Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht recently made headlines for publicly expressing his regret for drafting Devin White in a conversation with Dan Pompei of The Athletic.
Despite the unceremonious split between White and the Buccaneers, the team wouldn’t have won Super Bowl LV without his standout play and leadership throughout the season and playoffs.
White’s career got off to a very promising start in Tampa Bay, and he seemed poised to be the next great Buccaneers linebacker. He showed a lot of potential in his rookie season, and took his game to a whole new level in 2020, recording 140 total tackles and a staggering nine sacks.
During Tampa Bay’s 2020 playoff run, White often looked like the best player on the field. His performances against Washington, New Orleans, and Green Bay produced the three highest single-game postseason tackle totals in franchise history — including 38 total tackles in three games, the third-most in NFL postseason history.
According to Buccaneers.com, since tackle totals became available in 1987, White is the only player to record 30-plus tackles, two-plus interceptions, and two-plus fumble recoveries in a single postseason.
But after that Super Bowl victory, White’s play fell off a cliff. His coverage became a liability, and he was no longer performing at the elite level the organization had come to expect.
When the team opted against giving him an early contract extension, he requested a trade, and was eventually benched during his contract year due to poor performance.
It’s understandable why Licht has regrets about the former No. 5 overall pick, who never received a second contract with the Buccaneers, but publicly ripping him was a bit harsh.
Still, White chose to take the high road, expressing gratitude for his time in Tampa Bay.
Former Buccaneers star Devin White responds with gratitude amid public critique from Jason Licht
In the aftermath of Licht’s comments, White’s tenure in Tampa Bay has become a hot topic among fans.
Many appreciated Light’s candidness, but others thought it was unnecessary to negatively speak about a player on such a public platform.
One Buccaneers fan took to X to thank White for his contributions to the 2020 Super Bowl run. White responded with grace and gratitude.
I haven’t been on twitter much, but I really appreciate that! I enjoyed helping my team bring ah 2nd championship to the Bay … 🏆 https://t.co/IhhQKJv8aO
— DEVIN WHITE (@DevinWhite__40) August 15, 2025
White seemingly holds no ill will toward the Buccaneers — at least not toward the fans. The comment section is full of Bucs fans thanking White and sharing the iconic photos of White taking a ride on his horse around Raymond James Stadium holding the Lombardi Trophy.
After a short stint with the Houston Texans last season, White signed with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason, and is currently listed as a starter on the depth chart.
Perhaps with this change of scenery, White could rediscover some of his 2020 magic and reclaim his status as an elite linebacker in the NFL.
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