The Atlanta Falcons had a 74.9 percent win probability with roughly a minute and a half remaining in Week 1, per ESPN Analytics. However, Baker Mayfield, Emeka Egbuka and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had other ideas, pulling off an awesome, implausible fourth-quarter comeback. The four-time reigning NFC South champions flexed their muscles in crunch time and found a way to leave Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a 23-20 road win.
Buccaneers fans are rightfully amped after an exhilarating start to the 2025 NFL campaign. They came out on the right side of a thrilling game and exacted revenge on their division rival for sweeping last season's matchups. But arguably no one was more excited than one of Tampa Bay's former franchise icons, Jon Gruden, whose reaction was thankfully captured on video.
Coach Gruden was all of us watching the end of that game 👀 pic.twitter.com/t7r0oQa0JU
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 7, 2025
Jon Gruden symbolizes Buccaneers fans with awesome live reaction to Week 1 win vs. Falcons
As you can see, Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo missing a game-tying 44-yard field goal wide right literally got Gruden out of his seat. The one-time Super Bowl-winning Bucs head coach ostensibly still roots hard for the club he once guided to the promised land. There was a genuine and palpable level of enthusiasm, properly illustrating how the Tampa Bay faithful feels following their defeat of Atlanta.
"[Koo] pushed it. He pushed it right," Gruden shouted as his voice gradually got louder and he headed into another room. "Tampa Bay, ha! Hell yeah!"
Gruden is Tampa Bay's all-time leader in wins (57). He's one of only two sideline generals to lead them to a title, with the other being Bruce Arians. His footprint on the annals of Bucs history is everlasting, punctuated by a Ring of Honor enshrinement. Seeing a legend of this stature get giddy and talk smack to a television is refreshingly humanizing for those who grew up idolizing him.
It's been almost two decades since Gruden was at the helm in Tampa Bay, yet a demonstrable adoration for the organization remains. He's also up to date with the current state of the roster. You can hear him declaring the aforementioned Egbuka "his rookie," even raving about the 2025 first-round wide receiver on social media.
Tampa Bay supporters have no reason to hold back if one of the greatest members of the Bucs is riding high. Yes, it was only the regular-season opener, but it's never too early to celebrate. Especially when the team overcame adversity, showed a ton of grit and found a way to prevail in Atlanta.