaymond James Stadium
Results
Record8–9
Division place1st NFC South
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Cowboys) 14–31
Pro BowlersOT Tristan Wirfs
AP All-ProsOT Tristan Wirfs (2nd team)
Uniform

The 2022 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 47th in the National Football League (NFL) in Tampa, Florida, their first under first-year head coach Todd Bowles, and ninth under general manager Jason Licht.[1] Bowles was elevated from the defensive coordinator position, which he held from 2019 to 2021. Tampa Bay won the NFC South, the first time in franchise history the Buccaneers won division titles in consecutive seasons.

On February 1, 2022, quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement from the league.[2][3] Brady had one season remaining on his contract with the Buccaneers. However, on March 13, after only forty days, he reversed his decision, and announced he would return for the 2022 season.[4] Brady's announcement triggered a flurry of free agent signings, re-signings, and restructuring, including Chris Godwin,[5] Leonard Fournette,[6] Shaq Mason,[7] Russell Gage,[7] Carlton Davis,[6] Ryan Jensen,[8] Julio Jones[9] and others. Jensen, however, would be placed on IR due to a knee injury during training camp.[10]

On March 30, a couple weeks after Brady's announcement, head coach Bruce Arians announced his second retirement from coaching and shifted to Senior Football Consultant. Defensive coordinator and former Jets head coach Todd Bowles was immediately named the successor to Arians.[1] After two seasons with the club, Rob Gronkowski announced his second retirement on June 21.[11]

The Buccaneers entered the 2022 season as defending NFC South champions and attempted to win their division in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. They also looked to achieve a playoff berth for the third consecutive season. After starting the season 2–0, the Buccaneers lost five out of their next six games, failing to improve upon their franchise-best 13–4 record from the previous season after a Week 8 loss to the Ravens. After a Week 15 loss to Cincinnati, quarterback Tom Brady posted his first eight-loss season as a starter.[12] However, the Buccaneers clinched the NFC South title for the second consecutive season and a playoff berth for the third consecutive season after a Week 17 win over Carolina. The second half of the season, in particular, was highlighted by dramatic last-second victories against the Rams and Saints, an overtime victory at Arizona on Christmas, and an NFL International Series victory against Seattle.

Tampa Bay entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the NFC and hosted the Dallas Cowboys, but lost 31−14. After a loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18, Tampa Bay became the fourth team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record in a full season, following the 2010 Seahawks, the 2014 Panthers, and the 2020 Washington Football Team. This also marked the only losing season for Tom Brady in his career as a starter.[13]

The 2022 season was to be the 34th and final year for longtime Buccaneers Radio Network announcer Gene Deckerhoff, however he reversed his decision during the offseason. On February 1, 2023, one year exactly after his initial retirement, quarterback Tom Brady announced that he will retire from the league, "for good".

The Buccaneers attempted 751 passes in 2022, which is an NFL record.

  1. ^ a b "Bruce Arians Steps Into New Role, Todd Bowles Taking Over as Bucs' Head Coach". www.buccaneers.com. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  2. ^ "Tom Brady officially announces retirement after 'thrilling ride' with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots". ESPN.com. February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Brady, Tom (February 1, 2022). "❤️". Instagram.
  4. ^ Laine, Jenna (March 13, 2022). "Tom Brady says he's returning as Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB next season". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  5. ^ Laine, Jenna (March 21, 2022). "From uncertainty to Brady's return, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin details 'whirlwind' that led to his new deal". Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Laine, Jenna (March 23, 2022). "Tampa Bay Buccaneers' NFL free-agent signings 2022: Bucs bringing back RBs Leonard Fournette, Giovani Bernard". Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Sources: Tampa Bay Buccaneers to sign WR Russell Gage, acquire OG Shaq Mason from New England Patriots for draft pick". ESPN.com. March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  8. ^ "Center Ryan Jensen agrees to 3-year deal to return to Tampa Bay Buccaneers". ESPN.com. March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Laine, Jenna (July 27, 2022). "Julio Jones describes 'surreal' excitement to join Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  10. ^ Smith, Scott (September 1, 2022). "Bucs Re-Sign Logan Ryan as Ryan Jensen Heads to I.R." Buccaneers.com.
  11. ^ Reiss, Mike (July 12, 2022). "Retired Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Rob Gronkowski says he's not planning a return". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  12. ^ Harvey, Paul (December 19, 2022). "Tom Brady posts multiple career firsts in miserable loss by Buccaneers". saturdaytradition.com.
  13. ^ Koons, Zach. "Tom Brady Suffers Unfortunate Career Milestone in Loss to Falcons". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 8, 2023.