The Buccaneers’ 2025 schedule has officially been revealed, and after facing the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans in Weeks 1 and 2, the Bucs will finally play their first home in Week 3, hosting the New York Jets.
The matchup has plenty of underlying storylines to watch for as the Bucs open up Raymond James Stadium for the 2025 season.
Todd Bowles gets first shot against Jets as Bucs Head Coach
Bowles was the head coach of the New York Jets from 2015 to 2018, where he was ultimately fired after a subpar 24-40 record.
He was hired as the Buccaneers defensive coordinator in 2019 and took over the head coaching job in 2022. He’s fared better as a head coach in Tampa, with a 27-24 record.
In Week 3, the New York Jets will travel to Tampa Bay for the Bucs’ home opener. It’s actually the first time the teams have met since the 2021 season, when wide receiver Antonio Brown infamously quit on the Buccaneers, and when Bowles was still the defensive coordinator.
This matchup marks the first time, minus the preseason, that Bowles will face his former employer as a head coach. And while he’d never admit it—true to his stoic nature—this game means a lot to him. He’s got it circled on his calendar, and the locker room knows it.
All-Pro Clash: Mike Evans Goes 1-on-1 With Sauce Gardner
Evans facing off against Gardner for the first time will be must-see TV.
Evans has two Second-Team All-Pro selections in his career, while Gardner already boasts two First-Team All-Pro honors in just three seasons.
Evans has been to six Pro Bowls, while Gardner has been to two. Needless to say, both are at the top of their craft, and seeing them go at it will be one of the most exciting parts of the game.
Evans has recorded 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career, an all-time NFL record. He’s built a Hall of Fame legacy off dominating the man, and often two, lined up in front of him.
Gardner, meanwhile, has earned a reputation for erasing just about any receiver he lines up against. At 32, it’ll be a real test for Evans to go 1-on-1 with Gardner, who’s 24 and firmly in his prime.
Haason Reddick plays host to Jets in revenge game opportunity
Similar to Coach Bowles, Reddick has a bone to pick with the Jets. The Jets traded a third-round draft pick to pry Reddick away from Philadelphia, but after failing to agree to an immediate contract extension, Reddick sat out the first seven games of last season.
He played the remainder of the season, but his numbers fell sharply from what we’ve become accustomed to with Reddick. He finished the 2024 season with just one measly sack for the Jets.
Prior to last season, he’d made a name for himself as one of the league’s best pass-rushers with four consecutive seasons posting double-digit sacks.
It’s no secret Reddick would love to stick it to the Jets after how last year unfolded, and prove that his decreased production was just a fluke. He could accomplish that, and endear himself to the Buccaneers faithful in the process with a huge performance in the home opener.
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