Buccaneers jersey countdown: Number 72
Who is the best player in Buccaneers history to wear number 72?
Since 1976, the Buccaneers history has been colorful, to say the least. It’s not often that a team can claim a 26 game losing streak to begin its existence? This team went over an entire season before picking up its first win in franchise history. Now, that’s special! To say that wins have been hard to come by at times in Bucs history would be a gross understatement.
However, there have always been talented players, right from the beginning. But who are the best players? As we head into the time off before training camp, we are continuing our look back. Specifically, we are continuing our countdown of the best players to wear the jersey, backwards by jersey number. Today we continue with number 72.
The selection, is defensive end Chidi Ahanotu.
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After receiving scholarships from multiple schools, Ahanotu decided instead to walk on with California. After his second year he earned a full scholarship and was a key performer on the California defense.
The Bucs found Ahanotu with a late round draft choice, selecting him in the sixth round of the 1993 draft. That first season, he started ten games, forced one fumble, posted 1.5 sacks and 31 tackles. From here forward, Ahanotu was locked in at the starting left defensive end position and stayed there until he left after the 2000 season.
His best year in Tampa came in 1997. That year, he posted 48 total tackles, recovered two fumbles and posted ten sacks. That included four multi-sack games and a streak of four consecutive games with at least one sack. Ahanotu also posted a sack during the playoff win over the Detroit Lions.
After a four game season in 1998, Ahanotu came back to post 6.5 sacks in 1999 and 3.5 in 2000. Early in 1999, he posted three sacks in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Though he hasn’t made a Pro Bowl, Chidi Ahanotu has proven to be an effective pass rusher off of the left side of the Bucs defense.
He left after the 2000 season and spent time with the Rams, the Bills, the 49ers and the Dolphins before returning to Tampa Bay for the last half of the 2004 campaign, ending his career with the Bucs. Ahanotu posted 3.5 sacks and 16 total tackles in his return to the team.
Next: Five best undrafted free agents in team history
For his Tampa career, Ahanotu started 109 out of 121 games, posted 333 total tackles, 34.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. He is well-deserving of the spot on our countdown, do you agree?