Despite a 4-1 record, consistency has been a bit of an issue for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. From special teams woes to injuries forcing the team to roll with different lineups every week, things have felt a little up-and-down, but one constant has been the stellar play of superstar rookie Emeka Egbuka.
When the Bucs used the No. 19 pick on him back in April, it was a bit of a head-scratcher. Why was a team that already had Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan spending a premium pick on a luxury rather than a true positional need?
The answer has been all over Egbuka's meteoric rise to the top of the league. He's the most exciting rookie of his class so far, is the front-runner to win Rookie of the Year, and has proven to be an essential piece of the Bucs' 4-1 start to the season.
Without Egbuka the Bucs aren't where they are five weeks into the season, which is in first place and near the top of the league as a whole.
Tampa Bay's star rookie has turned all the right heads, even if some of them can't find a way to say his name right.
Rob Gronkowski hilariously mispronounces Emeka Egbuka's name after huge Week 5 game
Former Bucs tight end and current NFL on FOX studio analyst Rob Gronkowski was trying to give Egbuka his flowers after a 163-yard performance in Tampa Bay's 38-35 win over the Seahawks, but he hilariously fumbled the pronunciation of his name.
Or, maybe "Emeka Egbigboo" had a good game and were just watching the wrong player.
"You gotta give credit to this rookie sensation, wide receiver out of Ohio State, Emeka Egbigboo, going for over 100 yards."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 5, 2025
Gronk had a BIT of trouble with Emeka Egbuka's name 🤣pic.twitter.com/sdR3s61h1Y
To be fair, Egbuka's name wasn't on the radar of many Bucs fans before the draft and there was a grace period where we all learned how to say it. That period has been over for a while ago, and certianly ended when Egbuka started carving up defenses and making a name for himself as the best rookie in the league.
It's a name that people know and defenses fear, but one that some folks still struggle to pronounce. Those days are numbered, though, as everything about Egbuka's rise indicates that we'll have learned his name and learned it well by the time this incredible season for the Buccaneers is over.
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