Chiseling the Mt. Rushmore of Tampa Bay Buccaneers greats

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber intercepts a pass as linebacker Derrick Brooks blocks against the Carolina Panthers on ESPN Monday Night Football Nov. 13, 2006 in Charlotte. The Panthers won 24 - 10. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber intercepts a pass as linebacker Derrick Brooks blocks against the Carolina Panthers on ESPN Monday Night Football Nov. 13, 2006 in Charlotte. The Panthers won 24 - 10. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
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TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 08: Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon is inducted into the Buccanners Ring of Honor at halftime of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium on November 8, 2009 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 08: Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon is inducted into the Buccanners Ring of Honor at halftime of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium on November 8, 2009 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

DE Lee Roy Selmon

The only player from the Buccaneers’ early years of existence worthy of even being considered is Lee Roy Selmon. The first ever draft pick in Tampa Bay, Selmon lived up to the hype throughout his Hall of Fame career.

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While sacks were not an official stat while Selmon played for the Buccaneers, it is estimated that he recorded a career number right around 78 sacks. A six-time Pro Bowler between the years of 1976 and 1984, Selmon was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995 and his face can be found permanently in Canton, Ohio.

Canton is not the only place to find a bust of Selmon as he has also had a statue constructed in his honor in downtown Tampa. In addition to being a Buccaneers great, Selmon also dedicated a part of his life the University of South Florida where he was the assistant athletic director from 1993 until 2001, then the athletic director until 2004.

The first face on the Mt. Rushmore of Buccaneer greats is an absolute no-brainer as Selmon was the first draft pick in franchise history and the first player to get his face chiseled into rock here as one of, if not the best player ever to where a Bucs’ uniform.

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