The players
One of the most talked-about stats on the expansion Bucs were that over 140 players suited up at some point during training camp and in the regular
season. 141 to be exact. There were also another eight players who are part of this feature but never set foot on the field that year - four simply did not
attend camp, three were traded before camp opened, and the other, Anthony Davis, chose to play in Canada before returning to Tampa the following
season.
QUARTERBACKS
Meet the nine quarterbacks who were part of the 1976 Buccaneers from
Steve Spurrier to Parnell Dickinson. But do you remember Jack Berry
or Gary Valbuena?
Click here for all the details
RUNNING BACKS
19 different running backs were involved in the expansion year from
veterans like Essex Johnson to the first 100-yard gainer Jimmy DuBose
and the leading rusher Louis Carter.
Click here for all the details
WIDE RECEIVERS
18 pass catchers in name but not all of them had that skill. Even the
coach’s son, John McKay Jr was involved but one wound up out-
peforming all the others.
Click here for all the details
TIGHT ENDS
None of the 10 tight ends involved were on the roster within two years
but one went on to a long and successful coaching career in the NFL.
Bob Moore was the first player selected in the expansiond draft.
Click here for all the details
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
15 different linemen took their turns in not blocking for the 1976 backfield
and QBs but two of them were still there nearly a decade later and went
on to become part of the all-time Top 100 players.
Click here for all the details
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
From the 18 pass rushers and run stoppers came the Bucs’ first Pro
Bowler and also the greatest player and man in franchise history. And
they were not the same person.
Click here for all the details
LINEBACKERS
Over 20 linebackers were associated with the 76 squad with one going to
be an integral part of the first three playoff teams in franchise history as
well as one of the most popular players in team history.
Click here for all the details
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Many of the future stars of the Buc championship team can be found on
the 1976 roster including three of the starters, names who every
Buccaneer fan across the years would know.
Click here for all the details
KICKERS AND PUNTERS
11 different specialists were involved including some of the best stories of
the year from the kicker who had to paint his normal black shoes white
for the first game.
Click here for all the details
THE COACHING STAFF
Some pretty well-known names were part of the Buc coaching staff
during that first season including one who went on to be a long-time
member of the front office.
Click here for all the details