Reunion has been a theme for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the last few years, something that has doubled as a massive glowing endorsement of how well-run the franchise is. Players want to be in Tampa Bay, whether it's Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield forgoing free agency to sign extensions, or players who have left to play for other teams.
Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards both returned to Tampa Bay last year, while Lavonte David continues to sign one-year deals to extend his career with only the Buccaneers. Chris Godwin was the biggest name recently to opt against leaving for more money to remain with the team, signing a three-year deal in free agency this past March.
However, not everyone who did a tour of duty in Tampa Bay has the Buccaneers at the top of their list of teams to reunite with.
Ex-Buccaneers Super Bowl champion wants to return for the New York Giants
Jason Pierre-Paul helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl back in 2020, but has been out of the league since 2023 after bouncing around between Baltimore, New Orleans, and Miami.
Next to the Bucs, his longest and most notable tenure was with the New York Giants -- a team he also won a Super Bowl with. According to ESPN’s Jordan Rannan, Pierre-Paul says he wouldn’t mind returning to New York, as he attempts to mount a comeback.
"I can still do it," he said about his ability to play in the NFL. "To go back somewhere where my career started... the fans know me and know the type of player that I am. I'll always be that type of player and just give 'em everything I got, which I know it'll be more than enough."
It's pretty hard to fault Pierre-Paul for wanting to have that full-circle moment. The Giants are a shell of the team they were when he was with them, but there's hope among fans that a turnaround is in the near future.
Russell Wilson is going to lead the charge at quarterback with the future resting on Jaxson Dart's shoulders. There are pieces like Malik Nabors and Keavon Thiodeaux to get really excited about as pillars of the future, and Pierre-Paul returning could be provide some important connective tissue to more successul times.
Not wanting to return to the Bucs stings, but only for a moment. Pierre-Paul was perhaps the best trade acquisition Jason Licht has made during his time running the front office, and there shouldn't be any hard feelings among fans.
Whether or not he completes his comeback is yet to be seen, but it'll be hard not to root for him even if it ends up happening with someone other than Tampa Bay.
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