The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reached the quietest part of the offseason, giving me the perfect excuse to head to the theatre and watch Toy Story 5.
With the Bucs being my favorite sports franchise, and Toy Story being my favorite movie franchise, I wanted to find a way to bring together two staples of my childhood that have stayed with me to this day.
With that in mind, I set out to draw parallels between Buccaneers players and iconic Toy Story characters, matching each player with the toy that best fits them.
Matching Buccaneers players to Toy Story characters
Baker Mayfield - Jessie
In the Toy Story franchise Jessie’s backstory is characterized by abandonment after her original owner, Emily, grew up and moved on from what was once her favorite toy.
That mirrors Baker Mayfield, who after being the No. 1 overall pick, was ultimately moved on from by several teams before finding a long-term home in Tampa Bay.
Once a side character in early films, in Toy Story 5, Jessie has become the central character and the leader of the group.
Similarly, Mayfield has undergone a similar transformation, going from a journeyman to a solidified franchise quarterback in Tampa Bay, and the face of the Buccaneers.
Jessie and Mayfield follow the same arc, going from castoffs to figures their franchises can’t live without.
Mike Evans - Woody
Woody was the longtime main protagonist of the Toy Story franchise, but at the end of Toy Story 4, he shocked audiences when he chose to leave behind the life he’s known to pursue a bigger purpose.
Mike Evans similarly left the Buccaneers after 12 years, despite being arguably the most iconic and beloved player in franchise history, to join the San Francisco 49ers for the final chapter of his career.
Woody and Evans will both forever remain legendary in their respective franchises, even after making the surprising, difficult decisions to leave and begin a new chapter elsewhere.
Emeka Egbuka - Buzz Lightyear
In the original Toy Story, Andy’s favorite toys get put on the back burner in favor of Buzz Lightyear, a new toy who immediately changes the dynamic of the room.
Emeka Egbuka had the same impact when he crash landed in Tampa Bay. Despite a crowded receiver room with veterans like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Egbuka quickly became the “favorite toy,” so to speak. He caught a game-winning touchdown in his first career game to set the stage for a special rookie season.
Just like Buzz initially didn’t know he was a toy, Egbuka didn’t seem to know he was a rookie. He came in and impressed the entire organization with his veteran mindset, and cemented himself as a cornerstone for the future of the franchise. Vs
Chris Godwin Jr. - Slinky
Slinky is one of the most loyal characters in the Toy Story franchise, standing by Woody in the original film even when everyone else turned on him.
Godwin is similarly known for his loyalty to the Buccaneers. He turned down a more lucrative offer from the New England Patriots last offseason because he wanted to stay home in Tampa Bay.
Now entering his 10th season with the team, Godwin has flown under the radar, overshadowed at times by players like Evans or first-round pick Emeka Egbuka.
Similarly, Slinky was overshadowed by toys like Woody and Buzz, but like Slinky, Godwin is still a core player that adds undeniable value to the team.
Antoine Winfield Jr. - Pizza Planet Aliens
The aliens are quietly the most clutch characters in the Toy Story franchise. In Toy Story 3, when the gang found themselves in the incinerator, on the brink of their demise, the aliens stepped up when it mattered most and saved the day with the iconic “The Claw!”
There’s no telling how many times Antoine Winfield Jr. has done something similar for the Buccaneers. In his rookie season, down 23-20 in a do-or-die playoff game against the rival Saints, Winfield forced a fumble that shifted the outcome and helped propel Tampa Bay to a victory and eventual Super Bowl run.
In last year’s season opener, the Falcons almost broke the Bucs’ hearts in the final seconds, but Winfield came flying in out of nowhere to break up the pass and avoid disaster.
His career has been characterized by showing up in the biggest moments, making him the perfect comparison for the Pizza Planet aliens.
Rueben Bain Jr. - Rex
Rueben Bain Jr. as Rex might be low hanging fruit, but for all of the narratives surrounding Bain and his short arms, the comparison just writes itself.
Like Rex in Toy Story, perceived physical limitations never stop him from becoming an integral member of Andy’s toy collection and a mainstay in the franchise.
Add us as a preferred source on Google