Best Buccaneers player during each US presidency

Best Buccaneers player during the W. Bush Administration – Derrick Brooks (LB)

Quite possibly the greatest Buccaneers player of them all. Surely if you’re the greatest of all time then you’re the greatest during the presidential administration you were in your prime right?

Derrick Brooks was the spiritual leader of the exceptional Bucs defense of the late 1990s-early 2000s. That of course includes the 2002 crew, that delivered Tampa Bay its first-ever Super Bowl title.

Brooks’ five interceptions, three of which were touchdowns, were the biggest reason he was the 2002 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was the best player on the best defense. His pick-six in Super Bowl XXXVII (pictured above) put an exclamation mark on both his and the Buccaneers’ legendary seasons. It’s a play that is cemented in both Buccaneers and NFL lore. Brooks is arguably the greatest Buccaneers defender, and possibly even player, of all time.

Brooks was a three-time first-team All-Pro selection during the second Bush Administration, far and away the most of any Buccaneers player. His seven Pro Bowls during this presidency is even a wider gap. Unlike other administrations so far that had a few options to choose from, not that this one didn’t, the second Bush administration was pretty much a no-brainer when it came to Brooks.