There has been much speculation about iconic Tampa Bay Buccaneers figures who won’t return after the 2025 season. Lavonte David is expected to retire at the conclusion of the year, and some fear Mike Evans could be joining him.
But another franchise icon has unexpectedly announced that he’ll be retiring at the end of the 2025 season.
Gene Deckerhoff announces retirement from Buccaneers play-by-play
Gene Deckerhoff, perhaps the most iconic voice in franchise history, will retire at the end of the team’s 50th season.
37 seasons. 750+ games. More than 1,100 iconic "Touchdown, Tampa Bay!" calls.
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 31, 2025
The Voice of the Buccaneers, Gene Deckerhoff, will officially retire at the conclusion of our 50th season, closing out one of the longest & most distinguished broadcasting tenures in franchise & NFL… pic.twitter.com/5zIn74k0xa
Deckerhoff has been the voice of the Buccaneers for 37 of the team’s 50 seasons, calling more than 750 games and over 1,000 Bucs touchdowns.
His famous “Touchdown, Tampa Bay!” and “Fire them cannons!” calls helped turn him into a legend, with a voice Bucs fans have come to associate with the franchise’s biggest moments.
When Derrick Brooks sealed Super Bowl XXXVII with a pick-six, putting the exclamation point on the Buccaneers’ first championship, it was Deckerhoff’s voice that brought the moment to life.
The goat. Knew how to capture the moment. Knew how to be the voice for the fans in every situation
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) December 31, 2025
Good chance that on my death bed I’ll still be able to recite this one word-for-word
Salute to a 1-of-1 legend 🫡 https://t.co/YeInsBLImL pic.twitter.com/nneMfFzX4K
“There it is! The dagger’s in! We’re going to win the Super Bowl!”
And who could forget his legendary “Alstott up the gut!” which was echoed by players in the locker room in the early 2000s.
Deckerhoff’s voice has long been synonymous with Buccaneers football, and it feels fitting that he’ll retire after 37 seasons, the same number as the Super Bowl that delivered the franchise’s first championship, and at the conclusion of the team’s 50th anniversary season.
Things won’t be quite the same without Gene Deckerhoff bringing Buccaneers football to life, and he’ll forever be regarded as a franchise icon.
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