Buccaneers: The next step for Gerald McCoy after yet another injury

Former Buccaneers star Gerald McCoy may not play another snap in the NFL.

Injuries have a way of wearing players down in the NFL. The impact and damage associated with the sport make it hard for anyone to last long unless they play quarterback. Players on the line that face frequent contact have their own share of issues, and Gerald McCoy is no different.

McCoy has not experienced great luck since leaving the Buccaneers. After one decent season in Carolina, McCoy was hurt before he got to play for the Cowboys in 2020 and was hurt again in his first game with the Raiders in 2021.

Based on his age and the frequency/severity of his injuries recently, it is more than reasonable to assume McCoy’s NFL career is coming to a close.

Despite his likely exit from the NFL, McCoy still has one more stop to make; the Buccaneer Ring of Honor.

“How could a player who smiles after losses make it into the Ring of Honor,” fans will snarl. McCoy’s demeanor did not match what some fans wanted to see after several losses, but McCoy hits every criterion for joining this prestigious group sooner than later.

You need two things to make it into the ROH; longevity and production. McCoy did well in both aspects. If you look at names like Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks, and Warren Sapp, McCoy holds his own as a candidate.

Looking at longevity first, nine years is plenty of time to make it into the Ring. Heck, Tom Brady may make it in with three or four seasons, so McCoy’s nine seasons in Tampa are more than enough to reach this standard.

Next, you have to look at production. Longevity alone does not earn a spot in the Ring of Honor, and you have to be more than good on the field to have your names join the Hall of Famers posted up in Raymond James Stadium.

McCoy established himself as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL during his nine seasons in Tampa. As one of the highest-rated defensive players in the league during this time with sack, tackle for loss, and quarterback hit numbers to back it up, McCoy was the best part of several terrible Buccaneers teams.

He may not have the Super Bowl wins that some of his counterparts possess, but it isn’t always about that.

It may take a few years, but McCoy did everything possible to earn his spot in this group amongst some of the best players in franchise history. Even if he never plays another snap, Gerald McCoy did everything in his power to make the Bucs better, and the franchise needs to honor him for his dedication and success.

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