Ranking every Buccaneers starting quarterback since 1990
By Josh Hill
. 1994-1999. 38-38 | 70 TDs, 78 INTs. 3. 3. Trent Dilfer. Trent Dilfer. player. 48.
- 1-1 in Playoffs
- Pro Bowler (1997)
Trent Dilfer feels like he's not only from a different era of the game but a totally different game altogether. Look no further than the fact that he was a highly-touted first round pick for the Bucs back in 1994 as proof; Dilfer is from an era where game-managing quarterbacks were drafted like they were Patrick Mahomes.
To his credit, Dilfer delivered on everything the Bucs needed him to be. He stayed out of the defense's way and gave enough support on offense to get help turn Tampa Bay's fortunes around after over a decade in the gutter. He was instrumental in ending the Bucs 14 year playoff drought and setting up what would be the most exciting period in franchise history up to that point.
No one remembers them as The Dilfer Years, but that stretch from 1996 to 1999 was awesome to watch, and Dilfer was a big part of it. While he probably won't get a spot in the Ring of Honor, Dilfer was the first legitimately good quarterback the franchise had and remains one of its best ever.
He was such a big factor that his shoulder injury in 1999 remains one of the biggest What-If moments in NFL history. Had he not been hurt against Seattle and had been able to continue commanding the offense, would the Bucs have scored more than 11 points in the NFC Championship Game? Dilfer's injury might have legitimately robbed Tampa Bay of a chance at having three Super Bowls instead of two, which both says a lot about how much he meant to the team and the state of the offense throughout that period.
Dilfer proved he could be the difference a year later when he took another all-time great defense to a Super Bowl victory when he helped the Ravens win it all in 2001.