More Tampa Bay Buccaneers Information

Some Tampa Bay Buccaneers history: The Buccaneers joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team. Former University of Southern California (USC) head coach John McKay was hired to pilot the club, but Tampa Bay's first season was a dismal one. The club became the first team in NFL history to lose all 14 regular-season games, suffering five shutouts and fielding the conference's worst offense and defense. The Buccaneers' losing streak grew to a league-record 26 consecutive games as the club lost the first 12 games of its second season.

Tampa Bay improved in 1978, winning five games behind running backs Ricky Bell and Anthony Davis, rookie quarterback Doug Williams, and brothers Lee Roy and Dewey Selmon, who played defensive end and linebacker, respectively. A year later, in 1979, the Buccaneers stunned the league, winning their first five games en route to a first-place tie with the Chicago Bears in the Central Division. Williams had an excellent season, and Bell ran for more than 1,250 yards. The Selmon brothers led a top-rated defense, and McKay was named coach of the year. In the playoffs the Bucs upset the Philadelphia Eagles before falling to the Los Angeles Rams (now St. Louis Rams) in the NFC Championship Game.