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Buccaneers: The Five Best Trades in Team History

By Jerry Stalheim

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers flags are carried on the field after a touchdown during the first half of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers flags are carried on the field after a touchdown during the first half of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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Jon Gruden celebrates as he is introduced as the new head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at a press conference, Tampa, Florida, February 20, 2002. At 38, Gruden agreed to a five-year 17.5 million dollar deal and is the youngest coach in the NFL. (Photo by Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images)
Jon Gruden celebrates as he is introduced as the new head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at a press conference, Tampa, Florida, February 20, 2002. At 38, Gruden agreed to a five-year 17.5 million dollar deal and is the youngest coach in the NFL. (Photo by Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images) /

2. Trading for a Coach?? – 2002

Trading for an NFL head coach has happened four times in the last twenty years with two of them involving bitter divisional rivals in the New York Jets and New England Patriots.

The most recent trade involving coaches occurred in 2006 involving Herm Edwards, the Kansas City Chiefs, and again the New York Jets.

The head coach trade that Bucs fans most care about happened just prior to the 2002 season when ownership was upset that the team could not get over the playoff hump to the Super Bowl, and fired defensive minded coach Tony Dungy in January of 2002.

On February 18th 2002, the Bucs traded their 2002 first (#21) and second (#53) round picks, 2003 first round (#32) pick, 2004 second (#45) round pick, and $8 million in cash to the Oakland Raiders for 34-year-old offensive minded coach Jon Gruden.

Some called it a risky trade at the time for all that was given up in four draft picks and cash but the results were immediate.

Already having one of the best defenses in NFL history he just added a little offensive oomph to win the Super Bowl that same season against his former team.

His run in Tampa Bay lasted for seven seasons, finishing as the winningest Coach in Bucs history with an overall record of 57-55 (.509) and of course one Super Bowl title. It was announced earlier this year that he would be inducted into the Bucs Ring of Honor during the 2017 season.

This trade obviously gave the offense an extra jolt to finally be a factory in games and with one of the best defenses in NFL history was finally all it took to rise to the top and get the Lombardi Trophy.

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